The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-16
NECESSITY
SEEN BY
ALL
80 Organizations Have Made
Contributions to Date, and
Goal Is in Sight.

The Electric Consumers Fund
of The Washington Times and
The Washington Herald is stead
lily approaching the $4,000 goal.
Citizens of Washington may
look with pride to the whole
heartedness with which the resi-
dents of the National Capital
have responded to the call for
help issued by the Public Utilities
Commission when Congress denied
them an appropriation with which
to properly fight the Pepco rate
case.
Goal Is in Sight.
So far, thirty-three civic organi-
ERtions and labor unions, together
with approximately 200 individual
citizens, have contributed total of
$2.413.30. This leaves a compare
lively small amount to be collected
In order to assure the retention by
the commission OF Conrad Syme,
the attorney who has represented
the people in the past, and who,s
because Of his wide knowledge OF
the case, must be kept as special
counsel IN order to assure fair
conclusion to the legal edings.
1t is significant that every citi-
gems association in the District
which met last week voted a con-
tribution to the Electric Consumers
Fund.
Notwithstanding that rumors are
prevalent of a possible compromise
between the Public Utilities Com.
mission and officials of the Potomac
Electric Power Company, the I'M
certainty OF any agreement being
reached, even IL conferences are
held, has given added interest to
the case.
incentive Added.
The citizens of Washington are
In no frame of mind to let over
lures by the power company Off
Gals stop their efforts to keep
Syme as their representative. The
more the question Of compromise
is brought forward, the more rea-
son, heads of the civic bodies say,
the people of the District must pre-
pare for any eventualittes.
In the opinion of many Of the most
prominent lawyers in the city, the
valuation case win be a long drawn
out affair. AS a result Of the de-
Court denying jurisdiction in the
- case, 1t is now practically conceded
that the valuation placed on the COM
pany's property by the Public Utili-
ties Commission must be increased.
It Is because of this that the
future Of the case presents many
additional ramifications. The Ques-
ton is-how much additional valua-
ton will the Public Utilities Commits
sion consent to and what would be
acceptable to the company now that
the Supreme Court has thrown the
case out? -
~ Difference Is Vast.
As the matter stood before the
courts decision, the Utilities Com
mission had placed valuation on
the property of $11, 100000. The
company claims q valuation of $685.
100000. 1t is because of this vast
difference in the two valuations that
any attempt to close the matter by
compromise is likely to be q. l0mg
drawn out affair with the possibility
Of failure in the end.
The citizens of Washington have
faith in the Public Utilities Com
mission and are standing firmly
behind its members. This has been
evidenced by the fact that when
the Commission sent out word that
Conrad Syme's services were nee
essary to the proper conduct Of
the valuation. case, they responded
and collectively made up the sum,
or will do 30 within avery short
time, that Congress refused to ap-
propriate
What the people of tho District
MANtHA DnTtnl
Commission stick to its former de-
termination of making the power
company play fair with the citi-
gems in the matter of electricity
rates. To do this 1t is necessary
that the valuation case be brought
70 satisfactory conclusion from the
consumers point of view,