The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-12-23
GAS "REBATE" UNLAWFUL
RUSE, SAYS A VICTIM
CONTINUED from First Page)


Columbia shall furnish to the United
states Government and the District of
Columbia gas at the rate OF one dollar
per thousand cubic feet; Provided, That
II consumers other than the Government
shall not pay monthly any gas bll
within ten days after the same shall
have been presented said company map
charge and collect from said consumer
so falling to pay said bill as aforesaid
one dollar and twenty-five cents per
thousand cubic feet for the gas furnish
ed to said consumer during said month
The Georgetown Rate.
Sec. 2. That the Georgetown Gas
light Company, doing business In that
part OF the District OF Columbia form
erly known as Georgetown, is author
lied TO charge and collect, after the
first day OF July, eighteen hundred and
ninety-six. for illumiDrting gas furnish
ed TO, and paid for by, private con-
sumers in that part OF the District OF
Columbia at the rate of not exceeding
one dollar and thirty-lve cents per
thousand cubic feet, until the hrst day
OF July, nineteen hundred and one. after
which last-named date the rate shall
not exceed one dollar and twenty-five
cents per thousand cubic feet; and that
after the first day OF July, eighteen
hundred end ninety-siX. the said George
the United States Government and the
District OF Columbia gas at the rate
OF one dollar and twenty-five cents per
thousand cubic feet: Provided. That II
consumers other than the Government.
shall not pay monthly any gas bill
within ten days after the same shall
have been presented, said company may
charge and collect from said consumer
so falling 10 pay said bill as aforesaid
one dollar and fifty cents per thousand
cubic feet for the gas furnished said
consumer during said month.
Rate of S1.a5 Unlawful.
Il have omitted he remaining sec
tons Of the chapter, as they have no
bearing on The question II is evident.
however, that II is unlawful for the
Washington Gaslight Company TO
charge $1-25 FOR gas. and they have been
billing IL 70 consumers at that unlawful
rate since July 1, 1901.
I have not overlooked the fact that
discount of = cents is offered for
prompt payment, and that the company
pUssS as n pubic beneiactor, generously
Allowing discount from the unlawful
price at which the gas Is billed The
law, however, does not provide for a
rate of Sl.25 with a discount Of 25 cents.
out TOT a rate Of 500, with a prOviso
that, II the bill be not paid within ten
days. the company may charge and col
lect SI25.
1T is my opinion that the bills rem
dered. being rendered at an unlawful
price, are absolutely void ard nom
cOllcCtable, and that the consumers of
gas would be perfectly tustihed in re-
iuSing 10 ray any bin rendered. SO long
as the present system is followed.
Furthermore, l should suggest that
this unlawful method Of billing be
brought 20 the attention Of the law Of
hcers % the District OF Columbia. and
that they lie asked TO see If there is
not some way In wlich this company
can be restrained from such a plain
violation OF the law.
In this connection, l may state that
the electric company evidently recog-
Mics that the above method is unlaW-
ful. for the reason that their bills are
rendered at the lawful rate. with q
penalty specified for nOn-prompt pay
menI-
Keeping the Deposits.
There Is another matter which wish
10 bring 10 your attention, and that
is the deposits which are required as
security FOR the payment Of gas bills.
] am going TO state briefly my expe-
rience a few years ago as an nlustra-
ton.
I was living in an apartment which
was lighted by electricity and in which
range ana one gas bracket in the kitch-
en-. The deposit required was $40. This
SO the gas company agreed 70 pay in
teTeSt upon at the rate OF per cent
At the end Of three years the accrued
interest due me and in the possession
or the gas company amounted 10 $50.
About this time. during my absence
from the city, a bill for about S1lG net
tbilled 70 me at the unlawful rate OF
Sl-25. with the alleged discount of .
nc "a D
rate, the bill having been rendered in
l98l WAS unpaid, because Of oversight
on the part Of the people who we're
In the apartment during my absence.
went 10 the gas company and called
attention 70 the fact that the accrued
interest on their books TO nv credit
exceeded the amount OF the bill and
asked that, inasmuCh as the money was
N the possession Of the company at
the time the bill was rendered. 1t should.
IN al Justice. be considered as paid
within the discount ~ period
rms request was refused. and 1 be
HeNe the refusal was unlawful
Held on to Interest.
Furthermore. the company. when re-
quested. refused TO accept the accrue1
interest which their books showed
standing TO my credit IN settlement Of
the bill. and refused TO pay over 70
the company, having in it's possession
Sll-SO of my money. OF which $50
formed no part of the deposit which
they had cxacted from me as security.
demanded that l pay them still other
money In settlement Of the bill.
i WAS informed that the ONLY vyav
IN which / could obtain the interest OF,
my deposit was by disseminating ser
Vlce-that II WIS Contrary to their CHS
tom TO allow payment Of the interest
otherwise Where person has had gas
serNiee for ten years. the interest aC-
crued amounts 70 al least 80 per cent
on the posit, and. instead OF 80 %
the company has S1g0O Of that uersor' &
money. on $500. Of which they nav no
interest and which they refuse to nav
over 10 the lawful owner
Thousands OF dollars Of the peopIe's
money Is thus unlawfully withheld from
the Hghtful owners.
Compel Yearly Accounting.
The company should be compelled "a,
refund this. and the law should be
amended 10 compel the company to ac-
count for such interest at least yearly.
Every consumer. who has a deDosir
with the gas company should at once
demand that the accrued interest be
paid over, and that the money thus uu-