The Washington times., 1915-02-09
NORTHEAST TO FIGHT
FOR GAS STANDARD
Public Utilities Commission
"Hornswogg|ed," W. S.
Bransom Tells Citizens.

A night to restore the candle power
standard OF gas furnished Washington
consumers IN to be made by the North
east Washington Citizens Association.
this action being determined ut It's
monthly meeting In Northeast Temple
last night.
w. 8. Bransom, in an address. said
that 1t takes two gas jets with lava
tips to furnish as much light as was
formerly given by single )et,s anu
added that gas company experts had
'hornswoggled' the Public Utilities
Commission when they told that body
that 95 per cent OF the gas lights in
Washington were equipped with gas
mantles.
'The ordinary coal gas gives a light
that does not exceed sixteen candle"
power" said Mr.. Bransom. "and when
the gas company was compelled to
maintain twenty-five, candle power
standard 1t purchased large quantities
Of oil which were used to enrich tho
gas. Now that the gas Is tested only
for British thermal units, which have
nothing to do with illuminating power.
these large oil bills are cut in two. but
we still pay the same price for gas.
"Hornswoggled" Commission.
"Of thirteen gas jets in my own home
but one is equipped with a gas mantle,
and / think that ratio maintains
| throughout large part of the homes
| in Washington. Yet the gas experts
told the commission that u per cent OF
the gas for illumination was burned in
! mantles. and | think they. horns
woggled' the comm. .ssion. Many families
are burning almost as much gas now AS
| they did under the old system. and the
are the class of people that can least
afford an increase of this nature
| President Evan II. Tucker. OF the as
ISOLATION. said that he has appeared be-
| fore the commission and had protested
| against the discontinuance of the candle
power unit system. The matter was re-
tcrred to the committee on water. lights
and sewers, OF which A. II. +. Holster
, Is chairman. and this committee will re-
port at the next meeting on what data
II has been able to gather as to the
! increase In the cost of gas lighting.
DR.. Starr Parsons. chairman or th'
| committee on schools introduced reso
luton petition;ng Congress to appropri'
ate money TO- MAINTAIN Tree denta
clinic In the public schools. lie lie
viewed the work now peing done In thu
clinic maintained by the National Capi
tai Dental Society. but said the worl
was greatly handicapped for lack o
IunuS. me TeSolutlon WAS auoptc'
unanimously.
Unanimous Endorsement was given L
the bill which Congressman Page o
North Carolina has introduced. whicI
would permit the consolidation Of al
street railway lines in the District AM
provide for universal transfers. TIL
matter was presented in a resolution
offered by Secretary William f.. Lang
To Attend Hearing.
President Tucker vas appointed
committee Of one to represent the as
sociation at a hearing before the Publ
Utilities Commission this month. calle'
to consider the cancellation OF the com
missions rule that each street ca
trailer" must carry an additional con
ductor. Mr.. Tucker was instructed I
, oppose the move to change the rule a
suggested by the Capital Traction Con-
pany.
A petition from residents on Fifteent
street northeast. south OF G. street. wa
read asking that that thoroughfare b
improved by proper paving and park u
, was referred to the committee on streets
avenues, and alleys. of which W. ,
, Lang Ia chairman. and that committe
VIII take the case up with the DistriC
Commissioners.