Evening journal., 1917-10-03
AGAINST
Gas METER CHARGE
Public Utilities Commission
Hears Complaints OF
Several Men
MATTER REFERRED
TO CITY SOLICITOR


After listening TO a number Of pro-
tests, verbal and written. against the
% cents a month meter service charge
made by the Wilmington Gas Company, .
the Board OF Public Utility Commits
sloners last nlght reserved decision in
the matter, pending determination by
City solicitor Bayard Of whether that
body can regulate public sbrylce cor
poratlon rate schedules. The hearing
was conducted IN the Council chamber.
Probably thirty taxpayers were present.
Tho following communication from
/ H. s. sohutt general manager Of the
gas company was presented to the
board.
I'VE noto that q special meeting OF
tho Public Utility Commissioners has
been called 90 discuss the meter service
charge which has been put Into effect
by the Wilmington Gas Company.
I'VE want 90 take this opportunity of
advising the commission that we VIII
be very glad 90 assist them In every
way possible To- enable them 90 deter
lNlNlIN NllU Observation-Disclosures NA AIAAH NNANN ~"
and the necessity for 10.
Assuring you of our willingness 70
co-operate I'm every way, we are
Yours truly,
III. S. sCHUTr,
"Goncral Manager"
A petition signed by O LARGE number
of taxnnvors was presented 10 tho
board asking for can investigation Of
. the action Of the gas company In inn
posing upon the gas users of this city
charge of % cents per mouth for use
of each meter" I'VE ask that you
withhold approval fom tuis plan until
such time as you may look into the
necessity for &c and compare the cost Of
gas in Wilmington with that of other
cities, the petitioners said
The signOrs are;
John ]. Dolan, Dennis f. Begley. Sam
, uol J. @ ok, lhl as H. chamb, Cormick
j. McNloni le, Eugene NJ sayers, Victor
Holveck. Ray Tucker. John Fry. p. j.
NRitchio, John j Atkinson, Alfred J.
Roberts. John +. Grant VIM. Menden-
hall, Thomas +. McEvilly, John p.
Mahon, Harry c. Tatman, Danl r. War
ghy, Andrew Little Daniel j. McElroy,
Frank Garner, William W. Mclarlin,
John .. Henry. James NJ. Bradley, b.
iandelman, H. kaufman, A. ~ Viii
lams, j. Ginet, a. q. Brooks, j. IT,
Coffin. II. G. Elsthurn, Artemus Smith
, and William A. Barney
! Franklin L. Mettlor also presented q
, written protest acaiCt the meter
charge The increase was made with
ont the consent Of the commission
ers, he claimf d., which permission an,
consent is necessary, according 20 Tn
4 act creating a Board Of Public Utihtl
Commission.
Representative John r. McNabb
speaking In protest against the pro
+, posed rate. said:
"rhe people Of Wilmington ar
. aroused. The plan makes the small
est consumer pay as much as th'
largest. The man who uses less thar
81 worth OF gas a month must pa
% 10 80 per cent. additional Th
heaviest gas user need pay only twl
per cent. on his bill.
"I understand there are $4,000 ga
p meters in this city That Will meai
an increase Of sec 900 a year in rev
"A enues for the gas company"
"If this company isn't making sii
per cent interest on a real capital
zation, allow them to increase the
rates so that they can said Free
Bacher"
The matter Of the proposed in
crease mad not been taken up witt
81 the Public Utility Board until yes
n ferday. declared President Richard c
McMullen in reply to a question.
Mayor John W. Lawson, when in
vited to speak said he had nothing q
say. but was merely an interestel
&. listener Of the proceedings
Mr.. NcNabb said II he was a membe
e. Of the next Legislature, he would Or,
4 90 see that the Public Utility Commis
sion Is given power 20 regulate the ga
company II 90 should be found 10 doe
not now have ii.
3. Commissioner C.. d. Garreison, in re
ply 90 Mr.. AlcNabb's structures on Ger
,d tain alleged inaccuracies IN gas bills
suggested it might be helpful II On
commission had meter inspectors her
as they do I'm every other city M
at McNabb admitted gas costs more 10 pro
duce now than "a year ago. He oh
iccted however, 10 making the sma
consumer pay so large an increase a
m the largest one. Dir. McNabb adde
that there was a gas inspector az
$500 salary In Wilmington, under IN
jurisdiction Of the Street and Sewe
Department.
Mr.. Garretson said lt was n questio
whether the Street and Sewer Depart
mont or the Public Service Commls
sion has jurisdiction IN the matter. Il
moved that the matter he referred
thc city solicitor for an opinion as
whether the board has jurisdiction
the matter OF the action Of the ga
company The motion was adopted.
lon The board requested also, a copy Z
the last annual statement Of the 81