Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-15
CIVIC BODY STRIKES
At GAS COMPANIES
Rate Discrimination Seen in
Montgomery-Federation
Weighs Legislation.
From a staff Correspondent.

FROM q stan correspondent
KENSINGTON, Md. March 10
Abolition of the fee system in the jul
dicial and police system Of Mont
gomery County was unanimously in
dorsed at a meeting in the schoolhouse
here last night of the Montgomery
County Civic Federation. The feder-
alton also received and sent to its
committee on legislation and legal ac-
ton, with authority to act without
reference back to the body. a resolu-
ton to either have the charters of the
Georgetown Gas Light Co. of Mont
gomery County, Md, and the Wash
ington Gas Light Co. of Montgomery
County, Md. revoked or to have re-
moved certain alleged determinations
in rates and force the companies to
make extensions of mains to supply
customers. The federation also ac-
cepted from The Evening Star Of Wash
ington a large silver loving cup to be
presented each year to the committee
or Individual of the federation per-
forming the most outstanding public
service during any one year.
The resolution against the gas light
companies was introduced by w. b.
Horne of Somerset and went to the
committee, which is expected to take
immediate action looking toward
bringing the matter to the attention
not only of the State officials but be-
fore the Montgomery County delega-
ton in the State Legislature, which
now is in session and preparing to
take up numerous measures of vital
Importance to the metropolitan dis
trict of the National Capital.
Grievances Are Cited.
The preamble of the resolution cited
4aiY oil in tho
of rate determinations and by failure
and refusal of the corporations to ex-
tend their mains. The resolution
pointed out that gas is sold in the
District of Columbia for 81 net,
whereas citizens Of Montgomery
County are charged $1.23 net. and the
distance is no greater in Montgomery
County than at some places in the
National Capital where the lower rate
prevails. The resolution requests
that the Montgomery County delega-
ton TO the State Legislature take
action to have the charters revoked
if such action is within its power"
and that the federation's committee
take such further necessary action to
remove the discrimination in rates
and to insure needed extensions.
The greater part of the meeting
was taken up by presentation and
discussion of the report of the COM
mittee on legislation and legal action,
offered by j. Bond Smith of Takoma
Park, chairman. The report. included
a number of resolutions which were
adopted, and also a detailed report of
the vast amount of legislation now
pending in the State Legislature,
showing the present status of all the
measures, which are to be acted upon
during the remaining two weeks of
life of the present legislature.
Fee System Is Hit.
The resolution regarding the fee
system expresses the federation's APP
prevail of a measure now pending in
the legislature, requiring all fees.
costs and charges in all criminal and
civil cases to be paid over to the
county treasurer, and prohibiting any
member of the county police force
from receiving such fees, costs or
other charges, and directing the coun-s
ty commissioners to levy each year
for. the expenses and maintenance of
the police force. AS presented by the
committee the resolution IT. VII ~
that the fees should be turned over
TO the county commissioners, but the
federation approved an amendment
offered by George Fl. Lamar of Rock