The Washington times., 1924-08-27
Why Telephone and Electric
Light Rates in the District
Should Be Reduced
By BILL PRICE.

sufficient the Public Utilities Commission
begin hearings having in view the lowering Of charges by
both these public utilities.
In all probability the p u G. would have up the sub
ct before this but that the members of the commission
also the Commissioners of the District and have been
ceedngly busy with municipal problems including quite
important duty getting District estimates the next
year to the Director of the Budget and preparing these
Inmates for submission to Congress The work Of adjusting the
estimates not complete but the Commissioners that
in good enough shape to transform themselves into Public
Utilities Commission and give the people of the District such
relief from overchages for utilities service they justly
entitled to.
Engineer Commissioner Bell chairman of the Public Utilities
Commission has demonstrated fairness to the public and to
the utilities corporations and the kind remain
inactive while excessive returns made at the expense of
the public.
Anything in Of per cent return upon correct
valuations Of public utility corporations is manifest in
In allowing even cent return Public Utilities
Commission is much liberal to the utilities companies
than most public service commissions throughout
try Investors in securities will quickly jump at stocks or
bonds which promise that much yield. i
There is no dispute in the courts of the District between
the Public Utilities Commission and the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company as to the valuation of telephone
to the charged With the matter of valuation settled
there can be question that the telephone company is
should be materially These should not be higher
than necessary to give approximately per return
on valuation.
Unlike the street car companies the teephone companv
mas no complaint as to falling off in business It is
steadily increasing The number of The street car lines
on the other hand have been steadily losing passengers under
the increasing Of automobiles busses Despite these
losses in passengers hauled the railway companies making
money through economies of administration They are at
least not asking for higher street fares which they
excuse to losses through decreased service It's business
growing daily and it's net returns have steadily
mounting higher and higher.
There u.s. however, vital dispute between the P U Cs
valuation OF the properties of this company and the company
Of the District Supreme Court from which decision NAV be
expected any day decision would be quite helpful in
setting the question Of electric light rates the District
Inc Public Utilities Commission would then have clearer
sailing than at to the fixing charges to users of
electricity Until the District hands down its decision
ecc hight users must continue to pay 10 per kowa
hour the difference between that charge and the charge fixed
by the commission being impcunded fund which goes to
ne pubic or the company to be divided between the
The people of Washington every reason to believe that
their contention that the bulk of nearly $6ooOOOO now
mpounded in this fund belongs to them will be sustained in
the local court
Even its claims of property valuation the Potomac
Electric Light Company making high return What
this company makes profits goes to the wash
ngton Railway and Electric Company, which in turn pays
over to stockholders In other words the electric light
users OF the District have for years been high
enough to permit flow of gold into the Golfers Of the
railway company to bolster up that concern They have
been and still are paying far above reasonable returns
to the electric light company
There can be no assurance the part of the Public
Uthies Commission that delays action reducing cleo
trio rates here until the local passes on the cues
tons involved the electric light company will not again
corporation method of defeating justice to the public What
can't get from the Public Utilities Commission it goes to
o OOn tot ~e Co!PoraNon assumpLlon being that the
courts VIII always uphold capital even when watered against
the rights of mere human beings.
All indications point to considerable increase the cost
OF living in the next Grains and meats are adj
vancing Nothing cheaper In this city of statutory salaries
that not living wage for the majority of the more
than 10000 Government workers. whatever rghuy be
done to lower the cost on items should be done
It palpaby Enthusiastically wrong that there shall be taken
from the pockets of the public money unduy atten public
service corporations that do not feel the pinch hard times
and which, during the perous times of the war were kept on
their financial feet through the generosity of the Public
Utilities Commission Now that these corporations have passed
the stage of financial danger isn't it about that the
age citizen should receive little attention and be given a
square deal?
None of the local public utility corporations which went
to the courts claiming ncalcuabe harm through rates and
showing any signs of financial weakness They are growing
stronger and stronger and their securities selling in open
market at prices far above the period Instead of being
thankful that they supported by the Public Utilities
Commission at critical time when public utilities ali over
the country being put into the hands receivers thew
stand for deeper digging into the pockets of the public that
he 80 P0nO VnoV