Evening star., 1943-08-01
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Peoples Counsel Need Stressed;
Public Utilities Power Sustained
BY JESSE c. SUTER

BY JESSE c. SUTER
Demand Increased for Appointment of Peoples Counsel
The absence of recommendations applications appoint
mnt of peoples given recently as reason for
the naotion Of the President in filling the
has ocaoned considerable surprise among the civic
groups Even greater surprise
at the President has requested opinion
General whether to fill post In this connection the
President credited saying that the Attorney General
and several of his predecessors steadily filing the
post.
leaders constituents as WE'LL continue to seek
logical explanation of this failure by the
Public Utilities Organic Act which obligation upon
oers OF the Public Utilities Commission itself law on
subject -
There shall appointed by President by and with the
ADVICE and consent of the Senate additional
mission to be known the peoples counsel who
% Shall represent and for the people the District
OF Columbia at all hearings of the commission and all judicial
proceedings involving the interests products
services furnished by public utilities Jurisdiction
commission
represent appear for petitioners appearing be-
fore the commission for the complaining
rates or service; and
May investigate service given by the rates charged
by and the valuation OF the properties Of the
the jurisdiction of the commission
"(b peoples counsel shall be four
years and he shall receive salary at the rate of $500
No shall be peoples
bona hde resident continuously
period of at least Immediately preceding date
of his appointment, who has been
law of the United States for
District of Columbia
shall be eligible the Office of peoples
who shall have been during period preceding
his appointment directly indirectly public
utility operating owning having property
District of Columbia stock bond mortgage security
contract OF any such public utility District Code 1910 Edition.
Title 43-205)
delay the filling of this office have
resulted in increased activity
early and favorable action by the appointing
Board the Federation authorized
president the Federation to advise the
that the appointment peoples matter of vital
appoint
men The eanestness of the Federation is further evidenced b its
official counsel provided in the law
people District are
involved
The reported recommends
ions applications for appointment
of the president of the District Bar Association
members of the association forward the associations
Judicial Nominations within five nominations
peoples counsel and from the list nominations submitted
committee headed Walter
be submitted to the President for his consideration.
Senator Harold H Republican Ohio active men,
Der OF the Senate Committee on the District of Columbia has
given out strong support
provision of distinct obga
tlon on the President TO make the appointment
The quoted saying theory Public
Utilities Commission represents the public, but actually
act judicial body. The Commissioners consistently
point they must
act solely judges Continuing This
ict citizens lack the protection afforded
cities When the utilities commissions have solely judges
these other cities still have their Washington
unrpresented citizens the District regard
counsel urgently needed
for delaying the
from the President to to amend the
law abolish that any personal
opinion of the President Office does not
relieve him of complying with the clear mandate of
Public Utilities Commission and Not Federal Control
Public utilities matters occupied
CIVIC news during the week On Monday
handed opinion sustaining
the Public Utilities Commission in its fixing
Washington Gas Light Co. agreement This
oder gave the company slight increase
since the sliding scale adopted adjust
ments have resulted in lowered
Special shown in this appes which as
made by the Office of Price theory that
Price Control Act that
that of the Public Utilities Commission Appeals Court held
the power of control to be in the commission.
Based on this decision the Co
tltloned the District Court dismiss
the commission fixing the electric
under the sliding scale This appeal number of
Federal agencies.
The Federation of Citizens petioned the
court fol the privilege intervene
port of the order of the commission
Expressions of dissatisfaction
leaders at the attempts of Public
Utilities Commission to dos their bidding regardless
n ohhgaons OF the members the
being that the Court Appeals
mission in control provided by