The Washington times., 1920-10-19

TO BOOST GAS.
Companies File Statement in
Advance Of Hearings-Hend-
rick to Attend.

Statements filed with the Public
Utilities. Commission by the Wash
ington and Georgetown gaslight
companies today show a net income
of $7,667.33 for the two companies
durin gthe month Of September.
ARGUMENTS FOR INCREASE
Monthly statements were filed by
the companies In connection win
their application for an Increase IN
rate from Sl.25 TO &I.4i per 1000
cubic feet. with a corresponding stop
rate TO users In excess OF 1000 cubic
feet and TO fix a rate OF return OF
per cent on the fair valuation OF their
properties.
Hearings on the application or the
gaslight companies viii be resumed
before the Public Utilities CommIs-
sion Thursday morning at 10 O'CLOCK
in the District Board room.
HENDRICK TO ATTEND.
Despite the objection that has been
raised to Commissioner j. Thilman
Hendrick sitting as a member or the
commission in this case, the Commis-
sioner intends to attend all hearings.
He refused to say whether he would
vote on the final decision, following
the protest made yesterday by Will
liam NICK. Clayton. counsel Tor the
Federation OF Citizens Associations,
that the Commissioner at one time
recently had owned 2,31S shares OF
stock OF the Washington Gasught
Company.
Figures for the month of August
show a net loss OF S28,723.25 for the
"A
with the net gain OF $7,667.33 for
September. This shows an actual
gain of approximately $36. .00O' in earn
ings for September. Reasons given
for the poor showing in August in
dicated a small amount of gas used
during the midsummer months.
While the question of the right of
Mr.. Hendrick to sit as member of
the commission in hearing the appli-
cation OF the Washington Gas Light
Company appears to be a closed in
cident at this time, it is by no means
certain that 1t will remain closed
for long.
SENATE MAY INVESTIGATE.
The statement of Mr.. Hendrick to
the effect that he had disposed of
the stock to Charles l. Corty. be-
fore he took oath of office. at loss
OF about 100000 to himself was ac-
cepted by Mr.. Clayton. but 1t is ap-
parent that the question again will
come to an issue when the nomination
of Mr.. Hendrick is sent to the Senate
for confirmation.
1t is safe to predict that the Senate
District Committee will scrutinize
closely all relations between Mr.. Hen
drick and the Washington Gas Light
Company when it takes up the for
mer's nomination for consideration
next December. Mr.. Hendrick was
appointed as Democrat. This fact
alone will insure a thorough investi-
cation OF conditions under which he
was appointed in the event a Repub-
lican Senate is returned in November.
THE OPPOSITION VIEW.
Those who opposed Mr.. Hendrick
sitting as a member of the commits
sion in the gas case did so on the
ground that the statute declares that
no member of the commission shall
sit as such II interested, "directely or
indirectly" in any public utility.
They contend that even IL Commits
soner Hendrick has disposed OF his
holdings in the Washington Gas Light
Company. the spirit of the act Is be-
ing violated so long as he takes part
in any hearings involving that COM
pany.
Another point in Mr.. Hendricks s
statement that the Senate District
Committee IS likely to seize upon is
his reference to the powers higher
up" who were aware of his owner
ship OF stock in the corporation at
the time of his appointments.