Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
COURT DECREE HIT
in RATE CUT FIGHT
Battle on Electricity Cost
Joined by Federation OF
Citizens Associations.

The Federation of Citizens Associa.
tons last night decided to take hanc
: IN the forthcoming legal battle to secure
!oN,er electric rates in Washington By
an attack on the consent decree o.
tduity court under which the rates are
4 liked
In a resolution adopted by the body
the decree was described as patiently
unfair to the public, beyond the Lawful
authority and jurisdiction OF the court
obviously unreasonable, unjust anc
arbitrary" The federation instructed
its Committee on Public Utilities to take
immediate steps to obtain an abroga-
ton of the decree.
~, Wordy Debate Takes Place.
A wordy debate preceded the adoption
of the resolution offered by George E
j.. Sullivan. Peoples Counsel Richmond
3. Keech informed the federation that
he was not in accord with the action
proposed to be taken by the Public
Utilities Commission in seeking modl-
fication of the decree.
He said he had purposely refralneo
from stating his position hitherto be-
cause he was waiting to see what action
the commission would take. The at
tack on the decree was led by James
G. Yaden.
william NICK. Clayton. chairman of
the federation's Public Utilities Com
mittee. counseled the federation to be
cautious. and did not appear enthu-
siastic about the form of the resolution
as adopted Nevertheless, when the
vote was called for, it was unanimous.
Abrogation Is Urged.
The full text Of the resolution fol-
lows:
THE federation advocates and urges
In the strongest possible manner the
Immediate application to the Supreme
Court of the District to abrogate the
so-called consent decree of that court
relative to the rates of the Potomac
Electric Power Co., on the following
grounds:
"The method of fixing rates outlined
In such so-called consent decree is pat
emily unfair to the public. in that with
a steadily developing and increasing
business and profit inuring to the COM
pany the company is not only allowed
the full benefit of all profit in q given
year above the prescribed 7i2 per cent
limit, but Is put in a position also TO
reap again a full one-hah of such ex-
cess for the ensuing year.
said so-called consent decree was
beyond the lawful authority and juris-
diction of the court in that the Con-
thorize 1t, nor empower the Public IT'LL
tiles Commission or any other public
authority to consent to it.
Commission Authority Favored.
1.-THE whole matter of the fixing of
rates of the Potomac Electric Power
Co. should be relegated at once to the
Public Utilities Commission to enable
1t to deal with the subject from year
a. A ~
facts as contemplated by the public
utilities act and unhampeTed by the
obviously unreasonable, unjust and ar
bitrary method set forth in the So
called consent decree"
The federation approved proposed
authorization Of an appropriation of
5000, 900 Of Federal funds for the pur-
chase Of 126 acres Of land near Hickeys
Hill In the northeast section of the
city for an addition to the National
Arboretum. The federation adopted a
ST-page report ON the. Capper and
Blame blue sky bills affecting the sale
of securities. The report was not read,
and Thomas u. Lodge, who introduced
faxed 10 state what It contained, ex-
cert that some features of both were
recommended. Nevertheless the feder-
alton adopted the report without debate.
Members OF the federation also in
dufged IA controversy relative to q
contribution TO the Community Chest.
]. Lewis GeIbnan offered resolution
TO appropriate $50 for the Chest and
10 fndOrse the purposes Of the drive.
The federation was willing to indorse
the drive, but not to appropriate the
money. Charles I. Stengle moved to
lay the appropriation resolution on the
table and this prevailed BY vote Of
~ to IL.
Argument Becomes Warm.
Mr.. Goldman then announced he had
been insulted and that he did not care
whether the resolution indorsing the
drive passed or not He said the fed
Grafton had plenty of money in its
treasury and $500 in the building asso-
citation fund.
II turned out however, that the
federation only had $125 in this fund,
and the remark is reported TO have en-
ragged A. H. Gregory, the treasurer, so
that after the meeting he and Mr..
Goldman are said to have come near
TO blows Two delegates, however, one
of them woman, interposed.
The resolution indorsing the Com
muntty Chest was approved after the
resolution calling for an appropriation
had been defeated.
The federation voted to invite the
International Association for Identifi-
cation to hold its 1882 convention in
Washington, and also TO ask the School
Board to allow the use of school build
ings for entertainments and other
affairs conducted by reputable organi-
cations where admission is charged and
the profit is given to aid unemployment
relief.