The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-13
COST OF ELECPRIC Light
Business Mea Confer With the Dis
trict Commissioners.
4 Member of the Committee Charges
m DISCRIMINATION I'm Rates-Thc APP
poiptment of m Expert Inspector
sdyocated-The Board Seeks Fur
thcr Information on the subject.

A committee OF the Business Mems AS
sociation called on the District Commits
siouers Yesterday to confer with them rela-
tive to reduction of the cost OF electric
lighting in the District of Columbia. The
exact purpose of the visit on the part Of
the committee was to urge the adoption OF
House bill 1855
This bill provides for two important
changes in the present electric lighting
service. The first is that the two electric
companies Of Washington, and all others
which may be organized in the District.
shall be required to furnish the public and
private consumers standard arc lights OF
not less than 1000 candle power at rate
which shall not exceed see per annam for
each light. The bill also provides that on
and after July J. 1900 the maximum price
for the electric current sold OF furnished
TO any consumer in the District Of Column
bia shall be reduced from the present max
imum of 10 cents a kilowat hour to rate
not to exceed 6 cents a klowat hour
The committee consisted OF c. c. Syme,
W. W. Danenhower. N. Dyrenforth, 7. c.
Pole, and s. 5. Smith
Mr.. Syme. in behalf Of the committee,
addressed the Board relative TO the diff
Guilty of properly measuring the electric
current used by consumers He stated that
the metres in use do not give satisfactory
results. at least TO the consumers. While
there has been a reduction in the tate
charged for electricity by some sort of
manipulation of currents or pressure or
both. the bills to consumers remain about
the same as before the reduction. Mr..
SWINE declared his belief that the electrical
current can be produced and served AZ
such cost for manufacture as Will leave a
good profit to the companies should the
rate be reduced proposed in the bill
before Congress. IL was also urged by Mr..
Syne that an inspector be appointed 10
give the same attention to electricity as Is
row paid to gas.
Mr. Pole, who has been engaged in the
study OF electricity for years, and who
has been a manufacturer OF the current for
commercial purposes, stated his belief tina:
electric lighting could be served of the
quality and power provided for in the bill
before the House of Representatives at the
rate named therein
MIR Dyrenforth stated that while he was
paying 10 cents an hour for electric lights
in his place of business, some Of his
friends were being charged 8 cents. MIR.
Dyrenforth said that he was in possession
of the proofs to back up his statement.
The Commissioners manifested great in
terest in the statements made 10 them.
They stated to the committee that the bill
was now under consideration by the Board,
and that II would welcome all available
information relative TO the cost of the
manufacture and distribution OF electricity
in Washington. The facts were what was
wanted, they said. and not theories. II
electricity could be produced and served
at less cost than was charged for IT, the
authorities ought TO know 1t, and the
Board invited the committee TO furnish
whatever information on the subject might
be in their possession