The Washington times., 1918-02-20
~ BILL PRICE.


Unless Attorney J. J. DaFIinetoa's
concluding argument in the gas case
makes a profound impression upon
he Utilities Commission, the wash-
ACTON Gas Light Company will not
,ow be granted, an Increase of astes
this city.
The argument was submitted 10
ne commission today, but has not
been read by Commissioners Gaaiiner
aud Brownlow. II win be studied
dered.
The attitude assumed By Conad II.
Syme, general counsel for the COM
mission. made such an Impression
upon Its members that all INDICATIONS
TO-DAY pointed TO action By the COM
mission dismiEsing the appeal Tor
higher gas rates without prejudice
permitting the company TO unwind
itsslI from the legal tangls which
NE. Conrad claims now pTevents them
getting the relief they apply foe.
Upon the strict evidence submitted,
the CommiSsleners and Mr.. Syme.
through their questions at the hear
inEs, appeared 70 hRvs reached the
conclusion that the gas company was
entitled, because of increased costs
OF manufacture all along the line, TO
increased rates to consumers in this
city, 10 between e5 cents and 81 per
thousand feet That was plainly fore
cast.
Benb TPpetE eaIsulEtApns-
But the bomb Mr.. Syme threw into
the legal machinery Of the gas COM
psny has upset all calculations as to
the granting OF increased rates.
Mr.. Syme declared that the gas
company, after gaiting until almost
the last minute, had attacked In the
Supreme Court Of the District the
valuation Of S1Q,3aO, 900 made by the
commission on the ground not alone
that the valuation vas too low. but
that 1t vas not 3 valuation at all. He.
argued that - this YES the position
OF the company, taken before the
court In p bill OF equity, sworn TO by
the Company, the company could not
now come before the commIsSIon and
assert that the action OF the commits
sion was legal and, in fact, a valid
valuation and should be used as Q
basis for rate making at this time.
RIqWlaE sHst1 and sGaId.g
He declared that the company VRSI
trying to "blow hot and cold" Hay
Ing made their own bed, they must lie
in it. Mr.. syms asserted that Mr..
Darlington was playing fer q posi-
ton from which he could attack aayl
new rate hxed By the Commission
He called this PLAYING both enns1
against the middle.
that this case differs from the Poto-
mac Electric light rate case in that
Congress, having waited for Valua-
tiOn to be made Of the gas company
proceeded to TX rates by law and
evidently did not intend that the
rates should be disturbed until > VAL
uation had been definitely settled.
Mr.. Syne gives Hint. i
Mr.. SYThe limited that about the
only thing left for the gas company
to do, if It expected increased rates,
was TO withdraw its appeal for Vplu-
alton from the courts The company
will not be asked TO do this and the 1
might not even then /
grant increased rates unless it was |
assured that the rate so hxed would |
pot be attacked.
Air. Syme today thought the com |!
pany had placed itself in an unen- I
sIstent attitude before the courts and !
the commission"
without CONCESSIONS from the Gas
company the outlook today YG4 For
an almost interminaSle legal battle
in the local courts both eoncsrplng
Ealuation and rates, inasmuch as Al
sorney Darlington, in his argument,
SAYS that II Mr. syms's position IL
upheld, the commission would be
piscad in an attitude of "tnconSist-
ency, ineduity. aud Injustice" He de-
clares this position incapable OF de-
Tense"
Mr.. Darlington points out that the