Evening star., 1915-02-16
OPPOSITION T0CHANG|NG
GAS STANDARD UPHELD
Evan H. Tucker Of Northeast Citi-
zens' Association Replies to
President Of Lighting Firm.

Evan H. Tucker, president OF the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
| tion. in consequence Of an allegation
from Howard 8. Reeside. president OF
the Washington Gas Light Company.
that statement made at a recent meet
ing Of the citizens association concern
ing the policy Of the gas company was
erroneous. has today replied to Mr.. Rec
side in regard to the matter.
Mr.. Resides original statement was
embodied in a letter to Mr.. Tucker.
and was published In The Star Febru-
ary 10. Mr.. fuckers reply also takes
the form of letter addressed to the
president of the gas company
Mr.. fuckers Letter Of Reply.
In reply to your letter of the ninth
instant. calling my attention TO
statement by Mr.. Bransom at meel-
ing Of this association hold FEBRUARY
s." says Mr.. Tucker. permit me TO say
that while this association has prop
ably given more consideration. to the
gas question than any other local civic
organization, and has been very active
in advocating legislation and reguia.
tions for the protection OF the inteIesJ
of consumers of gas in this District. !
think that any one who mas ooseFvso
the actions of this association In the
past in it's dealings with the questions
will admit that it has endeaVoreo "
be accurate in its statements. ana JUST
in it's treatment of your company aho
when you are acquainted with the
facts regarding the statement referred
to by you 1 hope you will have no rea-
son to complain.
when Mr.. Branson made the eaio
statement he stated that the figures
which he presented had recently been
given to him, and that he had not Verl-
fed them, and the only action taken n
by the association in the matter was
to refer 1t to a committee Tor cohsio-
Grafton and report.
while we do not question your
statement that 1t is the policy OF your
company to give to the consumers OF
gas in Washington tho best service
possible. we are cognizant Of the fact
that the interest Of the stockholders
Of the company are generally care
fully protected by its officials. and IN
view Of the activity OF SAID omciais
in their advocacy Of the substitution
of the thermal or heat unit standard
for the candle power standard we nat,
urally inferred that 1t was expected
by them that scme advantage 70 the
company would be effected by the
change Of standards, probably by
saving in cost of production.
Believes Opposition justified.
With the belief that said change Of
standards would not be subservient to
the best interests of the consumers. this
association strenuously opposed said
change, which opposition we believe
has been fully justified. the gas fur
nished under the present heat-unit
standard being very deficient in illu-
minating power, without any CORE
Lsponding advantage In heating quail
tiles.
I'm view Of your statement that the cost
Of oil to the company was greater in
1914, since the adoption of the new stand
ard, than it was In 1918, when the old
standard was employed. it would seem
that no saving in the cost OF production
has been effected by the change, and as it
is quite evident that the company has
failed in it's desire to give to the con-
sumers the best service possible by the
now standard. the adoption OF which its
officials so vigorously advocated. 1t would
seem that the heat-unit standard has
proved to be a failure, and Is detrimental
to the interest of all parties concerned,
and that the candie-power standard should
be readopted at as early a date as pos
sible. We, therefore, hope that the Off
Gals Of tho company. pt0mpted by their
desire to render the best service pos
sble to the consumers will heartily CO.
operate with them to that end. Yours
very truly, EVAN H. TUCKER
President"