Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-20
SECRECY SHROUDS
Gas REPORT MADE
! TO UTILITIES BODY
Findings on Ownership of
D. c. Firm Are Outlined
by w. A. Roberts.
CONTINUANCE OF PROBE
FOR DATA is PLANNED
Plan Of Company Officials to Enter
Insurance Business in Dis
trict Is Disclosed.

Enveloped in secrecy, the report of
William A. Roberts, assistant corpora
ton counsel, on the result of his
recent investigation in New York and
Boston into the ownership of the Wash
ington Gas Light Co. and its subsidi-
aries, was transmitted today to the
Public Utilities Commission. A copy
was sent to the Bureau of Investigation
Of the Department of Justice, which is
assisting in the inquiry.
Findings Closely Guarded.
At the commission and also at the
office of Corporation Counsel William
w. Bride, it was explained that the
findings of Mr.. Roberts are being
closely guarded because disclosure at
this time might serve to defeat the
purpose Of the investigation. The in
uuiry is yet incomplete, 1t was said,
and the policy of silence will be MAIN
tanned until the Federal investigators
finish their activities in connection
with the gas situation.
The Roberts report is said to be ex-
haustive and contains number of ex-
and the relationship between the Cen
trail Public Service Corporation and the
Washington and suburban companies
which recently took over control OF the
gas properties in washington and near
by Maryland and Virginia.
The Central Corporation has denied 1t
owned any stock of the Washington
gas companies, insisting that its rela-
tons with them consisted only of man
agement of the properties.
Relation Probe Planned.
Mr.. Roberts covered in his report only
the information developed during his
trip to Boston and New York. He plans
to continue his search for additional
data by correspondence.
One phase of the inquiry he plans to
nelve into more thoroughly is the con-
nection between the Columbia Gas g.
Oil Co, the Public Service Engineering
Co. and the Patuxent Gas Co. The
Washington Gas Co., it was said, con-
tracted with the Columbia concern, a
J. p. Morgan subsidiary, for the natural
gas now coming into Washington. The
gas company now, it Is understood at
the commission, is buying the natural
gas from the Patuxent company, which
Is owned by the Central Public Service
Corporation. The commission, how
of the natural gas contracts, although
officials Of the company promised to do
so when the negotiations were closed
last year.
Another development IN the gas sit
uation was a disclosure that officials
of the Washington Gas Light Co. had
planned to go into private insurance
business. These plans were suddenly
abandoned, however.
Insurers License Issued.
Records in the Office of Thomas NJ.
Baldwin, jr., superintendent OF insur-
ance of the District, revealed that a
general insurance brokers license was
issued January IA to the Commonwealth
Cooperative Association, whose officers
were listed as Brig. Gen. w. Z. Horton,
retired, as president; George B. Fraser,
tary, and Hazel c. Thompson, assistant
secretary and assistant treasurer.
Gen. Horton is a member OF the gas
companys legal staff, Mr.. Fraser is
q vice president OF the company, Mr..
Ewaldsen is director of the company's
sales department, and Miss Thompson
Is secretary TO Mr.. Fraser. Headquar-
tiers of the association had been estab-
1ished in room 608 Mills Building, the
ONCE of Mr.. Fraser.
Mr.. Fraser filed the application for
the insurance brokers' license, and he
had it Cancelled this morning, follow
ing publication of story of the organi-
cation Of the association. The purpose
of the association was not set forth in
the application. officials of the gas
company said it had not written any
insurance.