Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-01-11

j. luatte., Which a.. sY.. 'gujly 'T.s-
ing before the Ir...:..' oml.rce
Commission. and which t'..y lee.
the welfare Of tho people of the state
Of Ma~u.4.-'1u.
E>Y;.>~ Rate, hcpt Down
In the early part of the year the
American Ba.l".} hAi...- ....2;5,l
made an application 10 the Interstate
Commerce Comm ssiou for an IN
crease in rates Of about - per cent,
various HEARINGS Nere held through
out the United States and at Wash
ingtou. d. G. This Commission, secur
ing the cooperation of the commits
sions OF Montana and Idaho. strenu-
ously contended at the hearings that
the express company had failed to
justify more than one-half the IN
crease demanded. The company i.
under contract with the railway lines
to pay them slightly NOR" than fifty
per cent OF its gross revenue for
transportating express shipments.
Hence one-half Of any increase would
inure to the carriers. At the hear
ings this commission demanded tina,
the carriers were entitled to an in
crease in their charges for carrying
express, and failing in that. any In
crease granted the express company
should be reduced by half and the
contract with the carriers so mod
fed that the increase allowed should
accrue to the express company alone.
The company failed to establish that
the carriers were entitled to addi
tional revenue on express business.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
sustained the contention Of this Com
mission.
Prevents Gas Crash
In dealing with the artificial
gas situation the commission was
confronted with the alternative Of
lying idle until the inevitable crash
came, or OF endeavoring to meet the
situation by experimentation and in
vestigation. We directed our engin
eering Department to consider the
problem which would arise from all
standpoints and be prepared with
data and information which would
Indicate the best solution of the
question when the shortage of gas oil
became an actual fact. Our chief
engineer arranged for the cooperation
of the gas companies in Seattle, Tao
oma and Spokane in financing set Of
experiments which would develop the
Information desired. These expert
ments we're conducted by Mr.. Geo.
Whitwell, Chemical and Industrial
Engineer, and a member of the fac
ulty of the University of Washing
ton. The question Of the effect of
1,wered B. T. U. on the consumer be
came of paramount Importance. On
August 81, the commission received
q preliminary report from Mr.. Whit
we'll, stating that in the continuation
Ct tests it had become necessary for
eome work to be done on plant pera-
ton at lowered B. T. U. IL the work
was to fulfill the object desired, and
that in his opinion the experiment
began about September 18th by
gradual lowering of the B. T. U. con-
tent of the gas in order to study the
effect upon the consumers utilizati III
as well as upon plant operation.
: These experiments have continued to
d,to VIZ oro Dow Copdipp ont u,,ocr-
i)nnaires to various consumers and
are assembling all of the data and
information available, and hearing
had been set for December Goth and
investigation of the question as to
whether the rule heretofore adopted
IA this state, requiring 900 B. T. U.
; as should be modified. Experiments
Rave been conducted in Seattle, Tao
cma and Spokane and are being care
fully watched by the commission ex-
erts. The gas companies have been
required to have available force of
men skilled in the adjustment of
ppliances, so that all complaints may
: receive instant attention. Many states
rescribe a lower B. T. U. content of
gas some going as low as $50 B. T. U.
Aware of Criticism.
We are aware that we have been
, objected to some criticism by virtue
| of this experiment. We feel that the
: xisting conditions justify our course
c nd that the results finally achieved
ill show the wisdom and foresight
i of our action. 1t is not visionary %
4 redict that new methods of amnu-
facture may be evolved which viii
ltimately supply consumers with
n satisfactory gas at lower prices in
s The future, than have been charged in
e the past. In this matter, as in other
: problems which have confronted us.