Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-31
UNNECESSARILY
ALARMED, SAYS SHELTON
Inspector of Gas Says Less Than 2
Per Cent Will Have to Make
Deposit.
MERELY EXTENDS OLD RULE
Under Former System More Than
1,400 Citizens Had Money in City
Treasury to Secure Payment of
Their Gas Bills.

"It would seem, on account Of rumors,
that very large number OF gas con-
sumers are unnecessarily alarmed about
gas deposits" said City Inspector of
Gas Joseph NJ. Shelton last night THE
city ordinances give tho Inspector of
Gas the power to require a deposit of
money to secure the payment of what
will become due for gas whenever he
thinks 1t necessary TO secure the city
against loss. He has exercised that
authority for at least twenty years,
and about l.4o0 gas consumers now
have deposits in the City Treasury To
secure the payment OF their gas bills
When the property owners were re-
lieved of responsibility in regard to
delinquent gas bills 1t was suggested
and expected that the inspector would
furnish the necessary protection to the
Gas Department By extending the de-
posit system.
We realized the Importance OF ex-
tending the system principally TO n
certain class Of large consumers az soon
AZ possible, many of whom had been
previously relieved of deposits by. re-
quest of property owners or their rep
resentatives. We have not found 1t
necessary to notify more than 3GO
consumers Of all classes in that part
Of the city east of First Street that
they would be required to put up a
deposit equal to about once and a halt
their January bills.
AT least fifteen days elapse after the
meter is read before the law allows us
to turn tho gas off for delinquency.
WILL NOT GREATLY EXTEND
DEPOSIT SYSTEM
"Of this number more than third
will be excused on account OF salts
factory information as to their LA
bility should they default In payment
OF their bills, and at least nifty were
called on for additional deposits on ac-
count of increase in the amount of
bills. The number to be notified in
the balance of the city Will be much
smaller. AS at present advised do
not believe that our deposit system
will be extended to more than per
cent Of our old consumers. or course,
we Will be more exacting about de-
posits In receiving new consumers, but
not az much SO as public service COM
panies generally, and II our consumers
allow their gas to be turned off for
delinquency they must expect to be
turned on as new consumers.
Much has been said about con-
sumers who have always been prompt
in the payment of their bills. This
does not always indicate good debt
payers. There is pecuniary reason
the per cent penalty. My exper-
fence teaches me that generally those
who pay their bills promptly are no
more particular about paying delin-
quent bills than others.
The duty imposed upon me is GER
tainly very disagreeable Deposit
means security, and 1t often falls to
my lot to exact this security from
those who have my sincerest sympn-
thy.
so far we have been able to make
most excellent showing in regard to
delinquent gas bills. and / realize that
II our losses are greatly increased on
account OF unpaid bills 1t will be at
tributed to lack OF proper enforcement
OF the ordinances bearing upon the
subject"