Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-16
The Gas Hearings.

The Public Utilities Commission
hearings on the gas pressure and gas
ownership questions have already pro-
duced two significant points.
The first is that the gas company
deliberately increased its pressures in
violation Of Public Utility Commission
regulations and that its own CHIEF
engineer had warned of the resulting
bad condition" that might become
aggravated" even before a report, to
the same effect, was prepared by the
Public Utilities Commissions chief
engineer, who later changed his ale
glance and became an engineer for the
gas company.
The second is that Washington's gas
companies are merely units OF the gas
trust" with its local managers possess
ing little more authority than the
managers of any link in any chain OF
similar commercial enterprises.
The deliberate increase of gas pres
sure by tbs company, without consulta-
ton with or permission from the Public
Utilities Commission. Is enlightening
when one views In retrospect the MS
tory of this gas-pressure controversy.
The first statement of the bad condi-
ton" resulting from increased pressures
came with the publication in The Star
of the report by former Public Utilities
Commissioner Engineer Dert II. Peck.
That report was more or less pooh
poohed by the gas company. There were
MANY and sundry explanations. and
everybody remembers the lengthy and
sometimes sharp communications be-
tween the gas company and the Public
Utilities Commission over the latter's
demands that adjustments In fixtures
be made to compensate for the increased
pressure in the main. Now it develops
that Mr.. Peck's report followed report
, drawn up by the gas company's own
chief engineer. And the gas company
report was drawn In advance Of subse-
quent increase of pressures. described
as large and substantial" apparently
ordered as q matter Of policy by the
controlling Chicago interests over the
protest Of the local gas officials.
The contention Of the local gas COM
pany officials that more mains should
be built to care for the increased de-
lnandS of consumers who had responded
to a sales campaign by purchasing more
gas appliances was presumably scrapped
by Chicago. And it was decided, by
somebody, that gas pressures would be
deliberately increased. and, If necessary,
permission for the increase would be
sought later. The gas companies are,
at this late date, seeking permission for
an act that was decided upon and put
into execution months ago. And 1t is
on the gas companies petition TO do
something that already was done that
the present hearings are being held.
Mr.. William A. Roberts, through his
well prepared examination Of the gas
company officials, Is establishing the
foreign control and management Of the
local companies, the policy which has
dictated such control and the ease with
which local consumers may be ex-
plotted. Before this hearing Is con-
cluded it is suspected that there win be
other revelations that viii call for
remedial action by the Public Utilities
Commission, possibly by the courts. and
for legislative strengthening Of the laws
devised to protect consumers against
the dangers that already have become
% apparent.