Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-14
GAS COST PROBE
TO Be RENEWED
Discrimination in Rates Is
Charged in Suburban.
Areas!
BIZ WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
Stan CORRESPONDENT of The Star.

BETHESDA, Md, May 14.-Renewed
efforts will be made during the Summer
months to have the Public Service Com
mission Of Maryland make an examina-
ton into the charges for gas, served
in the metropolitan district adjacent to
the National Capital as result OF
action last night at the meeting of the
Montgomery County Civic Federation in
the school here. The matter precipi-
tated long discussion, during which 1t
was alleged that the companies serving
gas in this area discriminate by charg-
ing more for the products served in
Maryland than Tor that served in the
District of Columbia.
The matter was brought to the at
tention Of the federation by w. B.
Horne of Somerset, who cited to the
federation certain figures showing the
stock ownership of the companies which
serve gas in Montgomery County.
j. Bond Smith. chairman of the COM
mittee on legislation and legal action,
pointed out that a joint resolution
passed by the 1927 Maryland Legisla-
ture directed the Public Service Com
mission to conduct an investigation into
the differential However, he pointed
out that the matter was held in abey-
ance because of the plan at that time
of the Washington Public Utilities Com
mission to conduct valuation of the
properties. He informed the delegates
that the members of the Maryland
commission were sympathetic. At the
same time. he added that. as the Dis
trict valuation had fallen down, it was
now the duty of the Maryland COM
mission to act on the 1927 legislation.
- Action Is Authorized.
The legislation and legal action COM
nittee was given authority to take steps
during the Summer to have the Mary
land commission act in the matter, with
view to getting the rate discrimina-
ton. alleged to exist, wiped out.
Col, A. B. Barber, president, called to
the attention of the committee on sani-
tation and public health the fact that
reference had been made in the Inter-
federation Conference to Montgomery
County as not having modern sewage
disposal conditions. and that something
should be done about it to protect the
fair name of the county. Aubrey B.
Carter, chairman of the committee, said
that a sanitation code had been pre-
pared. and was awaiting suggestions
from the county health officer, DR.. VIII
liam T. Pratt.
Robert E. Bondy, secretary of the
school committee, and an active partl-
cipant in the laying out of the fedora
committee had authority to act on
school matters during the Summer, par
ticularly with relation to any changes in
the school construction program. Col.
Barber said that he did not see how
any committee except the executive
committee could act. when w. B. Arm
strong, secretary, said that he believed
that it was the duty of the school com
mittee to follow up the. program laid
down by the federation. and if any
radical departure from it were proposed,
then the school committee should take
the matter up with the executive COM
mjttee. which then could decide whether
the question was important enough to
call a special meeting Of the federation
during the Summer.
Welfare Work Approved.
The federation adopted resolution
of Mr. Boady by which Ef1e federation
Endorsed the request OF the Social
Service League for support from the
county commissioners in the amount OF