The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-11-15
By c. A. Reynolds

Judge Maine. OF the supreme
court OF this state. speaking for the
court. and determining the question
OF Jurisdiction over tn. service OF
public utilities within municipali-
ties. as modified by the Public Sery-
leo Commission Act. said
"consicerine the entire stat
ute. and especially the excerpts
quoted thersfrom. u seems
plain 20 ". that II WAS the leg
isiatise intent that the power
and authority TO regulate q pub
Tic Utility was vested In the
public service commission from
and after the time the law took
effect. and that when the law
became effective II revoked the
power Of the city 20 leaislste
upon the subject matter cover.
ed By the order"
The supreme court OF the state.
II will be seen. has settled the
question Of Jurisdiction over serY.
ice OF public utilities in this state
and has definitely held that the IN.
risdiction lies wholly with the pub.
lie service commission.
How Rates Increase
Rates for service OF public utili.
ties may DO increased In two ways.
either by directly increasing the
rate or BY decreasing or furnish.
Ing an Inferior service az the same
price In the regulation OF gas. the
price Is more frequently increased
by furnishing an inferior gas.
In order to prevent the fur
nishing OF inferior gas. stat
utes provide that the gas shall be
OF a certain standard quality In
the state OF Washington. the stand
ard has been fixed at GOO British
thermol units. which means 600
units OF heat per thousand feet OF
gas. II will be seen that what the
patron is supposed to get for his
expenditure is heat units. To test
the quality Of the gas. II is neces'
aary to use an instrument called a
calorimeter The state OF Washing.
ton has a laboratory and Ia prepar.
cd TO test gas so IL the city OF Sc
attic.
Inferior Gas
II was ascertalned thru the lab.
oratory tests by the public service
commission that the gas supplied
the people OF the city OF Seattle at
all times during the months OF May
and April. 1915. was OF an Inferior
quality. and notice In writing was
served upon the gas company di.
rectIng Il 10 improve the quality OF
the gas. Friends OF the gas com.
pany suggested two remedies: GD
To decrease the standard required
by the commission. f2) To remove
the laboratory.
Laboratory Removed
Shortly thereafter the laboratory
was removed to Olympia. where II
has ever since remained In harm
less seclusion. II may be asked
having a laboratory in Seattle. why
should not the city Of Seattle Itself
make the tests? The city could
make the tests. but II could only
say to the gas company. Please
Mr.. Gas Company. will YOU furnish
n better quality OF gas?" The pub
lie service commission could. II II
would, compel the company to obey
the law.
The result OF the present situa.
ton In that the gas company fur
nishes gas to suit its own sweet
will. II may increase the gas rate
at any time II sees m and fur.
nish Just sufficient quality OF
gas. with it's red sputter, to get by
the housewife.
The public service commission
OF Washington justifies itself In
this failure to perform this duty
upon the ground OF economy. II
says to you. MIR Taxpayer, see
the money we have saved you hy
falling to perform a duty prescrib.
ed by law" and this seems to sat
isfy.
We might say TO you. Mrs.
Housewife. however. that each
month you are being taxed In the