Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-28
LOWER GAS RATES
SUBJECT OF FARLEY.
Discrimination in Charges
Between Metropolitan Area
and Capital Is Alleged.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
stan Correspondent of The star.


TAKoMA PARK. Nd, February 2s.-
Lower gas rates for this section of thu
metropolitan district, as wen as In tn,
west metropolitan district on the othel
side Of Rock Greek, are sought by thu
committee on legislation and legal &C.
ton Of the Montgomery Civic Fedora
ton, j. Bond Smith, chairman, who
resides here, said today. Users of gas
In the metropolitan district now pay a
rate Is cents higher than the Wash
ington users, Mr.. Smith Said
The matter was brought up yesterday
at joint meeting In the Offices Of the
Washington Board of Trade In The Star
Building, Washington, between O spe-
ctal committee of the District orRani-
zation and the committee on elimination
of determinations of the MONTGOMERY
County Civic Federation. The purpose
OF the civic organization committee Is
10 work for the removal of rate dis
ordinations OF public utilities said to
exist because of the dividing line be-
tween the District and the metropolitan
district.
Board Told of Situation.
The Board of Trade committee was
told of some of the existing discrimina-
tons in the way of a lump in rates
Immediately the District of Columbia
Maryland line was passed. While no
action was taken at the Joint commit
tee meeting, it was said today at the
of1ces of the Board of Trade that its
committee would meet prior to Mon
day afternoon, and probably would APP
prove in principle the efforts to have
determinations existing in the metro
politan district approved. The board
OF directors of the trade body is to meet
Monday afternoon, and 1t was said that
the committee plans to act in time to
submit recommendation at that time.
Approval of the principles is all that
Is sought by the Maryland civic body's
committee. It was pointed out that the
metropolitan district is in reality a part
OF the greater National Capital, and no
real reason exists for any discrimina-
ton. As a matter of fact, it was point
ed out that in some places here where
gas lines run across the line the rate
Immediately goes up for Maryland users,
and the same lines, continuing, run.
back into the District, where the rate
goes down again. This, it was said by
those working on the matter, removes
any argument that the higher Maryland
rate is due to longer haul.
VIII Seek Reduction.
principle of the removal of diScrimina-
ton, it was said that this viii be used
as an argument before the officers Of
the two gas companies serving the ter-
ritory for reduction in rates The be-
lief was expressed that the officials of
the corporations might see their way
clear now to reduce the rates
The territory is served by the George
town Gas Light Co. or Montgomery
County and the Washington Gas Light
Co. of Montgomery County. Mr.. Smith
said the two companies are sub
sidiary to the Washington companies
which in reality manufacture and serve
the product.
The Maryland Public Service Com
mission has before it a resolution adopt
ed by the Maryland General Assembly
at its session in 1927, directing it to
support a reduction of the gas rates in
the metropolitan district. The matter
was held In allegiance, however, pending
q valuation of the companies in the Dis
trict, at which time the Maryland sit
llation was to be taken up. However,
the civic leaders have decided to push
the matter from another angle, and
that was, first, to seek the support of
the Washington Board Of Trade and
then to confer with the officials of the
gas companies.