Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-21
Subpoena InStructS Him to
Appear at Hearings Sep
TENDER ID and FL.
SERVED AS He ATTENDS
DIRECTORS MEETING HERE
Utilities Commission Seeks to
Learn Ownership of Wash
ington Company.

0uopoenaS ordering A. T.. PIERCE OF
Chicago, president Of the Central Public
Service Corporation, recently elected a
director OF the Washington Gas Light
Co, TO produce before the Public
Utilities Commission certain financial
records Of his company and afiIiated
concerns, were served today at the
Carlton Hotel.
Mr.. PIERCE was located by United
States marshals on information supplied
by William A. Roberts, an assistant
corporation counsel. He came here to
attend q meeting today of directors of
the Washington Gas Light Co. expected
to consider disclosures by Roberts that
the gas company is controlled by the
Public Service Corporation.
Today's subpoenas instructed PIERCE
to appear before q Public Utilities Com
mission hearing September IA, at which
washington gas pressures will be in
CURED into. and before another hearing
September IL bearing on the supposed
ownership of the gas company by the
Chicago corporation.
Ordered to Bring Records.
PIERCE was ordered to bring with him
all the stock and financial records OF
the Central Public Service Corporation,
the Washington Suburban companies,
the Westville Trust, reported to hold
the shares Of the Washington Suburban
Companies: the Massachusetts, Trust
said to control "a per cent of the stock
in the Washington Gas Light Co. and
the minute books Of the Central Public
Service Corporation.
In addition, the subpoenas required
Peirce to produce all OF his personal
financial records.
Should peirce disregard the sub
poenas, officials said, he would be sub
jeet TO penalty OF 500 daily Under
the public utilities act. he also might
be taken into any District Federal court
having jurisdiction over his person and
compelled to show cause why he should
not appear as ordered in the subpoenas.
Ofneiais indicated the issue TO be de-
termined by the Utilities Commission Is
whether the gas company Is locally
owned Roberts has indicated IL the
contrary should be established. prose-
cutions might follow under the La Fol
lette anti-merger act.
Orders Halt I'm Payments.
As q prelude 70 its latest move In
the gas case. the commission last week
ordered halt In payments by the
Washington Gas Light Co. to the Gen.
trail Public Service Co. of all funds
not specifically approved by the COM
mission.
The commissions action followed re-
ceipt of information that the gas COM
pany was contemplating payments to
the Central Public Service Co. for gas
received without deducting $26,020 ac-
cured TO its credit on account of fall
ure Of the parent company to supply
natural gas to the washington COM
pany. Information also was given the
commission that the Washington COM
pany had, or was about to make, GER
| tain. other payments for supplies and
personal services which were not APP
proved by the commission and which 1t
held was contrary to Law.
Answer Expected Today.
The order of the commission in that
case expressly forbid the Washington
company and all affiliated or subsidiary
companies to make any payments to
the Central Public Service Co. or any
OF its affiliated or related companies
until the commission gives its approval.
OfflcialS OF the Washington company
have steadfastly declined to comment
on the action Of the commission and
| an answer was anticipated today after
a meeting OF the board of directors of
the company. The meeting originally
{, was scheduled to have been held this
! morning but was suddenly postponed
until 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, obvi-
| ously as result Of the subpoena issued
| to compel Peirce to produce the finan-
cial records OF the company which he
| heads.