Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-14
Commission GIRDS
FOR COURT BATTLE
WITH GAS UTILITY
La Toilette Anti-Merger Act
to Serve as Weapon
for Prosecution.
GAS COMPANY CHIEF
REFUSES TO COMMENT
President George A. G. Wood Is
Silent After Payments Are With
held From Parent Company.

Additional evidence OF the relations
between the Washington Gas Light Co.
and the Central Public Service Corpora
ton, Chicago concern which owns
most of its stock, was unearthed yes
terday by Assistant Corporation Counsel
William A. Roberts at the Offices of the
local company. but no new action by
the Public Utilities Commission today
followed.
Yesterday, on thu strength Of some of
the evidence showing that funds Of the
local company were being drawn of
into the parent company. the commits
sion ordered a halt on all such pay
ments, except those specifically au-
thorized by the commission.
President George A. G. Wood OF the
local company today declined TO com
ment on the commissions order or the
situation which led up to it.
Mr.. Roberts is preparing to prosecute
the Central Public Service Corporation
IN behalf of the commission for alleged
violation Of the La Toilette anti
merger act
The letter sent by the commission
yesterday to the company for the special
attention Of G. A. G. Wood, its presi-
dent, reads as follows:
The Public Utilities Commission of
the District OF Columbia has been in
formed that there has accrued to the
credit of the Washington Gas Light Co.
an amount of $26.02o on account Of fall
ure to supply natural gas TO the afore-.
said company. 1t is further informed
that the Washington Gas Light Co. con-
templates payments to the Public serv-
Ice Engineering Co. for gas received
without deduction for the amount Of
this credit. 1t is further informed that
the washington Gas Light Co. has, OF
Is about to make, certain other pay
ments for supplies and personal services
which have not been approved by the
! Public Utilities Commission and which
are contrary to law.
Payments Ordered Halted.
ut is therefore ordered that the
Washington Gas Light Co. and all
animated or subsidiary companies and
persons are hereby expressly forbidden
70 make any payments to the Central
Public Service Co. or any of its affiliated
or related companies, or it's or their
agents, until such time as such pay
ments are approved by this commits
sion.
The Public Utilities Commission h
informed that the Washington Gas
Light Co. eontemplates transferring the
ownership and or control of a certain
l2-inch gas transmission main extend
ing from the District Of Columbia line
at Eighteenth street northeast to its
east station works, which was author
lied to be constructed by the aforesaid
Washington Gas Light Co under permit
No. 25951, October 80, 1880. The WASH
ington Gas Light Co. Is hereby notified
that any such transfer Is deemed by
this commission to be unlawful without
the consent of the commission, and said
company Is hereby expressly forbidden
to transfer the ownership and or con-
troll of the said property unless and
until consent of the commission shall
flrst be obtained"
Gas PressureS Still High.
Gas pressures continue high in some
places in the city, according to periodic
reports filed by the company with the
commission on its survey of gas ap-
planes The survey, made by en-
ployes of the company. is checked in
the field by representative of the
Gas Inspection Bureau of the COM
mission.
The latest report, for July, shows that
at Forty-fourth and Dix streets north
east, per cent Of the gas range top
burners examined we're high" and an
other per cent slightly high" At
ThiTty-first and p streets IL per cent OF
the oven burners we're slightly high
and 5 per cent high"
neighborhood Of Forty fourth street and
Klingle road, 5 per cent of the oven
burners are rated high" and % per
cent more slightly high" In the same
area per cent of the rang top burners
were high" and an additional 20 per
cent slightly high
In the $500 block of Albermarle street
5 per cent of the top burners examined
were high and 90 per cent Slightly
high
The report for July states that cat
Thirty-first and Ellicott streets the tests
appear to indicate the need for rather
extensive adjustments over areas which
could be determined after this work is
progressing
Two districts, near Twenty third and
d streets and near Fourteenth and T
streets, are reported in need of further
inspections. The company's report on
these two areas says: We prefer to
postpone work in these latter two dis
tricts until a little later in the year,
when results can be obtained better
suited to average year-round condi-
TONS
The burners are considered correctly
adjusted when the flame, secured by
opening the gascock wide, is even with
the grids on the range or comes up to
the. bottom Of the oven. If it is within
an inch Of this 1t is regarded as slightly
high" but If it is more than an inch
higher it is rated as high" The high
flames, it is explained, are wasteful as
the heat goes of into the air or out Of
the draft instead Of into the vessel on
the range or into the oven.
Another report is expected IN soon
showing pressure conditions at IL key"
locations throughout the city. which is
expected to give practical demonstra-
ton of the working efficiency Of new
governors and other devices installed by
the company to regulate gas pressure
the city.