Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23
Companies Engineer to List
Appliances ReadjuSted to
8-Inch Maximum.
PIERCE AND BURROUGHS
SUMMONED TO HEARING
Reports on Total Resettings, Due
Every 10 Days, Are Unmade
Since June Order.

A careful check was started by the
Public Utilities Commission yesterday
on the activities of the Washington and
Georgetown Gas Light Cos. in carrying
out an order directing the readjustmerlt
Of consumer appliances to operate EN-
GENTLY on a temporary S-inch maxi
mum pressure.
The order was issued In June, and the
companies were directed to report
every 10 days on the number OF adj
justments made in this period. The
To-day reports have not been forth
coming, however, and now the COM
mission is beginning to inquire about
the extent Of compliance with its order.
Bert H. Peck, chief engineer of the
gas companies, has promised to have
a complete report at the commission
tomorrow showing how many ADJUST
ments have been made since the oroer
was issued.
Attitude Vexes Commission.
The apparent indifference of the
companies already has trritated the
commission. In fact, George A. O.
Gas Light Co, and A. Z. Peirce, presi-
dent OF the Central Public Service Cor
poration, which is alleged to own the
gas properties were told at confer
ence Friday afternoon that the COM
mission was not at all satisfied with
the extent to which appliance read
1ustments had been made during the
Summer.
Peck has been asked for the composite
AfsT1k Rta anf
only to determine how far the companies
have complied with the order, but par
tfcularly for use in connection with the
aas hearings to begin September IA.
Pressures, appliance adjustments. rates
and stock ownership are TO be con-
sidered at the hearings, and the COM
mission Is gathering all available data
on these subjects In preparation OF its
case
The companies already have petitioned
the commission for authority to raise
pressure TO q maximum Of 10 inches,
and have fortified their request with
numerous opinions Of engineers and ex-
perts that under such pressure gas sery-
Ice can be improved. A 6-inch MAXI
mum pressure Is the standard fixed by
the commission, but last Winter this was
raised to temporary S-inch maxi
mum to permit the companies to meet
an increased demand for gas for house.
heating purposes.
New Schedule Proposed.
The question Of rates viii come up
as a result Of an application by the
companies for authority to introduce
3 new schedule for commercial use, but
there Is no indication at this time
whether any move viii be made to
revise existing rates fer house heating
or domestic use. Any change IN rates,
II was said, viii depend largely on the
cost TO the gas companies Of the natll-
raj gas which Is being mixed with
manufactured gas for distribution over
q part Of the gas system:
For several months the commission
has been endeayoring TO procure copy
Of the contract of the gas companies
with the Columbia Gas and Electric
Co. which would reveal the cost of the
natural gas The companies have in
sisted that such a contract has never
existed, and Is now only In the stage
Of negotiation.
The commission has been promised
. copy of this contract as soon as 1t is
negotiated, but the companies already
have disputed the authority of the COM
mission to do anything with it after
II Is received. That question Is TO be
settled later but there is q feeling at
the commission that 1t does have some
authority to pass or the contract, in
voiving Is It does the cost Of gas TO
consumers.
Records Called For.
PIERCE has been subpoenaed 70 produce
ut these hearings the financial records
Of the Central Public Service Corpora
ton, in which the commission hopes TO
md a record Of the maze Of transac-
tions undergone by the gas stock since
It left Washington nearly two years
ago. Some Of this data already Is in
the possession OF william A. Roberts.
assistant corporation counsel. who
made an investigation 70 ascertain the
present owners Of the gas properties.
Peirce promised TO produce the
records but prefaced his promise with
an If" He said he could not remove
the documents II the board Of trustees
Of his corporation objected.
At any rate, ne Will attend the hear
ings. and so win Fred S. Burroughs
of Harris, Forbes Ss Co. Of New York.
who also received summons during
his short visit In Washington. From
these two men the commission expects
TO draw the myriad details Of the con-
troll of Washington's gas properties as
related 10 the provision Of the La Fol-
lette anti-merger law.