Evening star., 1943-01-31
Wic Problems, ,CivicBodies
Office of Peoples Counsel Discussed:
Citizen Groups Object to Abolition
BY JESSE c. SUTER.

By JESSE c. SUTER.
Citizens Insist Appointment of Peoples Counsel
Inc brief reference in this column Sunday
on OF peoples counsel has brought expressions
OF appreciation and desire information There are
OF broadened demand by the groups
1o the hng OF this long regarding there
said to be complete misunderstanding circles
Inc hrst Public Utilities Commission District of
Comoa consisted of the three District Commissioners
sitting as public utilities chairman the
Engineer Commissioner This very
factory method OF handling and important
problem that there organized
1or new public utilities organic law which
independent commission.
The principal complaint against the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia functoning public utilities commission
that while sitting as utilities commission the
District really without District Commissioners
vice versa 1t of either public
sandst the of the District Commissioners
at standstin
Furthermore with the multitude of municipal imposed
hclenty familiar with the intricate problems public
control The demand nsistent that fultme commission,
properly stated should be provided
The Federation
before Congress for the creation of independent commission
In this they aided by Col Bell
demand OF the citizens for the appointment of entirely
dependent body of three members
the proposal believed that the commission should be definitely tied
in with the Board of Commissioners this Col Bell concrred
The citizen accepted the idea of making Engineer
Commissioner ofcio member Of the independent commission
the TWO other being fute members to be appointed from civil
life From the inception of the independent commission idea
the Federation of Citizens Associations creation the office
OF counsel There was some opposition when the matter
under consideration the objections which
to the House District Committee brought out while the bill
pending Congress These objections canvassed
thoroughly and answered completely by the proponents
bill creating independent Utilities
and the office of peoples counsel became law December b 1926
requirements as the civilian members OF the commission He must
have been bona fde resident of the District Oh Columbia
the effective date his appointment and engaged the actual
practice law before the District Court of the United States for
person is eligible to the Office who or shall be during period
years preceding appointment directly indirectly
public utility operating owning having
interest in property IN the District OF Columbia or IN any STOCK
bond mortgage security contract of such public utility
renhagen Report of 1899 containing SUGGESTIONS
reorganization of the District government at g. there
regarding the office of peoples counsel misnfoma
head of Comments states: This office has been
The first and only incumbent Of the
reported recommended its abolition
sar Grenhagen associates proposed that the office be
abolished.
incumbents the office
peoples counsel The first Ralph B. Feharty the second
Richmond Keech who retired become member of the
mission corporation counsel The third and last to
fill the Office William A. Roberts, who assumed office in May
1894. and resigned in October, 1896,
his letter to the President regning the Office Mr. Roberts
stated THE peoples counsel should either be provided with
small but adequate nvesgational staff its that the
peoples position be adequately presented else the Office
peoples should abolished and the Public Utilities
charged with the sole responsibility of representing
viewpoint the Following the acceptance Of this
resignation there some discussion by the and
circles merging the office of peoples counsel with that
assistant corporation counsel who acts as the legal adviser
the Public Utilities Commission.
idea had advanced while the
consideration the citizens being
entirely unsatisfactory Federation Citizens Associations and
raised unanimous vigorous
objection abolng Office through otherwise They
office created the desire and the
voteess
Columbia satisfactory public utilities
law
regarding the peoples counsel the
originally enacted the mandate
appointing authority applies to the civilian members
$780, additional funds for
District budget for several
included in
District supply bills.
One of associations recently sent letters
the White District Committees
the that the office be filled The
referred the Bureau OF the Budget
reply stating that since the commission
the corporation counses office
affairs of the commission the
need for peoples evident.
replied the bureau stating that the assist
detailed the commission devoe his full
time to the legal but serving
counsel The association stated further
that hearings their representatives had
heard the interpret the
laws governing the commission.
The Budget further that the association
of Government to perform
advised that
letter the courts energetic
and pushing this matter and expecting to have
strong compliance with this mandatory
nroyon of Public Utilities Act
q Smith Ts TireleSS