The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-12-05

having the State Legislature enact a
law compelling main TRANSPORTING
lines to act as common carriers for
individuals
AS n rule. the professor said. with a
smile, great gas companies do not en-.
courage many citizens to go into the
producing business. My information
is that the big companies have an
agreement whereby they do not in.
fringe on each others territory" he
said.
Increased Rates.
During the early part OF his testi.
mony. DIR. White had stated that the
company with which he was connect
ed had furnished gas to Morgantown
consumers at FIVE cents per 900 cubic
feet. He was asked by Judge Nesbitt
TO state when the rates We're increased
and he replied six or seven years ago.
and perhaps longer. lie was then
asked by the judge what elements
caused the increase. The witness re-
piled that the necessity OF putting in
pumping stations in the fields to keep
the pressure up with the increasing
consumption was one of the principal
elements. The decline In the produc-
AANAAe vi AIf NfAAEs lfAluli lllE Ait uElll-
ing Of others. and the extension of the
lines added. he said.
The Judge then asked him what the
cost to the consumer In Morgantown Is
at present. This question was objected
10 by Attorney We'll. for the defendant
companies. and "A heated argument be-
tween counsel for the two sides then
ensued. Attorneys for the defense con-
tended that theer is no comparison be-
tween the Morgantown case and the one
with which the Manufacturers Light *
Heat company l. concerned. All condi-
lions are entirely different. he said.
Speaking on the system OF books which
Is kept 10y the defendant corporation
sh owing It's accounts with its subsidiary
companies. Judge \esbitt declared. III
ever arrangements created "A monopoly.
and that an Illegal one. We have ~ here. 70
Judge ogden overruled the objection.
stating that the conditions are parallel.
An exception was taken to the ruling.
Judge Neshltt asserted that II was not
only permissible hut wisdom TO inquire
consumers Of Morgantown or any other
community within the Jurisdiction Of the
commission.
During his argument Judge Nesbitt
referred 20 the relations between the
Manufacturers Light a Heat company
ana It's other companies as a trust Il
certainly 10 mean a trust replied the
Judge. Il don't believe they were ever
competing companies at any time" To
this Attorney We'll replied for the COM
pdny that there - no reason why there
couldn't be competition in any town. In
fact" he SAID. there is competition IN
Take Months to Examine.
Governor GlasScock declared that n
the commission undertook TO make a
comparison Of the rates charged here
and at Morcautowu. and further, n. as 10
was intimatcd at the last session Of the
hearing, two weeks ago. "A physical Vaiu-
alton OF the Manufacturers' Light a,
Heat company properties were taken, ~
"a uuld he necessary to take "A physical
valuation OF the plant Of the Morgan
town company before a fair comparison
could be made. This, he said. would
take months. and the hearing would
probably continue FOR more than a year.
other comparisons would he brought up
he said. and before definite conclusions
could be reached a. to the Justice OF the
proposed rates. the valuation OF proper
ties Of other companies should be taken.
Tor instance, he said. the company At
Morgantown to which reference was
made. u now "A part OF "A general utili-
ties corporation. controlling the gas
trolley, water and light service Of that
town. II would he necessary to ascer-
tain what percentage OF the holdings
was represented hy the gas system. The
sam" superintendent managed all and
practically the same office force was
employed for all four systems he add
ed For years the company had been q
losing proposition. he said. and IL would
he necessary Co show since wher re-
turns were being made 20 the Stockhold-
ets. u would probably be after the SUD
ply Of gas 500 West virginia had l.rpr..,
mission could decide the controversy
one 81 the objections had been that
the evidence did MT have amy hearin,:
ON the case. Attorney i r. Sommertill~
Ton the complaining consumers. remark
td That the defense in presenting their
sldt, hdd presented much evidence which
hdd no bearing on the case. This IT,
not "a trial before a jury but. as I IN
d'fStand IT, ls q hearing before tho
court. The cummtssioucr before whom
10 l- being heard D. not the court ITSELF
II M HIHaHH L. FH#.H.
present 30 before the general court.
lal''. hc said DE argued that the rvi-
denc. Was permissible.
DE comparison of rates Of c0urrodi-
Ties such ts gaS compared with otb.rs
may not he strong or of much value 10
ruled d dye ogden. yet like coal IL is a
common. Hud the circumstance are sim
quar- Co. - great extent and 10 prices az,
q" I' JUDGED hF any standard Oh. .yt-
~, ,i ini- conn ari-'u g. competent
Raisod IN Last year.
'.' t''-is'i "i present rates rharg-
ID, ,,."-uln"rs wa again asked IL
hIig I' replied that a year AGO "A
GOT" FROM Co.. cents per- 900 .iiIt
''i "'t ,HtrEed wHuuiucturtrs. while
iH- domestic rate was Do cents since
N''..'.I ' taff hlt been raised O.. .u
,'li. Will" tn" rate t1 manufacturers
nrHnt 'r thHt district be- added.
continued t1 charge H domestic raf. of
1- "''. ntnIiaDiur.rg rate CO..
When asked further REGARDING the
'NiI'. .. ~ tNr company HI wHfrn Hr
t- formerly a director re stated that
fr.f vla because 3D. uat rfa a.
''fE'I IHt.c were ru matters ON
Goo e'sm. arf though Hat rite ~
cons. WIS charged mtruIt.fur.fa. %
w.. rH .itIe flHf tne cuu.lus was
f't receiving more thIn three of fYur
,'rfe ,.r.ldefirE thc amount CON.
D."