Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-18
D. C. ORDERS CUT
IN GAS PRESSURE
TO END DANGERS
Continued From First Page)

|
piled with as to the progress made to-
ward such compliance.
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this
| letter.
| Announcement also was made at the
| commission today that protests over
| increased gas bills are continuing to
come in by mail and telephone. As
! surance is given each complainant
that the commission will do everything
! in its power to determine the cause of
| the increases.
Richmond B. Keech, peoples counsel
before the commission, also said he had
| received a number of additional COM
plants since his announcement several
! days ago that he would ask the en-
cheering department of the commission
| to inquire into the cause of the rising
! bills.
The most recent protest received by
Keech was written by prominent Gov
eminent official, who said that his bill
had gone up 100 per cent despite the
lower rates in effect, although he was
home had not increased, certainly not
to that extent.
Higher Pressure Blamed.
The bill to authorize merger of the
Washington and Georgetown Gas Light
Cos. was postponed by the Senate again
last night upon objection of Senator
La Toilette of Wisconsin. The bill has
been reached on the call of the calen-
dar several times this season, but Sen
atorS La Toilette and Howell are OPP
| posing its consideration in it's present
form.
| Recent disclosures by Bert NJ. Peck,
chief engineer of the Public Utilities
, Commission, that gas preSsures had been
| increased in violation of commission
regulations. and in some instances dou-
bled, Senator Howell said, undoubtedly
| explains the reason for some of the
higher bills.
Higher pressure, without an accom-
panying adjustment in gas appliances"
ne declared means higher bills"
Senator Howell is regarded as an eX-
pert on public utility matters, and is
one of the best informed members of
the Senate on the affairs of the Wash
ington Gas Light Co. because of the
searching investigation he made of this
utility corporation when the gas merger
bill was introduced For 10 years be-
fore coming to the Senate, he was gen.
eral manager of the Metropolitan Utili-
ties District of Omaha, which operates
public water, gas and ice plants.
Wants System Changed.
MY impression is that many of the
gas mains in Washington are small; too
small for high pressure" said Senator
Howell. Small pinch mains are nu-
merous. While 1 don't know what the
minimum requirements are in Washing
ton, I do know that the smallest mains
permitted in Omaha are inches"
Senator Howell declared that if high
er presSures are to be used in Washing
ton, Improvements should be made in
the main and distribution systems, and
by all means gas appliances should DE
adjusted for the increase Instead of
raising preSSures throughout the entire
distribution system to meet conditions
in communities where consumption has
increased, he said, the company should
construct high pressure mains directly
to those sections and regulate the pres
sure there by station governors.
Senator Howell has offered vigorous
opposition to the gas merger bill. and
intends to fight it to death in the Sen
ate, unless it includes further conces-
SionS to the public. While he recently
ment requiring the merged Company
to accept his schedule of reduced rates,
he proposes to continue his opposition
to the merger unless the bill contains a
provision eliminating going concern
value as an element in determining the
rate base in any future revaluation OF
the gas properties.
Going Concern Value.
MI.
Senator Howell pointed out, will cut
from IS 900 900 to $4,000 900 from the |
valuation of the gas companies and |
result in lower gas rates. The pro-
vision he Is seeking to insert in the bill |
sets forth that in arriving at the value |
Of the gas plant for rate-making pur-
poses nothing shall be included on ac-
count of the franchise or going value, |
and that the rate of return on the |
valuation thus determined shall not |
exceed TIE per cent
Senator Howell said he would not adj |
vocate a revaluation of the gas prop |
critics at this time because he had |
been told it would be unfair to the new
owners of the gas companies, although |
he thinks the time is propitiouS.
There has never been a better time |
in is years than the present for a re-
valuation" said Senator Howell In |
deX figures are low and believe should |
be taken advantage of now. However, 1 |
am not prepared to say whether the |
gas properties in Washington should be |
revalued at this time. because I have |
been told it would be unfair to the gas !
companies. And I don't want to be |
unfair. The Public Utilities Commission |
is in better position than I am to be |
the judge"
Will Drop Rate Schedule.
The amendment which Senator How !
ell proposed to the merger bill pre-
scribed a maximum schedule of rates
for general gas service. This schedule |
would make the net rate for the first |
$500 cubic feet consumed per month |
IS cents, and for all over $500 cubic |
feet the net rate per 1000 cubic fee: |
would be rs cents. Tne ssminimum
charge per month would be so eents.
Senator Howell, however, has agreed |
to alb: rdon his fight fer this schslule. !
Yet he stin believes the small consumers
of gas. in Washington are paying too
much for il