Evening star., 1936-10-18

ding OF the problem to the salts
faction OF producer, distributor and
consumer. The high standard of
the local milk has been maintained
and while the District price is
higher than in some other cities
the confidence In the superior
quality has made the high price
apparently, been necessary for a
federal agency to assume control
over the local milk supply and fix
q uniform sale price for the pro-
ducers. Some of the producers
shipping to the District protest
the price fixed by the A. A. A. as
being higher than they require.
The chairman Of the Committee
on Public Health of the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations, DR..
Charles B. Campbell, is studying
the question under authority of
the action of the federation taken
some time ago. He expects to ask
the privilege Of appearing at
the hearing before the A. A. A..
authorities in the interest OF the
federation on October 20.
The Peoples Counsel
Shall Office be Abolished?
CPECIAL attention Is directed by
the unexpected resignation of
William A. Roberts to the question
of whether or not the position Of
peoples counsel is to be abolished.
Roberts recently suggested in his
annual report to the civic organi-
zations that: THE peoples counsel
should either be provided with
small, but adequate investigational
staff OF his own so that the pub
lies position may be adequately
presented or else the office of peo-
Piles counsel should be abolished
and the Public Utilities Commis-
sion charged with the sole respon-
sibility Of representing the view
point Of the consumers"
Members Of civic organizations
have been shocked at Roberts
sudden decision to retire from
office. There is keen regret at the
prospect of his relinquishing his
post which he has filled so ener-
getically and so much in harmony
with the desires of most Of the
civic organizations. His back
ground as an active worker in the
civic ranks gave him decided
advantage over his predecessors.
At the start he was acquainted
with the leaders Of the organiza-
tions and with their point Of view.
He Immediately broadened and
maintained his contacts and in
large degree was able to reflect
their sentiments. To find a
qualified successor will be a very
difficult task. The pace set by
Roberts will be difficult for any
other to keep up.
Commissioner Hazen is quoted
as favoring abolishing the office
Of peoples counsel and thus
effecting a saving of about Sl0,-
900. II abolished. the duties Of
the office would be merged with
that of the assistant corporation
counsel who acts as the legal ad-
visor to the Utilities Commission.
The impression prevails that the
Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tions will resist any attempt to
do away with the office. The
Office was created upon the in
sistant demand of the federation,
made in connection with its de-
mand for an independent public
utilities commission.
There were those who contended,
when this legislation was under
consideration, that there was no
need for any other legal counsel
for the commission than the
peoples counsel 1t was then
pointed out that if. at any time.
the commission should decide a case
against the people and against the
advice of the peoples counsel and
an appeal was taken by the
utility to the court the commission
would then be ably represented by
the counsel for the utility COM
pany which would make every
effort to have the commission
sustained. On the other hand, If q
utility company should appeal to
the court from decision Of the
commission favorable to the peo-
pie, then the peoples counsel would
represent the commission before
the court.
There are still those who follow
the same line Of reasoning and are
of the opinion that If any change
be made it be to eliminate the
provision for the assistant corpora
ton counsel acting as special
counsel to the commission.
The prevailing civic organization
sentiment appears to favor con-
tinuing the office with the addi-
fiov, ~ tho ioyastioat tiOnal stoH aS