Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-18
MERGER INDORSE.D;
ONE VOTE IS CAST
Gas Company Head Presides
as Chamber of Commerce
Aids His Concern.

With George A. @. Wood, head Of the
washington Gas Light Co.. presiding
over the meeting as acting presiden<
the Washington Chamber of Commerce
last night at its meeting at the May
flower Hotel Endorsed the measure now
before Congress providing for the
merger OF the Washington and the
Georgetown gas companies.
The action was taken on the recon-
mendation of the Public Utilities Com
mittee OF the chamber. When the
matter was put to a vote by Mr. Wood.
who recently was elevated to the first
vice presidency of the chamber, there
was but one vote cast by the member
snip OF the organization, and that was
IN favor OF the merger legislation Two
hundred members attended the meet
ing.
ITS vote" said Mr.. Wood. declar-
ing the resolution adopted. He then
praised the chamber for the sanity
of its action. adding that while the
merger bill appears to be diving" in
Congress, 1T is good to know who ones
friends are and good to know who ones
enemies are"
Demonstrations Given.
The proposed bill would authorize tho
Public Utilities Commission to approve
which already are under the same gen
eral ownership.
Ihe romantic as well as the COM
merc1al and pubic phases of modern
public utility developments were fae-
tured at the meeting.
Demonstrations OF some of the mar
VeS OF modern communication and
various by-productS of experimentation
III SOUND and light waves were given In
faA,
BeIl laboratories and presented by the
local phone concern.
The chamber went on record oppos-
Ing the proposed change in the present
system, under which the rates Of the
Potomac Electric Power Co. are fixed
annually.
Phone Head Guest.
Lloyd B. Wilson, president Of the
chesapeake d Potomac Telephone Co,
was honor guest of the meeting. and
w. w. wheeler, general information
manager Of the telephone concern. told
of the work of the local and regional
phone company, its plans of expansion.
its present facilities and it's relation to
the American Telephone & Telegraph
Co. and to the Bell Laboratories, which
carries on extensive experimentation.
from which some of the radio and
other inventions and developments are
credited.
Cost Reduction Seen.
The chamber resolution on the gas
merger also stated that it is be-
leved the proposed consolidation of
the two companies, already under
the same ownership, would pave
the way for reductions in manufactur-
ing cost and Improvements in service
greatly to the benefit of the citizens OF
District
In acting on the disputed matter over
now the rates of the Potomac Electric
Power Co. should be adjusted annually
the chamber declared that the poWsl
company because of its unique record
OF service, has earned the commenda-
ton and appreciation of the citizens OF
Washington
Declaring that it wcuid oppose any
EFFORT made either by the Public Uti'i-
Ties Commission or the power ccmranv
to abrogate the present consent dcc-e
under which rates are fixed, without
there being recourse to the courts the
chamber declares that IL, after rains
taking investigation, the comn1iss. n
feels that further modification OF
existing rate schedules is possible. i,
should take such question up with the
power company for cooperative con-
SiOCId C1-u III pubic interest.
The chamber went on record as "un-
alterably opposed" to coercive action,
directly or through the courts, which
might usher in another 10-year period
OF legal combat, the effect of which
would be indefinitely to postpone the
rate reductions which the public has
been enjoying under the present ar
rangement."
Eight Hour Day for Firemen.
Charles w. Darr, chairman of the
Police and Fire Protection Committee.
presented resolution, adopted by the
chamber, urging establishment of a
three-platoon system in the District
Fire Department to give the firemen
an eight-hour day, instead of one of IL,
and to place the firefighters on a parity
with policemen.
The chamber approved a recon-
mendation of the Transportation Com
mittee, offered by George Keneipp, urg-
ing the widening of Thirteenth street
from Monroe street to Spring road, and
another resolution, approving a cam
paign waged by the Board of Trade,
urging that Thirteenth street be re-
tanned as a traffic inlet to the Mall,
running through the Federal building
development from Pennsylvania avenue
to B street north
~,PpAo'oA Wy OoAlSlCoo VI d 10-ycdL
building program for the local public Ii
brarieS system, recommended by the Ii
brarieS Committee of the chamber, was
urged by the trade body. This would
provide for definite 15-year expansion
program, calling for the purchase of addi-
tional sites for additional branch libra
ries, financial program for construc-
ton OF, the additional buildings, and
for a project to double the size Of the
present Central Public Library.
The films presented by the telephone
company illustrated the elementary
phases of the scientific marvels under
lying the making of talking" motion
pictures by means of animated car
toons." There were sound pictures also
basic. principles of the radio
reproduction of speech and music, and
another film illustrating the value of
"a diO RI auia fioC