Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-06
MAY ASK FOR LEGISLATION
COMMISSIONERS CANNOT COMPEL
EXTENSION OF GAS SERVICE.
Statement Following the Receipt of
Resolution Forwarded by
Citizens Association.

The apparent lack of authority vested in
| the Commissioners in regulating the local
gas companies under their charters or I'M
der law developed as the result of the
receipt of a resolution by them this morn
ing from the Northeastern Suburban Citi-
Zens' Association requesting the Commits
sioners Ito compel the Washington Cas-
light Company to extend gas mains to popu-
lous sections of the District of Columbia
in accordance with its charter requirements,
when duly requested by citizens associa-
lions or by repres entative citizens"
Commissioner West says that the Board
of Commissioners would be naturally sup
posed to have power to compel the gas
company to make this extension, but a
matter of fact. he is advised they have no
such power. The only redress is to make
report to Congress in the form of COM
plant He looks upon this undesra-
BILE condition of affairs, and it is likely
that at the next session of Congress, the
Board of Commissioners will make an
effort to secure legislation amending this
condition. The law governing the gas COR
poratlons he says, is in number of other
ways indefinite, and it is also likely an
attempt will be made to secure some amend
ments in this respect.
The communication from the Northeast
ern Suburban Citizens Association, accom-
panied by the resolution mentioned, was
forwarded to the Commissioners by l.. N.
Patterson, secretary of that association.
Mr.. Patterson stated that the association
has recently made several requests of the
Washington Gasight Company for gas
main extensions in the section of the city
mentioned. particularly on Rhode Island
avenue extended to the District line, and
that all of the requests had been ignored.
What Inquiry Developed.
When the communication and the resolu
ton asking the Commissioners to force the
today he made inquiry into the authority
of the Commissioners to act upon requests
of this characte-. AS a result of this in
vestigation he has placed upon the papers
in the a statement OF the law in the
case. which will be read with interest by
all residents Of the suburban sections who
desire additional light:
Commissioner West indoors ament on the
papers was as follows:
There are apparently only two provisions
of law setting forth the authority Of the
Commissioners in the matter of laying gas
mains The first provides that 1t shall
be the duty of the Commissioners to see
that all water and gas mains, service
pipes and sewer connections are laid upon
any street or avenue proposed to be paved
or otherwise improved before any such
pavement other permanent works are
put down. This law has always been OBJ
served.
THE act making appropriations for the
expenses of the government of the District
of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1894 provides. that each gas company
in the District of Columbia shall at it's sole
and entire expense make reasonable extern
Sions of It's gas mains whenever the said
extensions shall be necessary for maintain
Ing street lamps for the public safety and
comfort, and the said Commissioners shall
regulate the location and depth of the said
gas mains in the streets avenues, roads
alleys and spaces of the District of Column
bia; any failure to comply with this provs
ion shall be reported to Congress by the
Commissioners. -
Request for Information.
AS result of this request and the devel-
opment Of the lack of authority of the
Commissioners in this respect Commissioner
West has made the following motion to
| his colleagues:
II move the Northeastern Suburban Cit-
Zens' Association be requested to submit to
the Commissioners a specific statement of
the streets or roads desired to be lighted.
and that upon the receipt of such Informal
ton the matter be referred to the electrical
engineer for report to whether such re-
quest IS in the nature of n rea sonable eX-
tension of the gas mains. 1t will be observ-
ed that the Commissioners are not given
authority either under the charter require
meats or under any law to compel the lay
citation. but are simply directed to report to
| Congress the failure of the company to
make reasonable extensions of it's mains"