The Washington herald., 1907-09-07
AT MERCY OF GAS co.
District Cannot Compel Ex-
tension of the Mains.
WEST TO ASK FOR NEW LAW
Present statute Provides Only that
the Refusal Of the Corporation to
Grant Requests he Reported to
Congress - Commissioners Power
less 10 Aid Citizens Association.

That the Commissioners are without au-
thority TO compel the gas companies TO
extend their gas mains. and that requests
for such extensions from citizens have
been totally ignored, is the discovery
made by Commissioner West, following
an investigation resulting from a commu-
nication from the Northeast Suburban
Citizens Association.
The Commissioners We're recently in
formed by L. II. Patterson, secretary
that the association had made several
requests Of the Washington Gaslight
Company for gas main extensions in the
northeast section OF the city, none Of
which has been honored with a reply.
Accompanying the communication was a
copy of a resolution adopted by the asso-
citation asking the Commissioners "to
compel the washington Gaslight Company
to extend gas maiEs to populOus sections
of the District. in accordance with its
charter requirements. when duly request
ed by citizens associations or representa-
tive citizens"
Commissioner West thereupOn made in
quiry into the authority of the Commis-
sioners to act upon requests Of this char
acter. as a result of which it was demon
strated that they are without authority
either under the charter requirements of
the gas companies or by law to compel
the laying of gas mains, as requested by
the association. but are simply directed
to report to Congress the failure of the
comDanv 10 make reasonable extensions
Of its mains.
No Penalty Provided.
As no penalty is provided, the citizens
of the District are practically at the
mercy of the gas companies, and populous
sections of the city may be left in dark
ness until such time as the officials
choose 70 extend the mains, notwithstand-
ing the protests of the residents of the
neighborhood.
Lack of authority on the part of the
Commissioners to provide for adequate
lighting facilities of the District is regard
cd by them as an undesirable state of
affairs for which Congress viii be asked
to provide a remedy at the next session
The Commissioners have announced that
they will again recommend that the price
of gas be reduced to 75 cents. as veil as
the enactment of legislation which will
permit a closer scrutiny by them and the
public of the affairs Of the gas and other
corporations.
With regard to the request Of the North
east Suburban Citizens Association. Com
missioner West yesterday made the fol-
lowing Endorsement:
I move the Northeastern Suburban Cit
liens Association be requested 10 submit
to the Commissioners a specific statement
of the streets or roads desired to be light
ed. and that upon the receipt OF such in
formation. the matter be referred to tho
electrical engineer for report as &C
whether such request is in the nature OF
a reasonable extension OF the gas mains
II will be observed that the Commission
ers are not given authority. either under
the charter requirements or under ans
law, to compel the laying Of gas mains
as requested by the association. but are
simply directed to report to Congress tho
failure Of the company TO make reason
able extensions Of its MAINS"