Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-09-13
Vernon Baker to Let Attorney
Handle Appeal of Gas Rate Suit
I'm Sitting 1t Out
As q Client He Says
AS Roberts Takes Case

Vernon v. Baker. private citi-
zen, versus the Washington Gas
Light Co., public utility, will be
heard in the United States Court
of Appeals next month, but Mr..
Baker will not plead his own case
this time.
Mr.. Baker, an attorney with the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
presented his own case in Dis
trict Court last summer and got
Judge Alan T. Goldsborough to
set aside rate increase the Public
Utilities Commission had granted
the gas company. It cost him a
total of $11 in cash.
AS the case goes to the appellate
court, Mr.. Baker will have on his
side William A. Roberts, of the
law firm of Roberts g. Ennis. I'm
sitting it out as a Client" Mr..
Baker said.
Mr.. Roberts, a former special
assistant corporation counsel and
former Peoples Counsel for the
District, said his firm is represent
ing Mr.. Baker for no fee and as
public service.
"Voice" of Federation.
Although he is in the case as a
private citizen. Mr.. Baker actually
is the voice" of the Federation of
Citizens Associations. The fed
Grafton is really being heard in a
public utilities case for the first
time in its existence.
It was through his activity in
the federation that Mr.. Baker got
involved in the gas case in the first
place.
He is chairman of the groups
Public Utilities Committee. Last
year, the federation decided to
contest, in court. the $750,000 an
nual increase in rates granted to
the gas company by the PUG.
But, Mr.. Baker pointed out the
federation was not a gas con-
sumner and probably would be
barred when it came to a show
down. For that reason he Joined
the suit as a private citizen and
user of gas.
He was right. The federation
was tossed out, and he remained
the principal figure in the suit.
Thus it was on the basis of
Mr.. Bakers suit that Judge Colds
borough set aside the rate increase
granted the gas company. Both
the company and the PUG i'm
mediatetly filed appeals.
It was at this point that Mr..
Roberts became involved with Mr..
Baker and the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations.
Represented Dealers.
Mr.. Roberts had been in the
fight against the gas company in
crease all along, but he repre-
sented another group-the Gas
Consumers & Independent Appli-
ance Dealers. This group also
has been trying to get the gas
company to stop selling gas appli-
ances. In fact, a suit on that
very matter is pending in Dis
trict Court now. The associa-
ton contends the gas company
is exceeding its corporate author
ity in selling the stoves, heaters,
and such.
The dealer group couldn't get
into the court case on the rates
for the same reason the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations was
tossed out. 1t wasn't a gas con-
sumner.
Well, Mr.. Baker, although he
had won the first round, an
nounced he wasn't going to spend
any of his money in carrying it
on. 1t could run into thousands
of dollars.
The Federation formed a seven
member committee to raise funds
to support the fight in the appel
late court, but money came in
slowly.
Herber P. Leeman, president of
the Federation, and Mr.. Baker
asked Mr.. Roberts if he would
handle the case for no fee. The
answer was yes. Mr.. Leeman also
is an attorney Of record for Mr..
Baker.
Money raised by the Fedora
tons committee will go to defray-
ing printing and court costs, but
not as fee to Mr.. Roberts. The
fun-raising will be stepped up
this fall, as the citizens groups
begin meeting regularly again.
That's how it stands, now.
With Mr.. Baker is man whose
career at times forms strange
parallel to his own. Mr.. Baker is
an ICC examiner. Mr.. Roberts