The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-11
FAST" METER
GAS SWINDLE
ISLAID BARE
New York Commission
Stops Practice, But
Washington Has
No Recourse.

Writing about the work Of the new
public service commission IN New York
the Saturday Evening Post presents.
as one of the greatest services that body
has rendered to the public. the work
for regulation Of gas meters. II is found
under the New York law and experience
ihat the gas concerns have 1Sen robblng
their patrons extensively BY dint OF
using fast meters.
Nobody in Washington VIII need 70 be
assured that the same practice, or some
thing Ike it. is employed here, Gas bills
are universally reported higher than
ever before, and gas quality lower.
Suggests Meter Detective.
Here is a letter which came to The
Times this morning, presenting one sug-
gestion for remedying the situation:
Editor Washington Times:
Hoping that you bring TO the attcn-
ton OF the authorities the manner in
which the monthly collections are made
by the gas company, I beg to make The
following suggestion:
There viii be little use IN reducing
the price Of gas, II some other way is
not found in taking the monthly state
Of the meter. than the present one. I
suggest that the state Of the meter be
taken on duplicate slip, showing the
dials Of the meter marked to correspond
for nspecbon-together with the exact
time OF taking the same, and deposited
With occupant OF the house at the time
il is taken. The auditor OF the District,
Afr. Garrison recommended that anem-
plOye accompany ths collector for the
gas company TO certify the statement Of
the meter. think It has been found sat
isfactory to both parties concerned.
"A READER OF THE TIArE5"
The Times has the highly interesting
assurance of q man with long expert
once as an official Of gas company
that one of the favorite enterprises Of
inventive people Is producing devices
that will make gas meters register fast.
These, Il IS declared, are constantly be
ing offered 10 gas companies. The in
ventors seem To assume that gas COM
panies would be quite willing TO use
fast meters if they could do so safely
Wouldn't, But Could.
OF course, the washington Gas Mo-
nopoly wouldn't DO any such thing No,
indeed. But il it Warted 10, it would
be able TO work the scaemc right easily
for there is no real attention paid by
the gas and meter Inspector 70 the
working OF meters.
If the consumer complains and asks
that his Taetcr be taken out and in
spected, an employe Of the gas company
gees 20 the house, takes out the meter,
lugs it around 20 the Gas Monopoly 5
office. II be likes, ana in time gets II TO
the Inspector for the Official test after
the test is made, the meters are ceFuhed
as correct ard again turned over TO the
Gas MOnOpOly's people 10 be set N the
house of consumer
There may be folk il this town who
don't believe the Gas Monopoly would
be mean enough 70 doctor meter
There may be cOnhding individuals VINO
wouldn't think Il willing 10 employ "A
scheme to rob the consumer. But they
are so scarce that proposition TO *
nibit a dozen Of them on one stage, all
captured In washington, ard all having
been consumers d gas WOulu M 4
mighty big theater
Eliminating "Fast" Meters.
Here IS what the Saturday Evening
Post SAYS about the work OF the New
York commission in eliminating the
fast gas meter:
perhaps no activity OF the Public
Service Commission touches SO inti-
,nately the great mass Of the people
as the official Inspection OF gas meters
Here is a work that not only inv0i"cs
the conserving Of the pennies OF The
poor. but the dollars Of the rich.
For years the inspection Of the gas
meters IN New y Ork state was almost
a formaUty. IN fact. il was not a real
insDectiou. It was the practice of the
state inspector Of meters to select ten
or fifteen meters out OF a lot Of a thou
sand examine these and then issue seals
for the entire thousand. II any Of these
meters happened 10 be defective the
consumer had to pay often an exces-
sive charge
but that sort Of thing does not
go now. Each commission has a burelu
Of gas and electricity, with a staff OF
inspectors. whose duty L is TO inspect
every meter that goes into service.
What is more significant. every person
in tie state can have his own meter
whether it be gas or electric tested by
the commission, II II Is found that the
meter is defective the gas company
pays the fec. which is seldom ever over
80 cents. If the -neter Is accurate the
consumer pays.
Every meter in8tSlied must bear the
seal Of the commission. In New York
city during the first four months OF
tae work ninety-nine thousand meters
were Inspected and tested
Swindling Is Detected.
The records Of meter testing in New
York city show some Impressive results.
In three months 1894 complaints were
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