Evening star., 1921-03-18

1eet. which ~ dpout FoVV'V"V
annually.
Previous commissions have sought
to have this Situs tiOn changed by
Congress. There are indications that
the present board will make deter
mihed fight to have the inequity ad-
justed.
Commission's Decision.
The commissions decision follow:
In the matter of the application of
the Washington Gas Light Company
on behalf of itself and the George
town Gas Light Company for a con-
tinuation of the existing rates of gas
after April l. 1921. Formal case
No. SO.
by the commission: BY the terms
of the commissions order number 1913,
issued October 90. 1920. the price to
be charged for gas furnished by the
Washington Gas Light Company and
the Georgetown Gas Light Company
was fixed at the following rates:
For less than 100000 cubic feet of
gas per month. s1.32: for 100000 Gu
bic feet and less than 100000 cubic
feet per month. 1927: for 100000 Gu
bic feet and less than 100000 cubic
feet per month. S1.22: for 100000 Gu
bic feet and less than 100000 cubic
feet per month. $1.17; for 100000 Gu
bic feet and less than 100000 cubic
feet per month. S1.I2; for 100000
cubic feet or more per month. $1.OI.
BY the terms of the order these
rates are effective from November
I. 1920. to the meterreading period
beginning March Is, 1921. unless on
or before said date the commission
shall have ordered otherwise.
Companies File Petition.
"On February IS. 1921. the Wash
inston Gas Light Company on behalf
nf nd he
Light Company petitioned this com
to continue these rates in eff
feet for a siX-month period, to end
with the meter-reading beginning
September Is. 1921. The commission
set Friday. March II. 1921. for a for
NAL public hearing on this petition.
but owing to the presence of only one
ing was postponed to March II and
again to March Is. 1921. on which
date full membership of the COM
mission was present.
The evidence adduced at this hear
ing shows that there have been no i'm
portant changes in the prices of material
and labor since the present rates We're
fixed in October, 1920. with the excep-
ton of gas oil. All through the summer
months of 1920-in fact, from June to
December, l920-ihe price paid by the
petitioners for gas oil was l2a. cents per
year. however. being 1902 cents. due 10
the lower price prevailing prior to May.
1920. Since the beginning of the present
calendar year there has been a sub
stantial drop in the price of oil. the price
during the month of February. 1921,
being 9.97 cents per gallon. While the
testimony also shows that the company
has purchased some oil at lower prices,
the quantity has been relatively small
Decides Ipon Reduction.
THE commission Is of the opinion that
a reduction should be made in the rates
to be charged for gas. due to the drop
in the price of oil, but as the lower
rates herein established are to prevail
during that portion of the year when
the sales Of gas are at minimum il
is believed that in justice to the COM
pany the reduction in rates should not
be made in direct proportion 10 the re-
duction in the price of oil.
During the hearing in this case
counsel for the Washington Lunch
room Association presented the re-
quest of the association for a change
in the steps making up the schedule,
suggesting that the maximum rate
apply to all gas consumed in quanti-
ties less than $4,000 cubic feet per