Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06
Excuses for Failure to Adjust
Pressure and Appliances
Spurned by Officials.
KEECH DECLARES LIVES
WORTH MORE THAN so CTS.
Peoples Counsel Holds Present
Conditions Can Result Fatally.
Legal Action Threatened.

Inc washington Gas Light Co. was
informed today by the Public Utilities
Commission that failure to reduce pres
sureS to the recently allowed 8-inch
maximum by March is would result in
action ''in accordance with the pertinent
provisions of the law" The commission
also told the company that the cost of
making adjustments to gas appliances
| is not an excuse for failing to regulate
them to operate efficiently on the new
pressures..
At the same time Richmond B. Keech,
peoples counsel before the commission,
| severely criticized the company for
statements it made in reply to the COM
missions previous instructions to reduce
pressures and made necessary read
Justmerlts in appliances. Keech de-
clared that so cents, which the COM
pany said is the minimum cost of an
pliance adjustments, is not too great
to protect human life and keep gas
bills from mounting unnecessarily.
Held Cause OF Big Bills.
The commission also declared it has
sufhcient evidence to convince it that
where the necessary adjustments TO
appliances have not been made the
higher preSsures are responsible fer
greater amounts of gas passing through
the meters in given time, and as a
result the Eills Of many consumers have
been ''unduly increased
The commission made known its posi-
ton in reply to the latest report from
George A. @. Wood, president of the
gas company. in which he pointed out
| that the general readjustment of gaz
appliances would cost the company
| hundreds of thousands of dollars and
| that he did not believe such an expen-
diture was justified in view of the ex-
! listing unstable pressure conditions. Mr.
Wood also told the commission that the
company was readjusting those ap-
| planes in the homes of consumers who
had complained and in new installa-
| tons.
Keech Resents Attitude.
! Mr.. Keech resented the attitude
taken by the company with respect to
the adjustment of gas appliances and
declared that he was amazed" at the
statement Of the company to the effect
| that It felt an expenditure of so cents
for an adjustment to a gas appliance is
too great to protect human life as
wei as to protect gas consumers from
excessive charges.
He cited paragraph two of the pub
lie utilities act which requires public
utility corporations in the District to
furnish service and facilities that are
reasonably safe and adequate and de-
clared that in view the existing condi-
items, the commission should order the
company to either comply with its order
or else subject it to the penalty pre-
scribed in the public utilities act.
The penalty povisions Of the utilities
act stipulates that utility corporation
falling to obey the orders and regula-
tions of the commission is subject to
fine OF 5000 a day covering the period
of the violation.
Call to Explain Letter.
The commissions latest ultimatum
to the gas company and the statement
or Mr.. Keech came as a prelude to
several conferences between members
of the commission and officials and
counsel of the gas company. About 10
o'clock this morning, George B. Fraser,
vice president of the company, and
Wilton j. Lambert and william E.
Horton, of the company's legal staff,
called at the commission to explain
that the company did not mean every
thing that was implied in its letter Of
March 4.
These officials then learned that the
commission was preparing a reply TO
that letter, and about an hour later
the same group returned with President
Wood and Bert H. Peck, assistant to
the president, and asked permission to
see the commissions reply before 1t was
sent. This request was granted, but the
commissions reply was not changed.
It is understood that the company
officials suggested that the reply be held
up In order to give them an opportu-
nifty to submit another letter simplifying
the one of March and putting what
they said would be the proper interpre-
tation on the first letter.
Commission Sends Reply.
The commissions reply to the gas
company's letter follows:
your letter of March 4, relative to
gas preSSureS and adjustment of con-
sumers' equipment, has been received.
This letter shows that there are at
least two areas in which gas pressures
are still in excess of the commissions
temporary allowance Of inches. The
commission notes the reasons you give
for the delay in correcting this condi-
ton. Nevertheless, the consumers in
these territories are still confronted by
preSSureS in excess of the commissions
temporary maximum.
This condition must be corrected
without further delay. You are hereby
instructed to have the pressureS in these
localities taken and to submit to the
commission records which will show the
existing condition as of date not later
than the 18th of March. IF on that date
there are still unduly high pressures in
these localities the commission will take
1ufther action in accordance with the
pertinent provisions of the law.
with respect to the adjustment of
Continued or Page 2. Column e