The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-19
Excessive Penalties On
Public Utility Bills
By BILL PRICE.

During the "good old days" when District utility
poratons-and all other corporations for that matter
pulled the legs Of Congress for almost any legislation
they wanted that body enacted neat little provision for
the benefit of the Potomac Electric Power Company
abing it to impose penalty charge Of 10 PER CENT
for nonpayment of bils-not 10 per cent year six
months, but 10 per cent within period of about forty
days At that time electric light bills rendered the
LIST Of each month and the penalty attached bills
not paid by the 10th of the succeeding month
Then, following sort of gracious habit to local
poraons Congress- in the act approved September 1,
1916, put in this provision to gas bills:
'That = Of other than the Government
the District Of Columbia shall not monthly gas bill
within days after presented said
charge and collect from such
failing said bill aforesaid 10 additional
for each 1000 cubic feet of represented by said bill"
This is penalty deferred gas bill of practically
10 per cent if unpaid in TEN DAYS.
The Public Utilities Commission to put the gas and
electric lighting companies the footing, granted
the Electric Company permission to add its penalty
unpaid bills after TEN DAYS.
For some years, therefore, by acts of Congress and
permission of the Public Utilities Commission the negi
gent hardup District citizen who left his gas cleo
trio light bills unpaid for ten days beyond the time he
should have hofooted it to the proper places Of pay
men against joyous little extra charge of 10 per
cent On gas or electric light bill of $40 this penalty
would amount to 81.
Congress, after repeated recommendations from the
District Commissioners the pawn brokers and money
lenders out of Washington because they demanded and
obtained from to per cent month upon their loans
Old shylock would have rced in the prospect of 10 per
for Josst ond
money LEADERS, around Washington would go wild with
joy at The prospect Of such fat feeding
Nobody can blame the utility companies for making
charge duly sanctioned by law They are within their
rights unless they persistently follow "pound
policy with known to be of good record and
standing who have merely overlooked their bills been
abe to pay account of serious Illness been absent
from the city.
is to the Public Utilities Commission to determine
whether usuy shall continue to be praciced and to in
s that Congress repeal these enactmens and substitute
others fairer to tho consuming public.
Penalties may be necessary but it must be borne in
mind that the utility companies have "the whip hand"
at every stage of business with They can shut
off the gas electricity, hardship few consumers
would be willing to have imposed
The gas company for many years would not turn on
gas consumers unless substantial deposits were made
These deposits were sufficient guarantees that bills
would be paid making penalties unnecessary. Officials
Of that company have, however, been dealing moro
leniently and fairly with under the regime of
President RESIDE, and deposits are not required
where the has standing sufficient to give con-
fidence in bis integrity.
This company renders its $4,000 bills about the LIST of
each month, and its customers have due warning The
electric company renders its 10000 bills at different
times during the month and the consumer must look to