Evening star., 1919-03-07
SUGGESTS METHOD
Of LOWERING RATE
TOGASCONSUMERS
Bureau of Standards Says
Manufacture by a New
Process Is Advisable.
RAISE ALSO Is SUGGESTED
In PRICE TO GOVERNMENT
Utilities Commission Considering
Application of Local Company for
Right to Increase Charge.

ing process and an increase i'll the rate
laid by the District and federal gov
rrnments were proposed to the public
utilities commission at the gas rate
Aearing today as means of reducing
the charge to individual consumers.
The former recomm endation came
ff0n the United States bureau of
standards, which, at the request of
the commission, investigated the gas
corlpany's plant. Its report was high
" complimentary to the company, de-
ciaring the management and opera
tion of the plant to be efficient and
economical
Suggests New Process.
The bureau. however. suggested that
SUBSTITUTION of a new process of man
macture for the water-gas process
used exclusively by the company
might lead TO considerable reduc-
ton in cost of manufacture. 1t pro-
POSED an investigation by the COM
mission to determine the advisability
q changing the present system.
Evan II. Tucker, representing the
Northeast Citizens Association. CON
.incted an inquiry to show the saw
ng that would be realized by citizens
II the io-cent rate charged tie IocaI
and federal governments was increa s.
ed TO 80. cents. the rate assessed
gaiHss private users of gas.
PREVIOUSLY. Robert y. Luqueer of the
engineering firm of Humphreys & Mil
ieT testiryihg as to the financial sit
iia1ion faced by the company, had
stated that the coTnpaHy'S net earn
ings last year amounted to but 4s4
PER cent or the valuation placed by
the commission on the eoraipany's
property.
ar. Luqueer said. in answer Il, aues-
lions by Mr.. Tucker, that, If the Dis
frIcL and federal fsoyernnaents baa
paId tire ninetyrcent rate, the com
panys earnings would have been in
creased by $ieI,ooe which would
nave SHOWN a net return on the
Nalnasion or $50 per cent.
Opposes Increase in Rate.
Mr. Tucker presented resolution
from his association Opposing the
eompaoys application for an increase
- rate 10 SHE per thousand f,,1f,ic
rect, nut recommended TO the corr
mission that IL endeavor TO have Con-
gress Increase the government rate fo
conform with that paid by the eiti1
zens at the present time.
THIS was the pubIic-s day in court
with respect TO the gas comuany's ne
Jfsen Tor financial relief. Less than
haii dozen representatives OF civic
organizations appeared and the pro-
ceedtngs were devoid OF anything
representing criticism OF the com
pany. The companYs statements as
10 ats earnings and operating ex-
psnses last year and other facts pre-
ia
not challenged as To their accuracy.
Asked py Chairman ku;z IL he ac-
ceDtsd the com psny's statements as
t9 ats financial situation as accurate
.dr Tucker said he had no cause to
douht the eornpany's good faith or in
tegrt$. He thought, however. thar
With the prospect OF Il reduction in
wages and cost of materials eYIterin.-
into the manufacture of gas. the chr
l'oraiion would he able to sur,nouot
its difficulties without The necessity
OF Increasing the rate
Mr.. Iuqueer Interrogated.
William Mex. CLAYTON, reprassnttne.
tie Federation Of Citizens Associa-
length. He developed the fact that
Saies OF gas in January of this wear
reached total of 4iT.562 600 cubic
feet, as compared with sales TO the
amount OF doo,Siitoct in December
This increase. was explained fv AR
Ldqueer on the ground that a change
had been made in the meter re:atiius,
QUITE with The result that in some az
ne heaviest gas consumption dis
trictS forty-day readings were carried
n the January record.
president Howard s. Reeslde Of the
E company stated that the safes for
February this year would show a re
dHctiOn OF about So. .000 600 cubic f4af
as compared ~ith January
Dir. Iaqueer testified that gas mann
&c{ urinS costs were increasing, rath-
er than decreasing. He said the cosf
n January was higher than the ay
rage cost for the three months pre-
e"dtnE. II was the opinion of In.
witness that no reduction in wages
- likely TO be realized in the near
juture
1t Was stated by Chairman Kutz
that the pripcipal reason for the corr
mission having waited three months
70 consider the Increase application
which was filed in November last
vas 10 enable It to determine whether
reductions in wages and Inauufactur-
lng costs might reasonably be ev-
pected this year.
The hearing was continued this aft 90
erHoon, win Albert NJ Todd. presi-
dent of the Public Ovnersh{o T,saerIts
tsaa 2.