Evening star., 1946-09-11
Group
Favois Move 10
Cut Gas Rate
Federation Requests
Report on Change
To Natural Fuel

Describing county gas rates as
Unfortunately high" the Arlington
Civic Federation today was on rec
ord in favor of having the County
Public Utilities Commission report to
the County Board on effects of the
changeover from manufactured to
natural gas as preliminary step
toward seeking a lower rate.
The action followed extensive dis
cussion of the rate question by DR..
Laurence S. Knappen. chief econo-
mist, public utilities branch, of the
Office of Price Administration; Will
liam X. MacMahon. Rosslyn Gas Co.
executive, and r. c. Brehaut, man.
ager of the Washington Gaslight
Co.'S suburban companies.
DR.. Happen claimed that Airing
tons rate of $2.03 compares unfa-
vorably with s1.73 in Staunton, ST. So
in Washington, $124 in Lorrain,
Ohio; s1.18 in Pittsburgh, 81 cents
in>C Columbus, Ohio; 80 cents in Gin
cinnati, Ohio, and II cents in Day
ton, Ohio.
Natural Gas Cheaper.
Throughout the country, he said
it has become an axiom that ma
tural gas costs about one-third as
much as manufactured gas
The Rosslyn Gas Co., he added
has informed the Federal Power
Commission that the amount it will
pay for natural gas will result in an
annual saving of approximately
100000.
Mr.. MacMahon sited the COM
panys record of eight voluntary rate
reductions in 1880 and pointed out
that 6 per cent return on invest
ment is the maximum allowed by the
State Corporation Commission.
Stating that the company has
had 20 per cent increase in labor
costs this year. Mr.. MacMahon add
ed it paid $4,000 in taxes in
l945, compared with $4,000 in 1910,
The changeover, he said, has en-
abled the company to keep the same
rate In effect instead of asking for
an increase.
Higher Costs Explained.
Mr.. Brehaut explained that in
creased operational costs have cut
the return on investment in half,
In response to a question of Mrs.
Buelah S. Gross, chairman of the
federation's Public Utility Commit
tee,' If Arlington differs from other
communities in regard to higher
costs, Mr.. Brehaut replied it does
not. but added that other companies
may have to ask for increased
rates."
Edmund D. Campbell, county
board chairman, told federation
delegates the county board will act
promptly on any recommendations
Of the county utilities group.
Another resolution, asking investi-
cation of the possibility for re-
duced county water rates was re-
ferred to the Public Utility Com
mittee.
1t was pointed out that the county
water bond issue has been paid in
full and that rates have not been
reduced since 1898.
Motion Adopted.
A motion of Mrs. Florence Can
non, Organized Women Voters dele
gate, that passage of an enabling
act for referendum on the stagger
system Of electing county board
members be made permanent part
of the Legislative and Legal Action
Committee egenda also was adopted.
O. K. Normann, who was elected q
member of the Executive Committee,
also was named chairman of the
Good Government Committee and
charged with circulating petitions
for redistricting several county pre-
cincts, including Arlington and Ball
ston.
William S. Tickle was elected
treasurer, filling the vacancy caused
by the resignation of G. Arthur
Fuller. who has moved to Fairfax
County.
Other appointments included C..
H. Mann, chairman of the Legisla-
tive and Legal Action Committee,
and DR.. F. L. Campbell, chairman
of the Hospital Committee.