The Washington times., 1923-05-24
The ''Pepco" Case in the Dis
trict Supreme Court
The Electric Lighting Corporation Engaged in the
Usual Tactics of Technical Squrming.
BY BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE.
The Potomac Electric Light Company appealed to the local
from decisions of Public Utilities Commission as to
property valuations that company and rates the company
was allowed charge the public
The company wasn't satisfied with anything the Public
permit collect exOrbitant electric light rates
from the people Of Washington to pay returns upon millions
of dollars of overvaluation the bulk of which declared
by the Commission late Justice GOULD of the District
Supreme Court to be simon pure water.
This local utility hoped triumph in the courts It ap
peaed from Justice Goulds decision sustained the
u G. throughout In the Court Of Appeals the company
victory judges held that the valuation
the Commission should have Of
reproduction between July 1914 and December 80 1916
The Appeals decision would add $25O0O00 at
the most to the valuation found by the u c. making the
total valuation of the Pepco properties $13 100000
The then the Supreme Court of the United
States which refused take Jurisdiction thereby remanding
to the lower courts for adjudication The Pepco does not now
the District Supreme Court to annu the Commissions valua
ton altogether meaning that there would be valuation upon
which the Commission may establish rates. the Pepco
would gobbe up the 100000 in the fund pounded
by order OF Justice Could fund made Of ovechrges
to the public for electricity
this should be borne in mind that the Pepco
aside from mpounding this fund of 100000 which should
its capital for the past six years and in addition has
accumulated big surplus It has made much money that
it has been able huge chunks to the Washington
Railway and Electric Company for distribution among
OF the common stock of the latter company This
stock has been repeatedly declared to be water.
Any public utility company States which has
earned Tor It's owners ten cent dividends for
considered ranking Glass Few utility companies have
earned paid dividends Thousands have paid
dividends at ALL Many others glad to pay small
dividends.
Despite this evidence prosperity the Pepco
resorts to legal wggng and squrmng to defeat the will of
the Public Utilities Commission and public opinion Although
originally rushed the protect itself against
destructive rates and ruinous action of the p u
now turns face about and asks the District Supreme
mold That 1t has authority to make new" valuation.
th would OF leave nothing pending the
destroy the past valuation and give the company tidy
little OF 100000 to Washington Rail
way and Electric Company in the way of dividends
Wouldnt it be grand and glorious melon cutting?
Utilities Com.
mission would have to institute valuation proceedings as
OF THIS DATE With present inflated prices cost
actual physical reproduction of the Pepco properties would be
enormous and electric light of this city would be
PEELED to pay rates that would yield reasonable
Hated valuation There would impoundng: the
Pepco would get everything while the getting good
Ihere does not to be decision that disputes
power OF the Public Utilities Commission make valuations
ana rates The valuations and heretofore
were not then challenged null and void The Pepco ap
Guiding certain claims of the company The District Court
Appeals found nothing wrong with the p u Cs authority
It did find error.
The question for settlement to what the errors of
the c. were The Court of Appeals the
the District Supreme Court determine errors in vaua
on The Pepco says the latter without authority
to revise the old valuation
the District Supreme Courts authority to originally pass
ON the case was not challenged of Court of
Appeals why not the authority still there recty alleged
authority after having had authority what's wrong with the
District Supreme Court returning the the Public Ut
Ties TO make corrections valuation
with the findings of the Court of Appeals?
Is mighty fortunate for Washington
supreme Court composed of splendid common sense
VINO spend their time trying give JUSTICE than in
Weighing and favorng technical bubbles Technicaties are
Tie aS resort OF power and money against justice and right