The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-11-20
INCREASE IN GAS RATES
WILL BE BITTERLY FOUGHT
HEARING NOW ON PROMISES
LONG LEGAL BATTLE
General Manager Sullivan Leaves
Stand After Two Days-An-
other officer Follows.

iisnt ana heat company and Its sub
sidiary companies 10 increase the
rates OF gas served domestic and IN.
dustrial consumers in the Wheeling
district which are being opposed by
consumers OF both classes before the
State Public Service commission at
hearing now being conducted by
Judge Howard y. ogden. of the com
mission. promises to develop into
one of the hardest fought legal battles
In this state in recent years That
II will be weeks and probably months
before the matter is adjusted IS Ger.
tain.
In the event that n decision is
rendered by the Public Service COM
mission against the gas companies.
II was given out yesterday by coun-
sci for the companies that the case
will be carried 10 the federal courts
and possibly 10 the United States
Supreme Court This would require
considerable time and II would prob
ably be two or three years before a
final decision Is rendered.
One thing is certain, however. and
that Is the investigation being con
Quoted by Judge ogden for the Pub
lie Service commission will be- thor
oush. and will not be completed TOR
some weeks 10 come. with the COM
pletion yesterday OF the examination
OF T. o. Sullivan. general manager OF
the Manufactures Light and Heat
company. only two or three more wit
nesses are 70 appear in behalf OF the
companies. The taking OF their
testimony will probably be completed
late this afternoon or Friday. when
the companies will rest.
The hearing viii then be recessed
Tor ten days or two weeks. during
which time two expert accountants IN
the employ OF the protesting consum-
ers and the commission will go over
the records and accounts submitted by
the companies TO ascertain their cor
rectness. These accountants will then
make an abstract OF their findings.
with special reference 70 the relation
or the Manufacturers Light & Heat
Company 10 its subsidiary concerns.
and VIII report when the commission
again convenes The side OF the con-
sumers VIII then be taken up and sew
eral days will be devoted 10 the exam
ination OF witnesses appearing for the
state and the consumers \ compari.
son OF rates charged In the Wheeling
district with rates in other sections
OF the country will he "A feature. II IS
claimed by the protesting consumers
that much lower rates are charged
cities. even where the gas is piped n
considerable distance Their conten-
tion is that with the gas within a few
miles OF the Wheeling district the
rates here should be lower. or at most
as low as elsewhere
Mr.. SulliVan's Testimony Concluded.
AFTER being on the witness stand
for the past three DAYS. during which
time he was interroEated concerning
all phases OF the Fns Industry and
tho workings OF the Manufacturers
Light & Heat Company. General Man
ager Sullivan was excused yesterday
afternoon on the condition that he
may be recalled AZ any time. During
HIS testimony. Mfr sullivan reviewed
rather fully the dealings OF the Manu-
faciurers' Light & Heat Company and
its subsidiary companies since he be-
came affiliated with ~ as general man
ager. more than three years ago Re
fore leaving the stand he was asked
bv Judge ogden ~ he could recall any
thing which had been overlooked and
which might make matters clearer.
Il believe not" replied Mr.. sullivan.
smiling. 81 think 7 have told Won all
7 know about tho gas businc
A. the opening of the afternoon Sos
sion yesterday. At o'clock. judge
Frank ". Neshitt. appearing FOR IN"
protesting consumers. resumed tho
cross examination OF the witness Mr.
Sullivan stated that under tho read
,istment % charges. the rates on
each side ~ the Ohio river would DO
tho same IN each district fIe was
again questioned regarding tho Manu-.
facturers' relations with the subsld.
iary companies He said that these
companies have boards OF directors
which hold meetings and submit A..
nuai reports 20 Tho stockholders. Mr.
Sullivan testified that a cash invest.
ment 81 $1,000 900 was put into the
company this year by tho efockhold.
crs. they paying for tho new stock ~
par. he said the opportunity 20 pur.
chase this stock was not confined OK
c'usivc'v % tho stockholders. but that
they were given tho fret opportunity
and mo roma ndsr ~ tho took wa
/ placed ON falo az open market iIc
/ admitted that included IN tho prop
or'y which The Manufacturers LIGHT
and Hoat company cold % Tho Hope
Natural Gas company a. Tho time the
contract between those two com
I panieg was made. are certain limos
through which fhr Hope company ia
now supplying mo Manufacturer
] company
The witness sl'd that some ~ tho
I smaller complriaa before they Uoro
taken over hy mo Manufacturer bad
3 found tho business uuprofifatI. and
we're anxious fo coll ITO mentioned
the Franklin and Washington Gas
company or being very DESTROYS "a
selling ont
+ A. th" time ~ rho purchase az 'he
subsidiary c1mp1r'e. SIR sullivan
said That DO bad rof coon thor Irr.u
tories Tho valuation of 'ie proper
t'es of fho Manufacturers rs a1iT
. was ha .rd upon inventories of tr.se
3 c1mpau'ee made boo connection VITA
3 other prnrfr''s.
inventories Submitted.
several f.rt4r.. ~ Intrnfor..a
worr produced .r court They daIIf
WITH v1r.Du. materials under ...rr.fe
heaf.nra. and bowed .H. f| rrH.Y
mont ~ nl rrDr.r'I.. OF rH. T.rH.
facfurnr' I.rhf HrH H.rf rnmrnrs