Evening star., 1943-03-02
Sliding Scale Backed
By Board Of Trade as
Beneficial 10 Public
Notiono| Representation
Reimbursed by Approval Of
Copper-Sumners PIon

Copper-Sumners PIon
Declaring it was "unalterably op-
posed to public ownership or public
operation of the utilities of Wash
ington," the Washington Board of
Trade has registered it's formal ap-
proval of the sliding scale plan for
electrical rates, which today is the
subject of controversial hearing by
the Public Utilities Commission.
The boards position was outlined
In letter sent by L. P. McLachlen,
president, to James H. Flanagan,
chairman of the PUG, on the eve
Of the hearing.
Threat of public ownership was
made by Treasury Department
spokesman recently in connection
with announcement that the Treas
ury would intervene in the rate
hearings with the hope of getting
lower rates for both the Govern
ment and other consumers. Two
other Government agencies also in
tervened. the OPA and Public Build
ings Administration, along with
Sterilization Director Byrnes.
Seen rs Beneficial
In his letter Mr.. McLachlen re-
ported the directors had adopted a
resolution saying it was their con
sidered Judgment" that the sliding
scale plan ''by which electrical rates
have been determined in Washing
ton since 1924. has been extremely
beneficial to the community, greatly
In the interest of the consumers.
and an incentive to the company In
conducting its operations.
I'm every year since its inception,
except 1912" the resolution con-
tinued, rate reductions have re-
suited from its operation Such
rate reductions have aggregated In
excess Of $1,000 900 and the city has
enjoyed the most favorable rates
available on the Eastern seaboard
It is important to all consumers Of
electricity in Washington that the
plan be perpetuated."
The directors declared further
they were 'unalterably opposed to
public ownership or public opera
ton of the utilities of Washington
and hereby register protest against
any such program"
I'm taking this action" the letter
said, the directors felt they were
acting in the best interests Of the
electric power consuming public
which is. in effect. the entire citi-
zenry Of the District of Columbia.
They asked their resolution be given
serious consideration"
Again Inderse Suffrage.
The directors renewed their IN
dorsement Of national representa-
ton for the District by approving
the pending Capper Summers joint
resolution providing for a consti-
tutional amendment.
At the same time the directors
reaffrmed a stand taken in 1921
against any proposals for a "voteless
delegate" from the District In Con-
gress. Such opposition was based
on the ground that adoption of
such a plan would delay the city
in getting real national representa-
ton.
"a full account of the directors
resolutions on the subject Of ma
tional representation was carried
in the home edition of yester-
days Starr
The trade board directors recon-
mended that the Minimum Wage
and Industrial Safety Board be re-
quested to reopen public hearings
on the proposed basic safety manual.
In accepting report of its Com
mittee on Industrial and CONNER
cial Interests the directors also con-
Cured in action taken by the Ex-
ecutive Committee two weeks ago, |
which stated that many of the |
provisions Of the manual were |
wholly unnecessary and unreasona-
bly, burdensome with respect to q
substantial number of places Of en-
ployment In the District.
Hold to Industrial Jobs.
Pointing out that the act Of
October, 194l, setting up the indus
trial safety section Of the code was
limited to "industriaT' employment,
the Board OF Trade entered 4 Wig
orous protest against the adoption
Of a manual applying to employ
ment other than industrial.
The directors pointed out. how
ever. that the board was wholly In
accord with objectives OF the Safety
Board and was in accord with rea-
sonAble safety measures for those
engaged in hazardous employment
as interpreted under = stricter deh-
nt$ion Of industrial safety.
Mr.. McLachlen reported that as
result of the general membership
meeting Of the board last Friday
night at the Mayflower Hotel War
bond sales totaling $4,064, ,662 were
added to the District of Columbia
purchases for the month. OF this
amount $4,000, in bonds, he said,
were sold on the premises, $3.50 900
reported by building and loan as
sociations and $3,674.662 reported
that evening by the District Of Co.
tnnbia Bankers Association.