Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
Congress Is Considering Two Measures
Affecting the Country's Power Interests

Parker's bin would dismiss them from
their Federal Power Commission JOBS
and put in their places three full-time
commissioners, who would have nothing
but electric light and power before them
for the busying Of their minds ana tai
ents. This change in itself creates grave
apprehension among public utility rep
resentatives here, who naturally would
rather be contemplated by three COM
missioners who look at them once
fortnight than by three commissioners
who look at them all the time.
Mr.. Parker's bill, however, promises
them further woe. 1t provides that
the 10 per cent Cor so) OF electric en-
ergy which now goes across State lines
for consumption shall enjoy or endure a
new Federal intervention In the matter
Of prices at which 1t should be sold.
There are to be Joint boards" Of the
States Immediately concerned, and from
these boards an appeal may lie to the
Federal Power Commission In Washing
ton, which thus will become the ulti-
mate arbiter of the rates and charges
of certain not negligible fraction Of
the electric light and power business.
II Is thought that possibly the true
policy Of the electric light and power
ker bill and push It into the statute
books before worse fate accumulates
itself to fall upon them. In the Sen
ate exempiifying that worse fate, are
two bills by Senator Couzens Of Michi-
gan, a Republican by afflliation and q
Progressive by temperament.
As chairman of the Senate's inter-
state commerce committee, Mr.. Couzins
is in position to promote his bills by
$50 80 1Ha al III
self, he will do so with unbounding
personal vigor. The chances today are
that some at least of the Couzens ideas,
and perhaps good many Of them,
will finally find their way into legis-
lative enactment and administrative
practice.
The first Couzens bill, colloQuially
here called the little one" provides SIM
ply for the reorganization of the Federal
Power Commission from three amateur
members 10 three professional members
in essentially the same manner as Is
set forth in the Parker bill. This first
Couzens bill Is even now on the calen-
dar OF the Senate and may soon go TO-
favorable vote.
The second Couyens bill, colioquially
denomfnated the big one" Is now fully
completed and Is definitely before the
Senate's interstate commerce committee
for study and revision. It is one Of the
most ambitious and one of the most in
genious bills ever devised for gathering
new fish into the Federal net. It's master
stroke Is that 1t includes within Inter
state commerce" not only companies
sending or receiving electrical energy
across State lines, but also all companies
controlling or managing or technically
advising such companies. It then Or
dams that the Federal Power Commits
sion shall supervise all interstate COM
merce" electrical energy companies In
respect of their accounts, in respect Of
their rates to consumers, in respect of
the valuation" of their properties for
rate making purposes and In respect of
their issuing Of stocks and bonds.
It Is estimated that thus the bulk of
the whole public utility investment Of
the United States would, in one way or
another, directly or Indirectly, be
brought to Federal scrutiny. The local
scrutiny In most States has been in
general admittedly weak: and the sum
Of the comment here Is that once more
the country observes the spectacle of
local default succeeded by Federal
vengeance.
(Copyright, 1907