The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-10

to this particular consumer % gas At the
rate Of 1eiz cents per hundred cubic feet,
and 81 the new rate Of II cents per hun
dred cubic feet. ] weuld Ike 10 have
the clerk read this letter and the state
ment attached to IT,
The clerk read as follows:
Washington. j.. G. April .. 1910
don. William J. Cary.
House 81 Representatives,
" Washington, l.. q.
Dear Sir 7 hand you here with state
!oenI Of the gas bills at my residence.
Your information ard such use as YOU
may put the same to. During all this
tinne there has been no change III my
household the same number Of people
theTe ali the time. You VIII notice that
under the old rate Of 123z cents per 100
cubic feet the gas bills average about
s'<VV feet, while under the new rae Of II
cents Der 10 cubic feet. with a discount
or ~ cents. making 20 cents per l,0o9, the
average Is about 4, 200 cubic feet, being
an excess bill at the decreased price.
nc result to the consumer Is that We
ORE paying. as shown by this statement
considerable more for gas consumed un-
ger tile decreased price thar formerly
~ the increased rate 1t would appear
luat me reduction was apparent only.
HHc Ut THIS same ratio holds good the
EdS company doubtless by increased
pressure, = charging more for gas than
,iie5 nave heretofore attempted to col
- called this matter 10 the atten-
lioH OF me EaS company, a nd vas adj
FlSed That 7 was using more gas. 7 am
convinced that I am getting more pres
SIS. ana also chst 7 am not getting
noe Ess except Cor the increased pres
- - VIII thank YOU TO inquire into
ms matter, and II &c viii help TO re-
ltuCs ine actual price u will be a benefit
70 me consumer Very truly yours.
M Humphreys-wH YOU be kind
SHyush TO let me have that sir and
LCok IT, 0Ter2 7 tried 10 take down some
- - tnt hSures, but I could not follow n
Mr. Cary Those are an the questions
that I care to ask Eop-.
sii- Hum hreys-W Well Of course. the
vlil reply that / can make 20 this Mr.
Cary. - the one that I have ALREADY
ltsiue lHdt- / think as reasonable beings
" N-an all acEnOWl edge that where we
al Ger thing at a cheaper rate E-e use
l-toie or H. lake. Tor instance. the taxi
$40 rate II 1t should drop down in the
CiAF OF Washington 10 half the price
Llsai IS nov being paid. then We would
ELsdteF extent than We do n1v- And
thlnk that is entirely natural or
Course } nave said " here = comes 10
the actual question Of the increase in
- assure putting any disadva ntage. upon
Sne consumer the only trouble is al the
burner, and there he can control II bV
the COCK II you Try 10 burn gas under
8 EIeater pressure Lnan YOU have been
me particular kind Of burner mat Is
-Aee- and the particular kind OF gas
LnaL IS used n YOU have too high pres
sure YOU VIII not get the fun ecoDonli-
cal results. OF course and fbera h q
nlSao vantage under which the coruoanv
idoDiSs TOT ulueTenI Eas-cCnsuniug ppli-
1HceS require different pressure< for the
nest results which make % necessary
Tor the consumer 10 use some decreo ~
lUtellt EenCe in controlling each burner
ne ne 9tI IS before him, he can see
To- TO-. -lI'L'elI what happens. and accord
TX a. = Lidn OF = woman takes better
care OF the consumption. SO viii the
most economical results be secured
Inspector Of Meters
Nov. b. the trouble Is one Of regis
Jrarion Of the meter. here in Wash
lnston YOU have a peculiarly. fortunate
SITUATION IN that respect. You have
Government inspector Of meters, and
he Is right here in the District 10 an
intent under the control OF this com
mittee- He Is responsible for the me-
tiers. and u that meter registers cor
. eeti., men Jae consumer gets the gas
a consumer mas the right to 8Eoiy for
AZ examination Of the meter and n
nave not round company in late
yeats VINO refused any man when he
asked an examination OF the meter
Mr. CaTy-Aud they charze hin,
haI dollar Tor it. don't they2
Nh umphreyS-f don't know w-Fef hor
- 90 OF not. ] should not think so
But the Government inspector NAV
charge / don't know how that ia
M tary-Just one more question In
answer 10 your statement 7ust made
MI also cali your attention 10 Mr.
NdstZ' VINO runs saloon at Fourth
ana - streets northwest His gaS bfTI
II a great deal higher now than IA used
70 D, and he does not burn one more
or heep open any later He has got 10
close Al > O'clock
M HumphTeys-Nosg that Is oueS-
.-oI or Sg,zleHtiIlc accuracy OF statement.
and We Know that where scientific in
suuments are used and Scientific oh
servers are employed YOU have 10 10
carei'si 10 make accurate statements be-
IoTe you can tabulate them for com
pariScn- How u he going To saw tbat
ne dld not use any more Burners
~ Nef1-buJ ne has the bills right
AR HUmphreys-But that dos not
snow row many burners he usee or r,ruv
late ne kept his place open Those csSes
nave come 10 me. of course. and We are
60 Z. . lolL liiSJ We ere wrong. but as a
rue II cannot be - demonstrated. hTosr
Of the statements are made recL,lessly,
y l.hout any attempt having been made
% Keep record OF the facts. as would
De required ~ a court Of law
Mr. Wiiey-T only heard il .ssrraI1,- a.
We - pt9paolS Old here but il struck
me that the ratio there was chaneeI he
cause OF the longer night IN ors7a-
words. III the months OF T5acer,,El, -
larE- and February more gas will he
burned. while the other months are
PROBABLY more uniform I would like 70
ask II thar f true And then I vvot,id
IKE 70 ask whether use Of burners
steadily without having the lava tins
inspected and either taken away or re
paired does not result in a waste Of cas-
which goes through the meter. and for
which the man gets no benefit Is not
that correct
Nh Hun phreys-Certainly, sir
Use Same Lava Tip.
Mr. WHey-T think all companies use
The same lava tip. and If they are not
Inspected or cared for. that they viii
burn more gas. and that you viii get
less light
Mr.. Humphreys-It is absolutely so.
so much so that We are constantly urg-
.nS our consumers to watch that par
ucular point You can readily see that I
= gas company cannot take care of 80 4
% consumers in that respect. they can
not 80 through all of the houses and see
the condition Of the burners. and in 4
many cases Il would be resented II we
lid- But we have 20 depend upon the 4
complaint OF the consumer. ] don't know
of a Sas company in the United States
today that is not rendering great deal /
II service without charge in answer to 4
complainants. and il Is one OF the large
TENS Of expense, too. But these com
plants depend upon the Initiative of the