Evening star., 1920-05-22
BUREAU MAY STUDY
PRICE Of GAS HERE
Standards Inquiry Proposed
by Sundry Civil Bill
Amendment.

An investigation by the bureau of
standards of the quality and price of
gas furnished in the District of Co
to the sundry civil appropria ton bill,
reported yesterday afternoon to the
Senate by the appropriations COM
mittee.
The text of the amendment follows:
That the bureau of standards is
hereby authorized and directed to
make an investigation as to the com
parative cost and quality of gas 1ur-
nlShed the government and private
consumers in the District of Columbia
and report the result of the investi-
cation to Congress on or before the
nrst Monday in December, 1920"
The attention of the appropriations
committee was directed to the gas
price when representatives of the
company asked that an increase be
allowed in the price charged for gas
consumed by the government. The
government price is 20 cents. as COM
pared with 95 cents for the private
consumers in Washington.
Believe Bureau Well Equipped.
Although the Public Utilities Com
mission mas been charged for several
years with the duty or passing upon
the rates to be charged by public
service corporations in the District
members OF the Senate committee
have determined that the Congress it
self shall have the facts with regard
to the cost of production of gas and
the prices charged here.
The bureau OF standards, they be-
lieve. is well equipped to make this
investigation, and TO compare the cost
and quality of gas produced here and
in otner cities.
A rider aimed at President wilson's
recent veto was attached to the bill
by the Senate committee. II provides
that no new government publications
snail be issued without congressional
authority.
Reduction From Last Year.
Reporting out the bill, the Senate
committee recommended total OF
$440,UZ3,0U0 for governmental activi-
Ties covered by the measure. This
was $3OS,655,0O0 less tnan approprl-
ated tor the same purposes last year
ana >o9S, 462,U0U less than estimates
submitted by executive departments
increases made by the Senate COM
mlttee included $4,i3e,O00 for inland
and coaStwlse waterways, a2,Uvu0Vy
for the customs service, anu sI,vv,-
900 for enforcement oil the prohibition
act.
The Senate committee added to the
bill the Smoot amendment TO pay the
transportation to their homes OF gov
ernment employees who are let out of
the service when the big cut in the
war workers takes place at the be-
ginning of the new nscal year All
who wish to resign before July l also
may nave their transportation paid
10 their homes under the amendment
The provision applies only TO those
employees who have come 10 the Dis
trict since April .. 1917.
OF Interest to District.
Other amendments of interest to the
District of Columbia are:
For the administration of the Ma
tionaI Gallery of Art by the Smith
sonlan Institution. $4,000.
For the purchase. by condemnation
or otherwise. OF Land lying between
the present western boundary of the
National Geological Park and Connec-
tlcut avenue in the vicinity of Jewert
street, $4,000.
For the relocation of the military
road between the AQueduct bridge
and Fort Myer. Va. for the purpose
of eliminating dangerous curves in
the road. $4,000.
For the purpose of preparing the
medical and surgical history OF the
German war, $4,000.
To enable the Secretary of Labor
to continue the investigation touching
women in industry, $4,000.
For purchasing and supplying uni
forms to the Capitol police, $4,000.
For repairs, improvement and equip
ment of the Senate kitchens and res
taurants, $4,000.
Revolving Rail Fund.
The Senate committee added to the
bill the proposed amendment to the
Transportation act, making the $780, |
11ytn n
available for the use of the railroads, +,
which was recently reported by the !
Senate interstate commerce commit /
tee.
1t struck from the bill the House |
creating a national budget /
system. The budget bill is now in |
between the two houses,
and the committee determined that
the wiser course was to await final
adjustment of this measure.