Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-10
DIVISION Gas
!. RATE0PP0SED
So. Amboy and Metuchen
Represented at Utility Board
Hearing Report New Plant

NE Ann. RED. lV.-Ane upiiS
Service Gas Company Ices not favor
the establishment Ut a divisional rate
for gas in any part of the state. This
was announce by Edmund w.
Wakelee, the company's chief oun
sci. at the hearing yesterday before
tho Public Utility Commission. South
Ainboy and Metucnen were repre-
sented at the hearing.
Jersey CITY ahL Newark, as the
hearings on the attempt to reduce
the ate made b. the Public Utility
Commission near their close. have
asked the commission to set a rate
of $1.10 pcr thousand cubic feet for
Essex and Hudson counties. They
claim that tae evidence in the case
warrants this rate, and state that IL
the commission SO desires. 1t may
make that figure applicable all over
the state, but that ii must do 80 at
least for these two counties.
MIR. Wake.ee reminded the COM
mission that the present custom of q
uniform rate has always held. and
was sanctioned by the commission IT.
self in the Passaic Gas case, when q
rate wal established for n division
and ma e universally applicable.
The commission was reminded by
Mr., Wakeiee that the present Gus
tom Of a uniform rate has always
held. ana was sanctioned by the COM
mission Itself in the Passaic gas case
when {. rate was established for n
division and mad universally apph-
cable.
It was further argued by MI.
Wakslee that the divisions OF the
gas company, as they exist now, are
purely arbitrary, and that there Is
no relations between divisional lines
and the factors thar make up the rat
ing. He said:
sThe accounting division is not CO.
extensive In the lines 1t sets in its
work with those set by the operating
division. al rates are averages any
way. You canno fix rates for indi-
vidual customers. Once you depart
from this firm foundation of a state
wide rate. I don't know WHEREBY
will end. 1t will be IL gay JAM
beree."
These remarks of Mr.. Wakelee fol-
lowed these from the representatives
of nearby municipalities in the Cen
trail and southern districts of the
state.
Jersey City and Newark opened
the discussion, and George l.. Record
filed a brief for the former, with
Joseph G. Weber, assistant corpor-
alton counsel of Newark, argued for
the Eessex county municipality.
1t was contended by both Jersey
City and Newark that the commits
sion has the power to establish diff
ferent rates, and that it is a good
policy to do SO.
1t was stated by Thomas N. Nc
Carter, president Of the gas COM
tL--. .A &L4 ~~tfrn forrtfnrv ia tn
be made into complete organiza-
ton by the means Of . large plant
to be built on the Raritan river, and
by mea of physical connections
between the various divisions.
This plan, according to Mr.. Rec
ord, was a "pipe dream" and Mr..
Wolber said:
s'The argument based on the es-
adjustment of one gas plant on the
Raritan river is irrevelant, we can
moi speculate, but we must take
things as we find Them"
Mr.. Record. referring to the u
Jersey municipalities now entering
the controversy, said: 80,
sThey have made no effort in this
LITIGATION to secure q lower rate ana
therefore it is for us to assume tnat
thew are satisfied with the existing
vate."
Commenting on the gas contract
with the Seaboard By-Products
Coke Company, which is responsible
for the lower rate In Hudson n
Essex counties, Mr.. Wolber said:
Wherever the plant of the sea-
board is located, we get the penent
~ IN irrespective of where it might
have been located. This is not in
tended as a disparagement of the
rfehts of other cities, but we are en-
titled to the advantage of u loea-
zion. And as a matter of justice
and as a matter of right, IT shouio
not be taken away from u.s.