The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-08
LAUNCH PROBE
OF SUPPRESSED
REPORT ON GAS
Study SidetraCked for Nine
Years on Suggestion
by NELA.

By Scripps- HorGrd Newspaper Alliance
WASHINGTON, May S.-Dr. E. r.
Weaver, chief gas chemist of the
United States Bureau of Standards.
is to be called in by the Federal
Trade Commission TO tell why a
unearthed report that he
wrote nine years ago. criticiSing a
reduction of the heating value of
gas. was never published
National significance is attached
TO the Weaver article. which deals
with the action Of the Public Serv-
ice Co. of Colorado IN cutting the
heat content of gas in Denver from
900 to 400 B. T. US, while main
tanning the old rates to consumers,
suggesting an actual increased cost
to consumers OF 10 per cent.
Testimony already before the
Trade Commission shows that DR..
Weaver tried to get his article
printed and discussed by the gas in
dustry, but failed. 1t was dug out
of the bureaus files by a M Nc
DermOtt, a Trade Commission ex-
aminer, in an investigation Of the
Doherty gas interests.
Appealed TO Hoover Aid
Correspondence placed in the rec
ord concerns M. H. Aylesworth, now
president of the National Broadcast
ing Co; Paul S. Clapp, now vice
president of the Columbia Gas and
Electric Co., and w. A. Jones, vice
president of Cities Service and Sec
ond in command to H. L. Doherty.
Mr.. Aylesworth was managing di-
rector Of the National Electric Light
Association iii 1926, when Mr..
Weaver wrote his article. The Pub
lie Service Co. of Colorado, Cities
Service subsidiary, was preparing
to pipe natural gas to Denver and
other Colorado cities. 1t was also
getting ready to ask renewal of
its franchise in Denver The ques-
ton of rates was being agitated.
In September, 1926, Mr.. Jones, of
Cities Service, wrote to Mr.. Ayles-
worth, of NELA, about the Weaver
article, asking him: What the
chances are of the matter being
held in allegiance for some time
yet?"
AyIeswOrth Acted
Mr.. Aylesworth, two days later,
according to the testimony, took the
matter up with Mr.. Clapp, then an
engineering adviser to Secretary of
Commerce Hoover, in whose depart
ment the Bureau of Standards was
unit.
Il believe Mr.. Weaver has in mind
an article for one of the magazines
or a bulletin" wrote Mr.. AyleSworth.
1T seems our people are very much
afraid this article will create a dis
turbance in Denver at very critical
time. 1 hope it can be held up,
whether the purpose be an article or
a bulletin"
Whether or not this appeal caused
the Weaver brochure to be pigeon
holed, testimony indicates it re-
NAMED buried nine years in the Bu-
reau of Standards files.
The unpublished Weaver docu-
ment opposed the views of the Do
herty interests that the heating
value standards of gas could be re-
duced without affecting its service
ability to the consumer.
Loss to Public Seen
If the theory advanced by the
Public Service Co. of Colorado were
correct, DR.. Weaver wrote, gas
should be reduced to 500 BTU gen.
orally. But, in the belief of the
Bureau of Standards, he said, such
a reduction, if effected generally,
would cost the American people
$49O.OOOOOO.
The Colorado company's req SON.
ing was supported by the gas in
dustry in other localities and APP
proved by the American Gas Assn.
Public utility commissions in Colo
RADIO, Washington and Alabama ac-
cepted it.
Nevertheless, it was testified, when
the Public Service Co of Colorado
got ready to hook up its mains with
a pipe line from Texas, it cited the
fact that natural gas contained
about 300 B. T. u. as against 400 in
the manufactured product