The Washington times., 1915-12-17
CHEAP LIonTFoR GOVERNMENT

CHEAP LIGHT FOR GOVERNMENT
Uncle Sam has means to protect
himself against extortionate charges
by public service corporations; and
it is reported that he is considering
project that, if it is carried into
execution, will serve the useful pur-
pose of demonstrating how extor-
tionate are the rates for electric
light in this town.
Congress has appropriated $780,
600 to build great electric plant to
provide current for the numerous
Government buildings and establish
ments in Washington. When pro-
posals for it's erection were received,
it developed that none of them came
within the appropriation, and the
question arose, whether a smaller
plant should be built, or Congress
be asked to provide more money.
Now comes the Potomac Electric
Power Company, proposing that it
will make terms for the Govern
ment business, on which the Federal
buildings may be lighted cheaper
than it could be accomplished by a
Government plant. There is likely
to be submission of this proposal to
the authorities, including Congress,
before final determination shall be
reached as to building the Govern
ment plant.
There is every reason of sound
business for maintaining a monop-
oily in the business of manufacturing
electric current for the town. 1t is
cheaper to perform such service
from a single immense establish
ment, rather than to divide it among
many, as is now the proceeding. The
very fact that so many Government
buildings have their own electrical
equipments, turning out small
amounts Of service from small
plants, was one of the important ar
guments in favor of a big Govern
ment plant. The same reasoning
carried to logical conclusions would
at length decide that the Govern
ment ought to build no plant at all,
but to buy its electricity from the
one great producer, and thus get the
advantage of wholesale production
on the largest possible scale.
This is logical enough; but un-
fortunately there is no logic about
the management of this electric
business in Washington. If the Gov
ernment enters into a big contract
to buy its current from the Potomac
Power Company, that contract will
have to be made on terms highly ad.
vantageous to the Government. A
very low rate will be necessary; q
J rate, perhaps, so low that it will in.
crease the company's necessity fol-
continuing high rates to general con,
; sumers.
At present the Potomac company
sells current at exceedingly low
t rates to railway companies of the
{ Washington Railway and Electric
system. 1t is fine thing for these
: railway companies, and the network
of intercorporate relationship!
, makes it highly satisfactory to ev
) erybody concerned, except the gen
> eral public, which is compelled t.
: pay for its lights at rates that arr
= excessively high, just in proportion
; as the rates to the favored corpor
= ate consumers are excessively low
That is, in effect, the public, buying
= lights at exorbitant rates, pays TO,
t the current that the railway com
: panies get at immoderately Low
2 rates.
e If Uncle Sam is to be added, a.
one more big buyer of electric cur
: rent at very low rates, it will meal
: just that much more burden upol
: the small general consumer. Tn
Potomac Electric Company shoul,
n not be permitted to carry on indefi
: nitely such a policy; and the Gov
: ernment should not make itself
o party to such a scheme. The gen
), eral public is entitled to light
s cheaper than it gets them now; an
good deal cheaper, too. If the Pc
IS tomac company is able to sell cur
J. rent to the railways and the Fedora
8, buildings, at rates which are ridicu
/. lously low as compared to rates tn
l. public pays for lighting its home
Ie and places of business, it prove
n. that the public is being gougeC
ID Uncle Sam should not become
IS party to that sort of imposition o
= the public.
X Every development in the electri
r situation of Washington adds en-
ie phAsis to the demand that Gres
.s Falls be inprOved and made In Eery