The Washington times., 1923-04-30
PEPCOASK5
10 CENT
J: i. RATE
Petition Is Regarded As Fore
runner Of Claim to s. oo,-
900 Irnpounded. !.


Company's first move to obtain
permanent rate of 10 cents per
kilowatt hour for electric current
was made today in a petition filed
in the District Supreme Court.
The company's petition is also
regarded as the first step toward
laving claim to the 100000 in
the impounded fund which it holds
In it's treasury by direction of the
courts.
Petition Formally,
Action of the company followed
the filing of a. petition today by
Frank H. Stephens, general coun-
sci for the Public Utilities Com
mission. Stephens asked the court
to issue an order directing the COM
pany to impound the difference be-
tween the Commissions electric rate
of Z cents per killowatt hour and
the 10 cents per hour now being
collected by order of the court.
This petition has heretofore been
regarded merely as a formality. IN
1917 when the rate was cents per
y
impounding of the cents differ
ence. AS the commissions rate
changed a request for the changing
of the inlpounded fund practice was
made to the courts 4TodaY's, petit
ton is filed TO care for the rate
reduction ordered on April by the
Commissioaa.' q & RI .fhf %Ar14 f.4-y
The company, answering the pc
tition, asks the court to stop the
further impounding. They contend
that the action Of the Supreme
Court of the United States in de-
nying the Commission appeal to
hear the valuation case clearly
establishes that the present yaluS~
ton is erroneous and they there
fore declare theresrsis :2Ao further
reason for impounding any money.
Fight Over Valuation. ~---=
The company seeks to collect and
retain the entire 10 cents collected
for each per kilowatt hour or
electric current used. 1t objects to
any order of the courts by which
the company will be directed to i'm
pound 204 cents of every 10 cents
collected from consumers.
The petition indicates that the
company believes the action VI the
Supreme Court was clear tut
victory for them; that it made the
action of the Court of Appeals in
declaring the commission valua-
ton erroneous I final, and that
therefor. any rate >, made by The
commission on this valuation lis
erroneous and should be not en-
forced in any degree.
The public now pays 10 cents per
kilowatt hour for electric current.
The commissions rate is 7.6 cents
per kiloWatt hour. The difference is
impounded and will be given. either
10 the company or public as the
courts DIRECT.
No mention of the $4,000, 900 al.
ready impounded is made in the com
panys petition. However, it Is ex-
pected the company will make this
the chief point at the hearing on the
commissions petition for continue
ton of the practice of impounding.
Chief Justice Mccoy will hear the
case. 1t probably will be called UP
late this or early next week.
Today's action renews the legal
fight over the valuation of the cleo.
tinue many months. it is expected.
Endorsed and supported by scores
of civiG organizations, including citi.
zens associations and labor unions
the $4,000 fund beng raised by The
Washington Times and Washington
Herald to employ special legal
counsel to fight the Potomac Elec
trio Power Company valuation case
is gradually reaching it's goal.
Two additional contributions have
come in within the last twenty-four
hours, $25 from the Plate Printers
Union, Local No. 2, and $40 by
| Orlando, H. Smith, who sent his
subscription through the Columbia
| Heights Citizens Association.
| The fund will soon be completed
Then will begin the publics fight
to gain possession of $4,000, 5000 nov
in the treasury Of the electric com
bany, which rightly should be re
turned to the people. 1t will b.
a fight for both a principle and g
cash return.
The electric case is now befor,
the Court of Appeals of the Dis
trict. Early action Is expected
Counsel for the Public Utilities Com
mission is now marking time, bu
as soon as the court opens thu
case a real fight will begin.
It Is the people's fight agains
higher rslFctrtc rates higher car fare
ana higher gas For. all these
raises In. rates will come IL THU
highly important case Ii lost bw tn
Public Utilities coumisEtons