Evening star., 1936-11-03
Office of Peoples Counsel
Should Not Be Abolished

10 Inc Eoltor OF Inc 6tar.
Referring to news items announcing
that Washington civic associations are
passing resolutions opposing abolition
Of the position of peoples counsel, I
respectfully submit the following quoted
excerpts from the Congressional Commit
tee reports on the bill, H. r. 111l9 which
became the act of Congress of December
Is, 1926, mandatorily directing the Presi-
dent to appoint an attorney as peoples
counsel to represent the civic associa-
tions and public utility customers of
Washington in public utility contro-
VerSieS:
House report, No. 967: Believing that
the corporation counsel of the District,
who Is the legal adviser of the District
Commissioners, should not be called
upon to present rate-making cases be-
fore either the Public Utilities Commits
sion or the courts, and that his duties
are such that he is unable to give the
proper time to coping with questions of
Alternating and valuation and to op-
pose the array of talent representing the
corporations and public utilities, your
committee has provided for the appoint
ment of peoples counsel to present
rate-making cases and other complaints
OF the people before the commission
and in the courts.
"The officer to be appointed under the
provisions of this bill will be called upon
to negotiate proceedings looking to i'm
proved service and lower rates of fare
and also lower rates Of service, and your
committee believes that he will be of
material assistance to the public"
Senate report. No. 1924: "The value
Of the properties Of the local utilities Is
estimated variously at about $3.50 900 900:
their annual revenue is nearly $50 ,00O.-
600, derived mainly from the people of
the District Of Columbia. Further
more, not only have practically all local
civic associations strongly Endorsed for
many years the proposal to reorganize
the personnel of the Public Utilities
Commission, but the principal business
organizations of Washington have given
like Endorsement and have even held
mass meetings to urge upon Congress
the necessity for such action as is con-
templated by the bill hereby reported.
80 Without disparagement 1t may
be stated that the corporation counsel
of the District, who is now by law re-
quired to serve also as counsel for the
Public Utilities Commission, Is so fully
occupied with the legal duties incident
to every municipal government, includ-
ing condemnation proceedings, Police
Court prosecutions, tax suits, damage
cases, etc, that he cannot give utilities
cases the attention they should have.
No other class of litigation probably in
wolves more highly technical evidence,
more careful preparation. briefing and
presentation both originally and on ap-
peal to the higher courts. 1t Is for these
reasons that the provisions for q peoples
counsel have been made.
Your committee considers this the
most important legislation affecting the
District of Columbia to be presented dur
ing the present session of Congress and
urge enactment as a measure of justice
to both the people and the public utilities
of the District"
Please let me, as a member Of the
Washington bar who has followed our
local public utility controversies for some
IL years. commend those who are oppos-
ing abolition of the position of peoples
counsel.
JAMES WILLIAM SOMERVILLE.