Evening star., 1931-05-26
Business Men Are Opposed
to Attempt at Reducing
Electricity Prices.
LONE WITNESS ASSAILS
PREDATORY INTERESTS
High Tension and Home Con-
sumers Appear to Support Decree
Setting Present Return.

Civic and business leaders OF Wash
ington and nearby Maryland came to
the defense Of the consent decree under
which their electric rates have been
adjusted for seven years. at a hearing
before the Public Utilities Commission
today to prepare the way for an attempt
on the part of the commission to change
the terms of the decree.
All seemed agreed that the decree had
resulted in low rates, good service,
efficient management and contented
consumers and that to disturb it. even
for the purpose Of lowering rates, would
be a hazardous undertaking
The Washington Chamber of Com
merce, through Harry King. chairman
Ct its Committee on Public Utilities,
held that although the motives prompt-
ing the commission were admirable.
they had led the commission to take a
stand which will end in usurping legal
powers vested in the courts which
would result in a procedure. it said,
illegal as we'll as harmful to the public
interest The resolution read by Mr..
King pointed out that the chamber at
the past session of Congress had sue
cessfuly opposed q bill to rid the courts
of all legislative power to make q val
uation or rate.
Urges Revision by Accord.
Mr.. King said the chamber would
have no objection to q modification OF
a decree by consent between the two
parties II it should be found on suf-
ficient evidence that the present rate OF
return Is excessive.
William John Eynon. chairman Of
the Public Utilities Committee of the
Washington Board of Trade. submitted
a brief resolution adopted by the COM
mittee January 81. last, and approved
by the board Of directors January 26.
strongly protesting against any effort
to change the consent decree at this
time.
J. Bond Smith. chairman Of the Leg
islative Committee Of the Montgomery
County Civic Federation, also appeared
in support OF the decree, as did Louis
B. Arnold of the Chillum Democratic
Club Of Prince Georges County. Both
speakers expressed the fear that to up
set the decree would be to take from
Maryland consumers the benefits they
now enjoy in the way OF low rates un-
der 1t.
Raps Power Interests.
Several representatives OF the electri-
cal Industry presented the idea that
prosperity for the power corporation and
for statesmen OF electrical appliances
went hand in hand, and that to reduce
one would be TO damage the other
Among them we're M. c. Turpin of the
Electric League Of Washington and rep
resentatives of the Doubleday Hill Elec-
trical Co. and the National Electrical
Supply Co. They urged that nothing be
done to disturb the present customer
relations existing under the decree
Many power consumers, including
those of high-tension service and house
holders, also appeared to support the
present arrangement and oppose any
change. Among these were Col Wrisley
Brown of the Potomac Freight Termf-
nal Co., said TO be the power company's
largest customer; representatives of the
Chestnut Farms, Chevy Chase, South
ern Diaries and the real estate depart
ment OF the Munsey Trust Co.
The one discordant voice was that OF
c. c. Mayer who said he would be glad
TO see a reduction Of the large profits
OF the predatory power interests.