Evening star., 1946-11-30

dc. Head Open Drive
TO increase DiInoui
Observance in Homes
The Commissioners today opened
Ia drive to increase the observance
of the dimout In private homes.
Letters from the city heads were
on their way to II major civic or
ganizations. The letters call atten-
ltion to the need for cooperation
Iby the small consumer in the cam.
Ipaign to save electric power.
Washington householders and
apartment dWellers consume about
20 per cent of the city's electric
power, officials said.
Room Lighting CurtaiIed.
| AT the same time, the Commits
sioners amended their dirncut or
der to forbid interior lighting in
excess of one watt per square foot
lin any room in any private, COM
mercial or other establishment, in.
Guiding Offices and residences, but
excepting drafting rooms and other
similar interiors in which the visual
tasks are difficult and prolonged.
Corporation Counsel Vernon E..
West explained the addition of the
words "in any room" would prevent
consumers from computing their
authorized wattage on the overall
floor space of the entire building
and then limiting their lighting to
Individual rooms.
Thus, he continued, people will
now be unable to leave several
rooms darkened and use the author
lied watt per square foot OF the
darkened rooms to light up some
other room.
Room Is Defined.
Additional language also defines a
room as "any area inclosed by walls
or partitions Assistant Engineer
Commissioner Kenneth E. MadSen
said this was needed to establish
uniformity of Interpretation of the
restrictions by department stores
with big floors and separated counter
AREAS.
Oficials and police agreed that
practically all dimout violations thus
far reported have been the appar-
ent result of misunderstanding.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Richard w. Barton said the
most frequent cause of disagree
ment has been the Interpretation
4of the dimout provisions which linn
its outdoor business lighting to that
necessary to the conduct of busi-
mess"
Disagreements between policemen
and operators of about dozen busi-
ness concerns over how much light
ling is necessary have led to hear
Iings before him, Mr.. Barton said.
In each instance, he said, the kear-
ing has resulted in speedy agree
ment on the part Of the operator
to conform to regulations. Most
people seem entirely willing to Coz
operate with the conservation eff
forts, he added.
No Complaints Necessary Yet.
Mr.. Barton said he has instructed
police to summon for hearing those
involved when disputes arise over
the lighting used in any place OF
business. No hard and fast rule
can be made concerning lighting
necessary to conduct business, he
said.
He added that If any hearing
should result in a refusal to COM
ply with regulations, complaints viii
be filed. But, he said, no COM
plants have been necessary as yet.
| Both the amendment to the dim
out order and the sending out OF
| the letters were approved by the
Commissioners on recommendation
of their advisory committee on cleo
tricity and coal conservation, head.
ed by John Reilly, of the Board OF
| Trade. M
Earlier the two measures were
drafted by a conference OF Col.
Madsen. William n Press of the
Board of Trade, and A. w. Crossley,
Potomac Electric Power Co. engineer.
In the letter to civic leaders, the
Commissioners said the provisions
/ of the dinout order dealing with
stores, Office buildings and places of
amusement are relatively easy to
enforce, but they admitted that use
of power in private residences is vir-
tually uncomfortable.
willingness Needed.
What is needed, they added, Is
ethe Willingness and active desire OF
each individual householder to use
as little electricity and heat as
possible"
/ Exhaustion Of the limited stocks
| of bituminous coal in the city, they
said, would not only plunge WASH
ington into darkness but completely
disrupt community life.
| Meanwhile, the coal division OF
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association reported that, as of
Tuesday, 80 per cent of the city
dealers had about 37,495 tons of
bituminous coal on hand on the
basis of nearly complete returns.
Consumers also were reported
stocking up with, as much coal as
they could get. MIR. Press said there
| is no way of estimating the amount
of such coal now in private con-
sumner bins.
| Oficials said 20 per cent of the
entire years coal supply usually is
used in December.
The Potomac Electric Power Co.
said yesterdays load was Is per
| cent, below normal, but was attrib-
uted to schools remaining closed for
the Thanksgiving period and to hol-
iday absences from the city rather
than to increased compliance with
conservation restrictions. New coal
shipments were sufficient for the
days use, the report said, leaving
enough reserves for 81 days OF cur