The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-12-10
NEW RATES FOR GAS NOT sUs-
PeNDEOICOllECTioNs ONLY
STAYED FOR THE TIME.
EXACT PURPORT OF THE TEMPO.
RARY AGREEMENT is
EXPLAINED.
LETTER OFFICIALLY STATING
THE SITUATION SENT OUT
TO CUSTOMERS.


To the Editor OF The wheeling In
tenigencer. Wheeling. w. Va.
The articles which appeared in va
rious papers. purporting to be an ac-
u OF the proceeding before the
Public Service Commission OF West
Virginia on Saturday afternoon last.
contained so many erroneous and mis-
leading statements, which are calcu-
lated TO do a great deal OF harm to the
petititioning gas companies II not cor
rected. Accordingly We are. there.
fore enclosing herewith a complete
transcript OF the proceeding that actu.
ally did occur before the Public Serv.
ice Commission on Saturday after
noon. which we are asking you 20 pub
lish herewith.
The published report hat the gas
companies are contemplating discon-
tinuing the application n abandon
their increased rates is -erroneous:
instead. the companies intend 10 pro-
ceed with the matter with all dill
gence TO final adjudication. and have
been advised by counsel a strong and
complete prima facie case has been
made out justifying the proposed re-
adjustment OF rates. The commission
er himself has commented on the
splendid showing made by the gas
companies.
So far as the proceedings have pro-
crossed. the commissioner in charge
OF the same has been m%anifestly fair
n just in all his rulings; the only
unfortunate circumstance being the
misleading reports which have hereto
fore appeared In the newspapers IN
their reports from day 10 day OF the
proceedings before the commissioner.
The following is the stenographic
report OF the proceedings. showing the
adjournment and the action taken re-
garding the proposed rates:
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
In re
MANUFACTURERS LIGHT & HEAT
COMPANY.
Saturday. December G. 1918.
Afternoon session.
The hearing was resumed at .
O'Clock p. m, on Saturday. December
s. 1918. pursuant TO recess.
COMMISSIONER OGDEN desire
the attention of counsel more particu-
larry than any other persons as to the
situation OF the Investigation az this
time. The companies ave made out
"A prima facie case on either one OF
two or three theories. justifying their
existing rates. the new rates being the
rates they claim 10 be in force in some
places, and we have spent now two
days and half OF another day I'm some
what c~ontradicting or at least showing
some defects in the prima facie show
ing made by the companies. IL IS
manifest that the Investigation here
TO determine what would be a fair
schedule OF rates 10 be enforced I'm this
district. and also 20 determine some
questions that might arise on the face
of the schedules themselves as TO
the fairness of the charges as to the
different classes. cannot be settled on
the face OF the present evidence. or
settled except by exhaustive inquiry.
When We began this proceeding Il
was understood and assumed. both by
the Commission and also assented TO
by the representatives, OF the company.
that the status quo should remain un.
disturbed as far as possible. II is not
the desire % tbs Commission TO de-
prive this company of any legal rights.
technical or otherwise. which il may
nave by virtue OF the order in which
these rates have been filed. want 10
Hlhlf. nONtNFF. IN OTuFT 10 nave Iuf
matter clear and appear upon the rec
ord s % that everyone may know here
after that We were acting knowingly
about II. hat when these rates now
being taxed were brought to the Com
mission at Charleston. and brought 20
my personal attention. ! found by in
quiry that they were a slight increase
over the rates the company had been
charging AZ different points OF distri-
button. Thereupon ! directed the sec
rotary 10 file these new rates. under
Section Q OF the Act. and the messen-
gers OF the company who were there
agreed TO file their old rates-that is.
the rates in force on the twenty-hrst
day Of May. and they were considered
as fled as Of that day. and az far "a II
occurred 10 me. the application would
have 20 take its course under Section 2
thereafter. n seems the old rates were
never fled. AZ promised. and probably
the messengers misunderstood their
instructions. In n event. the attor-
neys. Mr. We'll and Governor Glass
cock. asked 10 have these applica-
lions Withdrawn without prejudice.
and after some delay and hesitation.
the Commission granted that request.
and these rates were Withdrawn some
NANAfH 4 NNANn NN HH|N|"' NlNN'A N'NNAA ANEN
filed 10 take effect ON the first Of An.
gust. on the ground that the time Of
the order had passed. and they also
proposed 10 renew tho application so
tho rates would take effect on the first
OF November and when tho company
gave the notice that the rates would
take effect on the first ~ November.
and began 20 advertise these rates.
then this Investigation was started.
partly upon what was complained ~
by consumer Goo thls district a. an un.
warranted Increase in rates VOW.
that g. tho status quo. The company
representative have been very fair
with the Commission and 7 don't care
10 prejudice. ever Boo 81 preliminary or
her. n ! can avoid 10. any questions ~
right raised on this record as 20 points
~ fact. But 30 la desirable since
plainly We cannot complete fhis inves-
f~igatlon zero Within any reasonable
time-tO lef matters drift along a. 20
tho putting in force 0f these rates
800