Evening star., 1946-11-29
Officials Meet
To Make Dimouf
Plain 10 Public
Modsen, CrossIey
And Press to Discuss
Explanation of Move

u
A meeting this afternoon was to
attempt to explain in language that
many thousands of electricity users
can understand just how they can
cooperate best with coal conserva-
tion measures governing lighting Of
homes and offices.
Scheduled to attend the session
were Col. Kenn@th E. Madsen,
assistant District Engineer Commits
s1oner; A. W. Crossley, administra-
tive engineer with the Potomac
Electric Power Co., and william H.
Press, representing the Board Of
Trade.
Conservation enforcement officials
believe that virtually all users of
electricity are willing to cooperate
If they know what to do.
Officials agreed further that lam
guage of the regulations governing
Inferior lighting might be vague, if
MOI actually meaningless, to many
users. The regulations limit such
lighting to one watt OF electricity
for each square foot of floor space.
except in offices requiring brighter
Illumination.
Dispute on Violation.
Meanwhile, officials said most con-
sumers of coal and coal-produced
services were continuing virtually
100 per cent cooperation with the
dimout. This opinion was not
altered by the information that Dis
trict corporation counsel prepared
today to investigate a reported, but
denied, violation.
Police said the counsel would be
asked to decide whether more elec-
trio lighting. than permitted under
conservation regulations was being
used in filling station in the ex-
treme Northwest section.
The beat policeman, working out
|of Station No. 6, was quoted as re-
porting the use of too much light.
The operator of the gasoline station
denied it. If corporation counsel
decides regulations are being vio-
lated, police said, complaints may
be filed.
Feel Curbs Must Tighten.
Only two previous violations Of
dimout orders had been reported
by police. Complaints were with
held in each instance when violators
agreed to comply.
However, despite the widespread
cooperation with regulations, all
those participating in enforcement
clung to the opinion that curbs still
must be frightened drastically, and
at once, unless the coal strike is
settled soon.
just what might be done to
stretch available supplies to the ut
most is being studied by the heavier
coal consumers and emergency con-
servation enforcement agencies.
They agree, however, that the
time can not be far distant, unless
coal production is resumed, when
| strictest rationing may have to be
| applied to all except the most essen
tial users of the fuel and of coal
generated electricity.
The general coal supply picture in
Washington showed little change
today.
Savings Put at 10 Per Cent.
Pepco received an additional 300
tons, but had to withdraw about
/ 900 tons from reserves for holiday
operations. Supplies were reported
sufficient for 81 days of curtailed
operation enough to last through
January 4 Daily use ran about 10
per cent above last year up to the
dimout. Savings since the dimout
were estimated at about 10 per cent.
Reports to the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association indicate
dealers have enough soft coal for
nearly a month under present regu-
lations which permit deliveries only
to users with less than 10 days
supply.
The association was advised, how
ever, that dealers were receiving
shipments of anthracite (harO coal.
a type used in many homes.
Schools Have Priority.
Most hospitals in the. area have
storage for only few days supply,
but they will receive coal as long
as dealers have it.
There appeared no likelihood that
city schools will face an immediate
fuel emergency. They are on the
highest priority list for available
coal. Fires were banked today as
nF,coruo,,oo f,f kl,a THE ,trrry;,,;,,r, t,rl =
iday continued. About 80 of the
180 school buildings are heated with
gas and an equal number with oil.
These are not likely to face heat
ing problem.
The Capital Transit Co. reported
continuing total compliance with
all conservation regulations. Full
streetcar schedules are being main
tanned, but car heating is held to
a maximum of 40 degrees. No cur
tailmentS of service are planned
unless ordered by officials
Meanwhile the Washington mo-
tion picture theater industry, in a
letter to District Commissioners.
argued that theaters should be
among the very last class of users
/ tof electricity to be curtailed" The
letter said surveys showed that If
all the so theaters in the District
should be closed it would mean a
saving of only one-f1fth of per
cent of the power generated by
4 Pepco.
| This certainly would not justify
depriving" the 75,000 to 100000 peo-
pie who attend such theaters daily
"of needed relaxation" the letter
| contended.