Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-18
Data on Control of Companies
to Be Given to U. S.
Investigators.
SUBMISSION TO BRIDE
DUE AT EARLIEST DATE
Assistant Corporation Counsel Graf
fled With Effect of New York
Boston Inquiries.

William A. Roberts, assistant corpo-
ration counsel of the District, returned
today from a five-day investigation in
Boston and New York into the owner
ship of the Washington Gas Light Co.
and its subsidiaries, and Immediately
began preparation of an exhaustive re-
port for Corporation Counsel William
W. Bride, general counsel of the Public
Utilities Commission.
Neither Mr.. Roberts nor Mr.. Bride
would discuss the nature of the infor-
nation developed by the inquiry, but
both indicated that the trip to Boston
and New York was productive OF val
liable data. All of the information, II
was said, will be turned over to the
Bureau of Investigation of the Depart
ment of Justice which is assisting In
the investigation.
Indications are that it will be several
weeks before the completion of the in
quiry, and until that time Mr.. Bride
declared he would not make public any
of the information uncovered as to own
ership of the gas properties. In the
meantime he plans to continue the in
vestigation by correspondence.
Other Data Supplied.
Mr.. Bride turned over to Mr.. Roberts
upon his return evidence bearing on the
case which he gathered while his as
sistant was in Boston and New York.
Mr. Roberts will use this in prepara-
ton of his report.
Almost simultaneously with the re-
turn of Mr.. Roberts the directors of
the Washington Gas Light Co. met in
special session and drew up a state
ment denying the reports that changes
are impending in the administrative
personnel of the company
The statement set forth that Presi-
dent @. A. G. Wood, and his Subordi-
nate executive staff, had all been re-
elected for another term of a year in
February. and that no changes are in
contemplation. The statement also
deplored the circulation of the false"
reports.
Rumors Still Persist.
Nevertheless, the rumors continued
to circulate, the latest being that Mr..
Wood Is to become a vice president of
the Central Public Service Corporation,
and detailed to manage all of the gas
operating plants controlled by the
Washington and Suburban Companies.
Aside from the Washington and George
UOWn AOIlpdIilco, lIlcS6- ulIsuuE lIlc
Alexandria Gas Co. and the Wash
ington Suburban Co., formerly known
as the Hyattsville Co.
This set-up would take place, it was
reported. should A. L. Pierce, Chicago
public utilities magnate, become presi-
dent of the Washington Gas Light Co.
"a position he now holds in the Wash
ington Suburban Co. Mr.. Pierce heads
the Central Public Service Corporation,
q gigantic public utility concern. which
recently took over management of the
Washington Gas Light Go. and its sub
salaries controlled by the Washington
and suburban companies.
Richmond 3. Keech, peoples counsel
before the Utilities Commission, who IS
cooperating with Mr.. Bride In the gas
company ownership inquiry, conferred
with Mr.. Roberts this morning and ad-
vised him of information that had come
into his Office bearing on the activities
of the owners of the Washington Gas
Co.
The principal data, given Mr.. Keech
by an engineer. formerly in the employ
Of the gas company, alleged that steps
had been taken by the owners of the
Washington gas properties to get con-
troll Of number of gas-operating plants
within radius Of $50 miles of Wash
ington.