The Sentinel=record., 1918-01-04
TEMP0RALY AGREEMENT
 REACHED BY ATTORNEYS
The Excess Rate Paid Into the Com. pany Will Be Accounted for and if Suit is Lost This will Be Refunded to the Users-The Case Will 3 Determined Within the Month.

When the Consumers Gas Com pany of this city received an order from the pipe line company to in crease the local rates, and did not do so, the pipe line company threat ened to cut off the supply for Hot Springs on January I, and the local company went into the courts to se- cure an injunction against the gas being cut off
 Yesterday in Little Rock attorneys for the Consumers Gas Company and the pipe line reached a temporary agreement in the matter.
 The gas supply will not be cut off here, but the increase will have to be collected, but the sum of the in- crease will be held by the court, and if in the final decision of the case the increase is not justified. that money will be refunded to the con sumers who have paid it. Of course if the pipe line company wins the suit the increase in price will con tinue in effect
 The increase is said to be wholly applied to the larger consumers. but even at this, it will amount to con siderable money.
 NIr. Dillon, general manager for the public utilities, had eXerted every means to prevent the increase of rates, and believes that the suit can be won. In the event it is, the in- creases ordered in other cities and promptly placed into effect in other cities, will of course, be attacked.
 An investigation of the whole gas situation has been ordered by Mayor Taylor of Little Rock which will de- velop the facts essential to the con- troyersy here. That report will not be made soon, as MT. Taylor says:
 ''One thing connected with the in- vestigation must be emphasized" said Mayor Taylor, "and that is the public must not expect the work to be done in day or a week. It will require some time to secure a man who is competent and reliable. The task he will undertake is a big one and, to be properly done, will necessitate many days of work. However, there will be no unnecessary delay.
 No action was taken on the peti- ton of W. P. Wilson, representing the Consumers Gas Company, which asked for a gas franchise and agreed to drill three wells near Little Rock within six months if assured the franchise would be granted. The pe- titioner also asked for an opinion from the city attorney whether the exclusive. A communication from John R. Robinson, representing the Iignite Products Company of Cam den, proposing the manufacture of artificial gas from Ignite, also was postponed until after the investiga- tion.
 Walter F. Booth, manager of the Little Rock Gas and Fuel Company. said that conditions are no worse in Little Rock than in any other city and better than in many. 'If we could get double the suppy of gas we now have, we would try to use it in the summer" said Mir, Booth, and the same shortage would result in the winter It would seem poor business to have all this investment lie idle all the summer and through many months in the year in order to be able to supply the maximum in the winter. Conditions that exist here exist in every other city that uses natural gas. As a distributor we are powerfless to do more, as we depend entirely on the pipe line company for our supply. This company is doing everything it can to increase the sup ply My instructions as manager have been to always do everything can for the people of Little Rock, as the Dawes Brothers are partial to this city because there has been less