Evening star., 1937-08-28
ADDITION OF I
TO STAFF ASKED
BYUT|L|T|ESB BODY
Commission Asks Personnel
Adequate for Proper
Functioning.
REQUEST REQUIRES
PAY ROLL OF $114,22O
Estimate for Next Fiscal Year Is
but $4,000 Over Pre-
Economy Year of 1884.
BY DON s. WARREN.

Renewing its fight to regain person.
mel lost during past years of economy
programs and to strengthen its staff
to meet enlarged responsibilities, the
Public Utilities Commission has pro-
posed the addition of II persons to
Its staff for the next fiscal year.
The commissions 1889 estimates,
now in the hands of the Commis-
sioners, call for an increase in its
salary appropriation from SCI, 500 to
$114,220.
In Justification of its request, the
commission noted that the aggregate
gross revenues of the utility concerns
subject to its regulation had in
creased from $ll 100000 in 1918, when
the commission was created, to $40
$4,000 in 1896. In contrast the size
of the commissions staff in 1913 was
ri and now is one less.
Six More Than in 1894.
The increase sought, the COM
mission explained, is only six more
employees than were provided in 1884.
The heavy reduction came in the
fiscal year 1885 when Congress Topped
off IA of the staff of 81 as an economy
move
The personnel of the commission
during the fiscal year 1884 was not,
In the opinion of the then commission
or the present commission, sufficient, "
the agency declared. Failure to ask
for additional personnel was due to
S,reuo limo
the policy of the Budget Bureau to
accept no estimates for increased ap-
preparations. The present personnel
likewise is insufficient"
The commission hopes to expand
Its staff of accountants and engineers
and inspectors to make possible a
closer and more effective regulation
of the utility concerns. MANY func-
tions necessary to complete regula-
ton have been left undone due to
the lack of personnel" the COM
mission said This has been to the
detriment of the public Inadequacy
of the staff in any particular has
an adverse effect on the operation
of other units in that an endeavor is
made, and properly so, to spread the
personnel over the entire field OF
regulation"
Work Piles Up.
Commission officials said the agency
had been able to carry on the work
1t has only by overtime service given
by the staff and it added: "Limita-
ton Of personnel due to lack of ade-
Quate appropriation has resulted in an
accumulation of work required by law
which must be taken care of in the
future"
The new positions requested are an
engineer at $500 a year; an engineer
at $4,000; an inspector of electric me-
ters, $2,700; an inspector at $1,000; a
valuation accountant, So, $500; three ac-
countants and auditors at $3,5O0; two
junior accountants, $4,000; an investi-
gator, $4,000; an assistant accountant
at $4,000; an assistant accountant at
$4,000, and two additional clerks and
a messenger. The commission also
has inserted in the estimates salary
for the position of peoples counsel,
which has been vacant since last No.
vember when William A. Roberts re-
signed, but it is not expected now that
this position will be filled.
$4,000 Net Increase.
The net increase over the 1884 lev
els, before the economy wave struck
the commission, would be the addition
OF six employees at cost of $4,000.
In support of the requested expan-
sion of its accounting bureau, the
commission said Eight additional
accountants would provide the COM
mission with adequate force to make
complete analysis of capital, operating
and depreciation accounts CT all utili-
ties, and to make other Investigations
as may be required. Heretofore the
accounting bureau has been able to
make only balance sheet audits and
partial analysis of accounts. This is
unsatisfactory from regulatory point
Of view, as it does not permit of effect
51ya 1o11y LOT: