Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-05

men told me their bills were much larger
this month than last. The gas man may
continue to bring forth his books and eX-
cuses, and whatever he chooses, still that
oces not alter the facts. Surely all of these
complaints cannot be imaginary; surely all
OF the 'kickers' cannot be mistaken. / have
tr1ed, at different times, to reduce my bill
Dy not consuming so much gas and prided
myself that had succeeded, when 10 and
behold, up hobs Mr.. Gas Bill more robust
than ever. Try as you will, there Is no use.
II cannot be done: The bills will wax and
grow fat as the days grow longer and the
nights grow shorter. guess 1 will have to
try in some other way to reduce expense
ieduce the servants wages, or get rid of
the cat"
A Georgetown Case.
Miss A. P. Thomas, 310S street, George
town. in letter to The Star says: During
portion of the month of September and
the entire four weeks of October, 1895, my
house was closed for repairs on account of
damage by fires. The family were COM
PEELED to seek shelter elsewhere until the
roofing in and other necessary repairs
could be effected. With usual promptitude
the gas bill was rendered the latter part of
the month, and though the situation was
as promptly explained, the amount charged
s210) was paid under protest, with the
promise from the company to investigate
the cause of the leakage. No leak being
round Tin accordance with the decision of
the companys agenD, the matter was re-
ferred to the government inspector of
meters, who promptly condemned the same
as slow, slow, SLOW" and ordered the re-
moval of the old one. The following month,
when but a few of the family had returned
TO the house. and not more than half the
usual number of rooms in use, the bill was
rendered for So
Immediately made complaint to the
secretary of the company in writing, and
received in return courteous reply inclos-
ing a duplicate bill. so stamped, for the
month previous charging Sc and over adj
ditional on the bill of $40 with the ex-
PLANTATION that not only was the bill rer-
dered for 50 correct, but that upon refer
ence to their books for the year previous
it was found that the company had made
mis- take in charging SO small an amount
for the month of October, wherefore the in
closed duplicate was forwa rded for ar
rears to the amount of So and over, making
the bill for the period when the house was
without occupancy upward of $50. The
receipted DILL held for the payment in full
up to date rendered was thus valueless,
and no better than so much waste paper
When the inconsistency of this proceeding
was pointed out, the only answer given by
the secretary vas that the company had
a right to charge back payments when il
was discovered by a reference to their
books of past years that mistake had
been made in the sum charged, and that
until such payment was made in full no
percentage would be deducted for the paw
ment of monthly bills on or before the
9TH instant as customary.
According TO this reasoning, practically
carried out in my own case, there is no law
Ito any amount for the whole twelve
months of the year, or even farther back,
if so deemed advisable by the Georgetown
gas monopoly" A. p. THOMAS