Evening star., 1932-12-02
ID, ,C,ANDMARYLAND c,
UTILITY BODIES TO
HOLD GAS HEARINGS
Joint Session to Speed Wash
| ington and Georgetown
Valuations.
BETHESDA COMPLAINT
IS LINKED WITH ACTION
/ W. R. G E. Ordered to Issue Free
Transfers-Temporary Hack
Stands Denied.

The District Public Utilities Com
mission and the Maryland Public Serv-
ice Commission will hold joint hearings
on valuations of the Washington ano
Georgetown Gas Light Cos. and related
gas companies in Maryland next Feb
ruary, the District of Columbia Com
mission decided yesterday in accepting
a bid from Harold E. West, chairman OF
the Maryland body, for the joint ses'
Sions
The valuation hearings all will be
held in Washington, and a member OF
members of the Maryland commission
will sit In with the District commission
throughout the hearings.
Two Counties Believed Involved.
This new departure happens because
both commissioners are engaged in ap-
praisals of property of the gas conn.,
panies, and is designed to save time
and money, since the same type of evi-
dance will be given respecting the prop
critics on either side of the District line
1t is not clear from the correspondence
whether gas properties in Prince
Georges County are being appraised
since Mr.. Vests letter mentions only
complaints as to gas rates from resi-
dents of Bethesda, served by the
Georgetown Gas Light Co. of Mont.
gomery County. Commissioner Riley E
Elgen Of the local commission said hi
thought both adjacent Maryland coun-
ties were involved.
Washington gas rates are now sub.
ject to discount of 8l2 per cent un.
der an order of the Public Utilitie.
Commission, which expires January 81
1888. 1t is believed that this order
will be extended to cover the period o.
the valuation hearings. It is expected
that the appraisals now being made
will be completed by New Year day anc
the companies involved will then bt
given 80 days notice of the public
hearing on valuation. After the val.
uation Is fixed hearings on changing
the gas rates will probably be set, i
the valuation figures warrant either in
creases or decreases of the present scale
Free Transfers Ordered.
The commission, at its meeting yes.
terday, ordered the Washington Rail.
way g. Electric Co. to issue free trans.
fers on transfers where such a practice
will enable rider to make one con.
tinuouS ride in the same general direc.
ton. The Capital Traction Co. ha.
already adopted this practice For.
merly transfers would only be giver
on payment of fares.
The Washington Rapid Transit Co
was granted an increase in the rate o.
its experimental weekly pass, TO b
used in non-rush hours, from SO to 6(
cents. There will be no change il
the price of the unlimited weekly ticket
The company showed the commission
that on the non-rush hour pass they
were carrying passengers for 31a cent:
each. The bus company was also giver
permission to extend the experimental
period for the use of these passes from
December 10 to February 25.
Hack Stands Denied.
The commission denied request from
the Taxicab Drivers Union for tht
creation of IL temporary hack stands
to accommodate "A cabs, in the down.
town section from December l to q
and denied request of the Brightwooe
Citizens Association to order the center
trolley poles on Kennedy street east o.
Georgia avenue removed.
The Chesapeake g. Potomac Tele
phone Co. was allowed to postpone unit
January /, 1884, the effective date o.
its $50 monthly minimum charge OF
teletype instruments. This tariff hac
previously been ordered into effec
January /, 1888, but on account O.
business conditions the telephone com.
pany asked for the poStponement.