The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-15
s AFFORD
|SREA[)Y
T0ACT
Long Fought Valuation Injunc-
ton Case Near End-May
Free Sc, 900, 900 Fund

The decision of Justice Wendell
P. Stafford, Of the District Su-
preme Court, in the Potomac
Electric Power Company vaIua-
tion case-involving an impounded
fund Of 100000, property Ct
electric consumers-will be hand
ed down soon.
Justice Stafford, under orders
from the District Court Of Ap-
peals, will establish a new valua-
ton for the electric company, a.
valuation which will be used in
setting rates for electric current
sold in the District.
Expect Years Fight.
The verdict of Justice Stafford
VIII be the most important of the
several decisions handed down by
other courts in the case since
the litigation started in 1917, when
the electric company obtained an
injunction preventing the Public
Utilities Commission from reducing
charges from 10 to cents per
kilowatt hour.
The case win undoubtly remain
IN the courts another year. The
electric company probably will take
the case again to the Court Of AID
peals and, il allowed, to the Supreme
Court Of the United States for final
adjudication
This important case dates back
to December 81, 1915 when the
Public Utilities Commission an
nOunced the electric company was
valued at $11, 900 900 and, accord
lngly, reduced electric rates from
10 cents to cents.
Attacks Valuation.
The company attacked the valua-
ton III the courts and sought an
Injunction.
The court, granting the injunc-
ton, decreeG that pending disposi.
ton of the valuation case the
company should collect a 10 cent
rate and impound the difference
between this charge and any rate
set by the Commission.
This impounding fund in seven
years has grown to over $4,000 900.
When the valuation case first
came up in the District Supreme
Court, the late Justice Gould
handed down a decision which sus.
tanned the commissions valuation
OF $11 ,000, 900 in every detail. The
company claims valuation OF
$2S 100000.
Following this decision, the cleo
trio company took the case to the
Court Of Appeals which court held
the commissions valuation in error.
The court said that the COM
mission in setting the valuation
should have considered costs OF the
cornpany's property as Of 1915, in.
stead of costs as Of 1914.
Appeal BY Commission.
The commission Immediately APP
peaIed to the United States Su-
preme Court which declared it was
without jurisdiction in the case. .
This left the final decision up to
the Court Of Appeals, which body
directed Justice Stafford to revalue
the property, taking into consider
alton changes in cost between 1914
and 1916. 1t is this decision which
Is expected in several weeks.
The Washington Times has taken
an active interest in this case,
fighting the peoples battle for the
: $6,000,00O In the impounded fund.
When several years ago the sal
airy Of Conrad H. Syme. special
counsel Of the commission. was
eliminated from the appropriation
Of the commission The Washington
Times stepped in and raised fund
to continue Mr.. Syme at his post.
Valuable As Counsel
Mr.. Syme was particularly valua-
bic as counsel for the commission
because II was during his term as
general counsel of the commission
that the valuation was set and
brought into the courts.
Mr.. Syme is the only attorney,
representing the public. who is IA
nniliar, from the very beginning with
all OF the details of this case. He
helped establish the valuation,
argued the case in the District Su-
preme Court, Court of Appeals. and
Supreme Court of the United States.
The commission Is now planning
to reduce electric rates. However,
1t has decided te take no action
until Justice Stafford's decision Is
handed down.