Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-02
AGREEMENT ON GAS.
PAYMENTS NEAR
Commission Asks Illinois Con-
Germ to Promise to Take
No More Profits.

Agreement between the Public Utili-
ties Commission and the Central Pubic
Service Corporation of Illinois, und-T
which part Of their differences Over
the payment OF certain sums by the
Washington Gas Light Co. TO the ILL
nois concern would be Strengthened out,
today appeared likely.
Gen Mason M Patrick, commission
chairman. announced the body probably
would permit certain payments by the
washington Gas Light Co. to the Cen
trail Public Service Corporation. i'll eX-
change for a promis by officials Of
the latter organization under which
no further profits would be exact "a
from the Washington corporation by the
Illinois concern.
The bills the Washington company
would be permitted to pay probably
will total between $50 900 and SO goo.
They will include sums for natural gas.
coal. stationery and expert advice and
assistance. Their payment was for
hidden under a commission order issued
August 10.
Bills To Be Excluded.
The chairman explained the order
itself would remain in force. but GER
tain bills already incurred probably
would be excluded from the terms of
the instructions.
The compromise was suggested late
Yesterday by a delegation representing
the Central Public Service Corporation
and the Washington company.
No definite arrangement will be made,
however, until further information is
forwarded to the commission by the
utility men.
The gas men Yesterday submitted an
elaborate document purporting to set
forth the intercorrorate arrangements
which attended the bringing of natura!
gas to Washington and to show how the
Central Public Service Corporation had
planned a profit of s68.500 on one deal
with the local company, which it now
offers to abandon. Many enlightening
details on other transactions also were
set forth.
Title Plan Abandoned.
The portion of the pipe line by which
the District gets its natural gas which
lies inside OF the District boundaries
was built by the Columbia Gas &, Elec-
trio Corporation at cost of 500, 500.
According to the document filed by the
gas interests, the Central Public Serv-
Ice Corporation had intended to charge
the Washington Gas Light Co this
amount in exchange for letting the
Washington Gas Light Co. keep title
to the transmission main. This plan
now has been abandoned.
1t developed that the Washington Gas
Light Co. is not party to the contract
by which this natural gas is bought.
This contract, filed as an exhibit, is be-
tween the Public Service Engineering
Corporation and the Maryland Gas
Transmission Corporation. The former
is a subsidiary OF the Central Public
Service Corporation and the latter
subsidiary of the Columbia Gas & Elec-.
trio Corporation. Performance of this
contract on the part of the Public Serv-
ice Engineering Corporation. the pur-
chaser, was guaranteed by the Central
Public Service Corporation.
Under the new offer this contract
would be assigned by the Public Service
Engineering Corporation to the WASH
ington Gas Light Co. and the Central
Public Service Corporation would be ex-
cused from its guaranty.
Service Charge Dropped.
1t was revealed that in certain
brackets of gas consumption the
Georgetown Gas Light Co. Of Mont
gomery County, Md, charged the Pub
lie Service Engineering Corporation "a
cents per 1000 cubic feet instead of the
20 cents mentioned in the contract, the
extra 4 cents represent ,ng a service
charge. This will be abandoned.
other details furnished included bills
for expert assistance, stationery and
coal, payable or paid TO the Central
Public Service Corporation, its officers
and subsidiaries.
Patrick also disclosed the commission
agreed virtually to combine two gas
hearings, one of which is scheduled for
September IA and the other for Sep
TENDER 81 When the first is over the
second will begin immediately. in order
to save gas officials from the incon-
venience OF spending several inactive
dauc