Evening star., 1953-08-07
Weston Takes Post;
Praises Record Of
Utilities Firms Here

Robert M. Weston, attorney
and newest member of the Dis
trict Public Utilities Commission,
yesterday spoke a kind word for
Washington's utilities firms.
He took the occasion of his
swearing in to declare his belief
that utilities here have a fine
record for soundness and sta
bility."
Stating his concept of the job
Of Commissioner. Mr.. Weston
added: Management has dem
onstrated over and over again
an admirable sense of public re-
sponsibility and has refrained
from attempts to overreach in
favor of stockholders and COR
porate control. Fundamentally
the commissions job, as I see it,
is to make sure that this good
record is maintained"
About 100 city officials and
well-wiShers saw the new men,
ber take his oath of Office in
District Building ceremonies. Mr..
WeSton's appointment rounds
out the membership of the three
man board.
CaytOn Administers Oath.
Chief Judge Nathan Cayton of
the Municipal Court of Appeals
administered the oath. Among
those who witnessed the pro-
ceedingS were Mr.. WeSton's wife
and their two children, Robert,
jr., 16. and Linda, IA, as well as
District Commissioner Samuel
Spencer, Utilities Commission
Chairman Robert E. Mclaughlin
and Joseph c. McGarraghy, local
Republican Party bigwig.
Referring to Mr.. Weston and
Chairman Mclaughlin. also a
recent Republican appointee,
Judge Cayton observed that
these young men mean busi-
ness. They are going to act on
principle and insist that the
utilities shall also act on prin-
ciple."
Mr.. Weston announced one
principle that he said should be
guiding. "The owners of utility
property dedicate it to public use
and are entitled to a fair return
on their investment-no more,
no less.
Therefore, public utility Sc
curities should not be the subject
of stock market speculation or
sharp fluctuations in price. If
the utility in question is soundly
financed. operated and regulated,
it's securities will be good long
term investments s-typically 'le-
gals for widows and orphans
and not speculative items"
Want Citizens Help.
He said further the Districts
"enlightened citizenry" should
give the commission the full
benefit of its enlightenment to
help that body arrive at correct
decisions.
publicity and public interest
are the best possible safeguards
against shady utilities practices
and slipshod commission action"
Mr.. Weston asserted.
He said that neither he nor
the commission-which includes
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss.
Engineer Commissioner and
"Washington's First Citizen" in
Mr.. Weston's view-has any Sc
crets.
II have been asked for no
commitments, understandings or
promises, except to work to the
limits of my ability" he declared.
Interviewed by congressional, ma
tional and local Republican lead
ers after his name was first sub
mitted for the post, Mr. Weston
said, typical questions con-
cerned. not partisan affairs, but
my acquaintanceship among the
local public utility lawyers, my
REIMBURSEMENT of all private
practice and my intention to
devote full time to the solution
of District public utility prob
lens. I have all the negative
qualif1cations-no ak to grind,
no hidden bias in favor of any
special interests"