Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-12
COST OF ELECTRICITY,
Business Mems Committee Heard by
the Commissioners.

The District Commissioners today heard
a committee from the Business Mems AS
ISOLATION on House bill 10S6. for a reduce
ton in the price of electricity in the Dis
trfct. The bill provides that the two local
electric companies and all others shall be
required to furnish to the public and TO
private consumers standard arc lights of
not less than 1000 actual candle power at
a rate not exceeding $50 per annum for
each light, and that on and after July 1,
1900, the maximum price for electric cur
rent sold or furnished to any consumer in
the District shall be reduced from the
present maximum of 10 cents per kiIowatt
hour to not exceeding cents per kilowatt
hour.
Mr. Conrad H, syme. the attorney of the
association, stated to the Commissioners
that the meters used by the local COM
panies are not satisfactory to consumers
for while there has been q reduction of the
price OF electricity, the bills remain about
the same or are larger, although 1t does
not appear that more electricity is being
used by the consumers. He expressed the
belief that electricity can be manufactured
and served at such cost as will enable
the companies to make handsome profit
should the rate be reduced as proposed by
the bill in question Mr.. Syme also sug-
gested that there should be provided an
official similar to the inspector of gas and
meters, whose duties in connection with
electricity supplied to the public and pri-
Nate consumers should be of the same
character as those devolving upon the in
spector of gas and meters.
Commissioner Wight assured him that
the Commissioners are of the same opin-
ion respecting The employment of an in
spector, and fptimated that they might ask
Congress to make provision for such an
of1cer by inserting the necessary clause in
the District appropriation act.
MIR. l. &. Pole, who was at one time
connected with the Glen Echa Railway
Company, stated that he has been engaged
IN the study and manufacture of electrici-
ty for several years, and that he is con-
WINGED 1t can be manufactured and sold at
profit at the rate fixed by the bill. He
also advocated the appointment Of an in
will protect not only the companies, but
also the consumers.
Mr.. NJ Dyrenforth complained of the un-
tar treatment which he said he is being
subjected to by the consolidated companies
Some of his friends, he declared, are be-
ing charged but cents, while he is requir-
ed to pay 10 cents an hour, and he had
been paying high as Is cents al
though not under contract Mr. W. w
Danenhower also complained OF the rates
now being charged, stating that to the
United States company he paid about SIS
a month for what he is now being charged
about $40.
Speaking for the board of Commissioners,
Commissioner Wight stated that the bill
is now being considered by the board and
that the Commissioners will be glad to
receive and consider any and all Informal
tiion as to the cost of producing electric
ity, and such other information as the COM
committee promised to do.
Others present at the conference were
Mr.. Barry Buckley, the secretary of the
association, and Mr.. s. 8. Smith.