Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-11
Stand of Gas Company
On Pressure lis Scored
10 the Editor Of The star:

TO the Editor Of The star:
Again permit me to comment On the
latest published reports concerning the
gas situation in Washington.
1t is almost unbelievable that the
company could take the stand it has IN
its controversy with the Public Utilities
Commission. It has made . lamentable
bungle, apparently, in salesmansnip OPP
Grafton and contact with the pubic eVeI
since the ownership passed into outsloe
hands.
Disregard of public safety and public
rights will not be tolerated by any arOI-
trary or illegal actions Of the gas COM
pany. Gas Is q public utility anecting
every man, woman and child IN the
city and environments. 1t must be ao-
ninistered in accordance with JUSTICE,
law and reason, or 1t VIII eVentual!y
have to be taken over by the people
From ali can gather, the predica:
ment in which the company finds itself
Largely q matter of pressure over the
allowable limits its own fault ana Is
traceable, in large degree, to house neat
ing. a highly advertised panacea which
was not possible Of large adoption with
existing facilities. The mains had 70 De
overtaxed to this end. No sympathy
can be expected when so little Juogment
is exercised In o major enterprise, up
setting the whole balance OF tne gas
system in the District. NO fMrtner
house -heating plants should be allowed
except by permit, the company show
ing that this extra draft on the gas
main in the particular case Is permiSsi-
bic without unduly affecting the pres
sure or operation of other appliances.
Mr. Wood. the president OF the new
company, evidently was brought up In
the school Of high-presSure salesman
ship. and certainly as salesman ne mas
made q good job Of 1t. But something
more Is wanted. The goods must stay
sold, and sales should not exceed adj
ity TO maintain the material IN proper
order without upsetting the rest OF the
tricks.
Failure to surround the management
with conservative engineering talent In
the first place, to avoid the evident pit.
falls which have been reached, was bad
Stop to think Of it for q single min
ute. One can perhaps visualize the vast
outlay necessary to relay the hundreds
of miles Of gas mains in Washington
with the single purpose Of heating
homes seven months of the year, to re-
Indln AdlC bAAC NoAoAASC Va w.
year. Can they raise the money? /
doubt it, under present conditions.
A consolidation Of the local gas COM
panies is sought by the management.
Congress has some champions Of the
people in 1t who will demand full air.
ing of the recent complaints, and will
see to it that only meritorious programs
will be tolerated.
Mr.. Wood has already publicly stated
that Washington gas was uneconomtcal,
to produce at It's present heating quality,
and that to economically produce 1t, Its
heating value should be reduced 30 to
rs heat units. Is this q move to be
shortly made by the gas company? II
so, it should be fully anticipated and
promptly stopped.
While the gas company explained In
public hearings the losses expected the
first year Of operation under the new
gas rate, the public must watch keenly
all items of the expense account tend
ing to point to an increase in rates due
to losses sustained. Especially should
appliance sales expenses be scrutinized.
The public should not be asked to re-
irnburSe the company for any losses
they arbitrarily set In business ven
ture in which such losses were antici-
pated in estimated future profits In
greater gas consumption.
The whole subject seems to be wide
open. We can rely upon the Public
| Utilities Commission and Mr.. Keech for
alertness in protecting the peoples
interests. w. NJ. WALLACE.