Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-15
.FLEHARTY RESIGNS
AS PEOPLES AIDE
Utilities Counsel to Resume
Law PraCtice-Action
Comes as Surprise.

Ralph B. Fleharty submitted his
resignation to President Hoover yes
terday as peoples counsel to the Pub
lie Utilities Commission, it was dis
closed at the White House.
Fleharty told the President he want
cd 10 be at liberty actively to resume
The practice Of law, and requested that
the resignation take effect within 80
days.
The text of the letter of resignation
read:
Will you kindly permit me to tender
herewith my resignation as peoples
counsel to the Public Utilities Commits
sion of the District of Columbia, with
the request that same be accepted eff
fective not more than 80 days from
date hereof?
Action Is Complete Surprise.
II feel constrained to take this action
at this time in order that may be at
liberty to resume actively the practice
of law. My duties as peoples counsel
have resulted in such ar almost COM
plete interference for nearly three years
with my practice that I do not feel
that can longer afford to continue
this sacrifice"
The action of Fleharty came as a
complete surprise in public utility cir
cleS. 1t was known among his most
intimate friends, however, that he
planned to resign before January l.
Fleharty has the distinction of being
tho fret flaoN1a'S Pn1lnSel n0Siti0r
created by the act of Congress reor-
ganizing the Public Utilities Commits
sion. He was appointed by former
President Coolidge in March, 1927, after
the Senate declined to confirm the
nomination of Blaine Mallon for the
post.
Fleharty's term does not expire until
March Z, 1881.
Took Conspicuous Part.
The most epochal events in the his
tory of the utilities commission oc-
Cured during Fleharty's term and in
all of them he took conspicuous part.
Outstanding was the first definite ne
collation. for a merger OF the street
railway lines.
The first important case in which
Fleharty represented the public before
the commission was the application OF
Co. for increased rates, filed early in
1927. The application was withdrawn
after a two-day hearing on the basis
OF compromise agreement between the
company and the commission, which A.
E. Berry, late president of the COM
pany first proposed to the peoples
counsel.
The original unif1cation agreement
drawn up by the car companies and SUB
mitted to the commission gave Fleharty
the major case IN his career as peo--
pies counsel Vigorously he opposed
| the inclusion of an agreed rate base and
fixed return in any merger agreement
two of the principal targets OF criti-.
cism in the original agreement, both OF
which finally were removed. Fleharty
also urged that the agreement contain
a definite promise of Improvements In
service as we'll as savings and economies
| in operation.
Acted in Fare Raise Plea Case.
Among other important cases in which
Fleharty represented the public were
| the two applications of the Capita
Traction Co for an increase in fare
and the Washington Gas Light Co
valuation.
In the first petition of the car com
pany for an increased fare, which wa:
withdrawn for fear of prejudicing tht
original merger agreement then before
Congress, Fleharty took the position
| that inasmuch as the petition anc
testimony showed the company woulc
not accept a higher fare unless it alsc
was applied to the Washington Railway
&, Electric Co., the petition should b.
dismissed because the Washington Rail
way g. Electric Co. was not a party Il
the proceedings. AS a result, the com
mission made that company party tx
the application. The peoples counse
then suggested withdrawal of the ap
plication pending congressional actor
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column g.