Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-14
CITIZENS PROTEST
HIGH UTILITY COSTS
Clarendon Association to
Launch Fight Against Price
of Gas and Electricity.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
CLARENDON, Va. March IA
determined fight for II reduction in
tho price of gas and electricity for
consumers of Arlington county has
been launched by the Clarendon
Citizens Association, according to "A
statement by Chairman Mitchell of
the utilities committee of the associa-
ton. at Il meeting of that body at
the engine house last night. Vice
President Fred l.. Sharp presided.
Mr.. Mitchell told the meeting that
his committee lad investigated the
gas situation and had reported its
commission of Virginia. watch had
promised to look into the matter and
to see that justice is done.
Other members Of the association
compared the price paid in Arlington
county for gas with that paid by
Washington consumers and commended
that there was no justification for
tho former rate being so much in
excess of the latter. 1t was also
pointed out that a few years ago
when the gas rate i'll the county was
- cents higher than that in
the District of Columbia the COM
pany received good return on
its investment. and as labor and all
other conditions which affect the cost
of gas, are now comparatively similar
i'll the two places to what they Were
then, there is no reason to belive
that the company could not do well
with that margin at the present time.
Arlington county is paying $l.50 per
thousand cubic feet. as compared
with Washingtons price. which be-
comes effective Saturday, of $1.O5.
Declared Unfair.
against the electric lighting COM
pany for its charge of 20 cents for
the first five kilowatts used by con-
sumerS, it being declared that this
was not only unfair. but should not
have been allowed by the state cor
poration commission, in view of the
fact that the company had a mini
mum rate of 81. 1t was agreed that
the company should have. service
charge. but this was covered in the
minimum rate. 1t was pointed out
that the first five kilowatt charge
were much in excess of the mini
mum rate. This matter was re-
ferred, by vote. to the utilities COM
mittee, with the request that pro-
test be filed with the state corpora
ton commission.
The attention OF the meeting was
called to confusion in the deliveries
In the town. especially that Of mail,
by tho irregular numbering OF homes
by homebuilders and newcoming pur-
chasers.
Good Numbering System.
President Taylor declared that there
was no excuse for this. The assocla-
ton, he said. had established good
numbering system and newcomers
should be sufficiently interested in
the town of their adoption to see that
their homes are given the proper
numbers and the system not inn
paired. He stated that the associa-
ton would be glad at any time to
render assistance in this connection,
but that the people should make
known their wants and not expect the
association to look them up. He
also called attention to the fact that
a committee of the association has
just about completed a census of the
town, and urged all newcomers to get
in touch with the association in order
that an up-to-date record may De
kept.
The census committee was directed.
by vote. Mr.. Mitchell offering the mo-
ton, to furnish all real estate men OF
Clarendon with census blanks and
urge upon them to have all new
Corners fill them out and turn them
into the association.