Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-29
Commission and Peoples
Counsel Favor Engaging
Special Men for Work.
ENGINEERS DECLARED
NEEDED FOR DISTRICT
Budget Estimates Include Funds
for Salaries Of Extra Help
in Statistical Work.

Employment of valuation experts BY
both the Public Utilities Commission
and peoples counsel so that more de-
pendable data might be made available
without the necessity of constant re-
valuation Of utilities, is recommended in
estimates for 1892, being considered by
the District Commissioners.
None Of the present valuations, the
Public Utilities Commission explains in
its request for the employment of two
valuation engineers, now truly repre-
sents the present value of the proper
ties" and it adds that while it is pos
sible to secure such work from the util-
ity companies in connection with par
ticular investigations. it would be more
beneficial to the commission If it could
make its own inquiries at regular In
tervals.
Asks Only $1,000 Extra.
The commission, therefore, urges the
employment of q valuation engineer at
salary of $500, an assistant at
81, 1000; a valuation accountant at $1,000,
an assistant accountant at $4,000, and
senior stenographer at 81, $40 per an
mum.
Since the commission would make
available its unexpended balance for
1891 for the hiring of experts by con-
tract or otherwise, without reference
to the classification act, it asks for only
81 900 extra In the new estimates for
engaging the additional experts.
Peoples counsel, on the other hand,
finds that the steady growth of work
in that office requires the temporary
employment of an expert to aid In the
presentation and defense Of legal cases
and other matters.
While the peoples counsel has access
to the present experts Of the Public
Utilities Commission, he is asking for
an additional $4,000 to pay the salary
Of an independent expert.
Referring to the situation with which
1t is confronted, the Public Utilities
Commission said: THE commission
finds that there are still several man
dates in the law that cannot be rea-
sonably carried out with the existing
organization and force Of employees.
1t therefore desires to point out the
engineering and accounting stats.
New Valuations Held Needed.
while valuations have been made in
the past, none now truly represents
the present value Of the properties.
It is essential in the routine work of
the commission that 1t have more re-
cent valuation data at hand upon which
it can rely without constant revaluation.
ut is, Of course, possible that funds
for this work could be secured from
the utilities in connection with par
ticular investigations but it
Is felt that this would be an unsatis-
factory method of procedure. The in
formation would not be available when
needed, the cost of securing it in such
an irregular and haphazard manner
would greatly exceed the cost If the
records were kept regularly and In
vestigations made at regular intervals"
Under the public utilities act, when
utilities make application for an adj
vance in rates, the commission can
assess against the companies involved
the cost Of securing such valuation
data as might be needed in deciding
the case. It is to this irregular and
haphazard" manner to which the COM
mission had reference.