The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-12-09
Public Utilities Commission .
Of the District of Columbia, \
Washington, D. c.
Gentlemen:


By reason of the large increased for the past year
Of all raw materials entering the manufacture OF OF labor
of maintenance of property and taxes the Washington Gas Light
Company compelled ask for increase OF rate to be charged
to gas consumers of the District of Columbia.
Between July 1901 and September l. 1916 the lawful rate.
fixed by Act of Congress- which the Washington Gas Light Company
was authorized charge private the District OF Com
ba was dollar per thousand cubic feet The LAS COMPANY
however during the years le09o made voluntary reductions
the price gas private from dollar to ninety cents
and from ninety cents cents the latter rate beng the
rate charged until October 1916 During said period and until
August 1917 undertook pay and id to its shareholders
go upon what the time of the reduction rate to eghhve
considered conservative and tar value OF Its property used
and useful in the conduct of its business The Company thought that
by said reduction private sales would IN
such that the earnings would be maintained or
increased but the sales OF gas did mol increase accordance with
the expectations of the Company However great economies were
effected rot only the manufacture of but all departments
and by thereof during the period from about the first OF jan
ua 1911 until about the first of October 1916 the receipts from
gas sales the ehve rate to private about
enabled the Company and plant the best possible
condition pay its shareholders go upon what believed be
TIE fair value of property the time sad reduction
made and give the public good and adequate service That
the service adequate and satisfactory indicated by the
markedly few complaints the Company received during SAID period
During the time when the Commission appraing the prop
ey the Washington Gas Light Company and few months PRIOR
to its final order fixing far amount which should represent Just
preparation Bill which became law September l. 1910 the toll
lowing:
by S any THAT a4 Aft M R Of any GSH 5ss 3
Wa Gas o Light
furnished by said for
of the public buildings the United States D
of Columbia a in of thousand
cubic
s nd @ @ day H Gss s s5ss ss hs ss5 s5s s1
collect fu;niilei private of
the District of Columbia of
and Of if a
cor uner o
Columbia shall pay monthly any bill within
shall b2en said
charge and collect such
caid bill aldti0lal for each
"hcu-
vidcd further That nothing herein Confined shall be continued
limiting tc&iag Of th> vested
law the Public Utilities Commission Of the District Of Co.
lumbia.
By this law there only reduction in the of
the Company of about l29, but became effective the very
beginning. shortly subsequent thereto of the increased of la
Tor and of all materials entering the manufacture of gas
Believing the fixed by this should be enforced
that the receipts from the sales of gas would be insufficient pay
operative and other expenses incident the manufacture of gas
taxes interest its bonded indebtedness and the of
its stockholders which had heretofore been paying about
November 1910 the Company requested the Commission under
date of September 49, 1916 its order continuing the eighty
i've cent rate TO until after the completion of
the aPPrasemen OF TIE property OF the Company and the fixing Of
its fair value basis for The Commission declined
to grant this of the Company but later suggested that
trial of be made by the Gas Company under the seventy
hive cent rate which has accordingly been DONE The result
years trial under the rates fixed by said loss