Evening star., 1944-03-05
.Hankin Defends
His Exhibit in
.Pepco Case
Wants Rate Record
To Reflect More
Than Single Side

Gregory Hankin, member of the
Public Utilities Commission, yester-
day issued statement defending his
request for the commissions ac-
counting division to. prepare an ex-
hibit for him in the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co. rate hearings.
Mr.. Hankin also defended his be-
ing sworn in as a witness in Fri
days session. Introduction of the
exhibit, designed to show that con-
sumers as a whole had not paid
diminishing amounts for power un-
der the sliding scale, was challenged
by company attorneys on grounds
that Mr. Hankin would later sit in
judgment on his own exhibit.
In reply to a statement made to
reporters by Lloyd Harrison, assist
ant corporation counsel, that he had
personally never heard of a member
OF a regulatory body being a witness
in case on which he was to sit,
Mr.. Hankin recalled that he had in
sisted upon having himself sworn
as a witness in the 1912 Washington
Gas Light co. case.
Procedure Fair, Hankin Says.
when commissioner brings facts
into the records which are to be used
along with other facts, and If there
is any likelihood these facts may be
questioned, h should not insist on
his right of making a statement
without being under oath. Fairness
at least, would require that much, ~
Mr.. Hankin declared.
Mr.. Hankin said If commits
sioner wants an exhibit prepared
which is not to the liking of the
other commissioners" he may TASK
the staff to prepare and introduce
that exhibit so that the record
might reflect more than one side
Of the story"
Mr.. Hankin objected that the
figures presented in exhibits pre-
pared by v. A. McElfresh, chief ac-
countant Of the commission. drew
inferences in favor of the sliding
scale plan.
Hearings Resume Tomorrow.
With rate hearings resuming at
10 am. tomorrow before the PUG,
the Procurement Division OF the
Treasury is expected to begin this
week its testimony on the financial
history of the power company.
At the request of the procure
ment division. financial study has
been prepared by the Federal Trade
Commission, according to Harry R.
Booth, special counsel for the di-
vision. He said this material would
be utilized by later witnesses max
ing specific recommendations on
what notifications should be made
in the sliding scale arrangemert
for annual rate adjustments.
We have tried to get people we
think are able, impartial and with
great experience in the public
utility field" Mr.. Booth said.
Among those retained by the pro-
curement division, Mr.. Booth said
are DR.. James Bonbright, chairman
"a WIZ A>SW oA oWCl AuLIIOTlly
and professor at the school of bust
ness Of Columbia; Fred Kleinman,
chief accountant of the Illinois
Power Commission, and William A.
Dlttmer, power manager of the
Bonneville power project.
Mr.. Harrison. assistant corpora
ton counsel assigned to PUG mat
tiers, said he expected to complete
cross-examination tomorrow of AL
fred G. Neal, president of PEPCO
and Harold G. Hayden, controller
of the company.
Mr.. Harrison had expected to
complete his cross-examination on
Friday. This years hearings in
volve rate determination and an
investigation of the shding-scale
arrangement.