Evening Star Newspaper, May 25, 1931, Page 5

1 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY, BRIEF IN GAS BATE CASE IS SUBMITTED Arlington Counsel Contends Evidence Failed to Support Present Charges. BY LESTER N. INSKEEP, Btaff Correspondent of The Star ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, Va., May 25.—In a brief filed Saturday with the State Corporation Commission by G. O. Basham, special | counsel for Arlington County in the gas rate case, the Rosslyn Gas Co. is al- leged to have failed to overcome evi- dence offered by the complainant show- ing that the present rates in Arlington County are unreasonably high. Testi- mony in the case was heard by the commission April 8 and 10. The rate under attack is $1.50 per thousand cubic feet for the first 2,500 feet of gas consumed. It is held by the county that this rate should noet b2 more than $1.15. The rate of 90 cents per thousand cubic feet for consump- | tion over 2500 feet and the 65-cent house-heating rate are not under attack by the ccunty. Must Be on Fair Value. ‘The bLrief points out that rate must be based upon the fair value of the gas company, determined in e with the United States Supreme Court’s decision in the Smyth vs. Ames case, which holds that the company is en- titled to a fair return upon its fair value and that the public should pzy n> more than the services are reascnably worth. Follcwing this rule, complaifant in- troduced evidence purporting to show ! the inal cost, reproduction cost new, and ccst of reproduction, less depre- | clation, of the gas company as of 1930. From these costs a fair value of $310,000 is obsained. The brief next develops a rate of! $1.18 per thousand cubic feet, based upon the reasonable cost of gas pur- chased, distribution cost, including taxes, depreciation, etc., and a fair return on the value for rate-making purposes. It is contended that the data support- the rate is derived chiefly from the defendant’s estimates and annual re- ports, Defendant Is Challenged. { The defendant is challenged to point %o any evidence introduced by it relating to the fair value of its property. A rate of $1.15 is asked for the future because of the introduction of natural gas into the Arlington County supply at a rate Jower than the cost of manu- artificial gas, the $1.18 rate n arrived at on figures re- lating only to artificial gas. It is pointed out that gas is retailed by the Washington company to com- munities in Maryland and to Alexandria at rates cf $1.20 end $1.18, respectively. ‘To defendant’s contcntion that these lower rates are based upon higher con- sumption, the brief claims that the higher conspmption results from the Jower rate and that the lower con- sumption in Arlington County is due to the higher rate. Substantially lower connection charges are requested, which are justified, ac- cording to the brief, by prevailing prices of labor and material. The testimony of G. A. G. Woced, resident of the Washington and Ross- lyn Gas companies is characterized as generalities, affording no basis for a finding of fair value. Comparison Held Not Significant. ‘The alleged increased consumption in February, 1931, over the average for 1930, relied upon by Wood to show the reasonableness cf the present rate, is held not to be significant consumpticn in a cold Winter month such as February is not typical of the average annual consumption, consid- ering the hot Summer months, when lit- tle cooking and no heating is required. ‘The rate comparisons relied upon by the defendant to support the present Tates are assalled as constituting evi- dence of only secondary importance, for the reason that the factors upon which & rate is based, such ss cost of manu- facture, distribution and efficiency of operation, are variable in different com- munities. The present deficit, referred to by Wood, is characterized as a “mythical” ing deficit created solely by an inordinately high whclesale rate of 85 cents charged by the Washington com- pany. It is contended that the pur- chase of wholesale gas at a rate of 50 cents, admitted to be reasonable by defendant’s witness, would have netted the defendant a handsome profit. The brief points out that there is in fact no deficit even at the 85-cent rate if the calculations are based upon a proper inyestment, excluding the cost of an abandoned plant and certain new improvements upon which there has been no opportunity to earn a return. The defendant maintained at the hearing that the District of Columbia Utilities Commission would not ap- prove a wholesale rate lower than the present rate of 60 cents. The brief points out that this is not a valid reason for not rzducing the retail rate, contending that the District commis- sion has no jurisdiction over the whole- sale rate to be charged to the Rosslyn Gas Co. ‘The defendant’s brief is due in Rich- mond within 15 days and the com- plainant has five days after that with- in which to reply. Basham is assoclated in the case with Comonwealth’s Attorney William C. Gloth and John C. Gall, counsel for the Arlington County Civic Federation. C. 1. Kephart, special valuation engi- neer for the county, appeared as prin- cipal witness at the hearing. FEMINIST ON BLACKLIST Bylvia Pankhurst Wants Old Com- mons Ban Lifted. LONDON (#).—Sylvia Pankhurst, pio- neer suffragist, is still on the blacklist of the House of Commons and wants to get off. “Even in these days of feminine emancipation I am not allowed to set foot within its procincts,” she com- plained, adding “I suggest this b: remedied.” By July there will be 29,300 miles of air services in the British Empire. G Mertz T O\ High-Class 2 Not »J Iigh Price S Tailors Extraordinary Value! Spring and Summer Weight SUITINGS Hand 323.50 Tailored All Wanted Patterns To Order MERTZ & MERTZ (0. 405 11th St. N.W. H. J. FROEHLICH, M¢r. 1303 accordance | | ings Muse- for ‘the reason that the | 8Ol MARYLAND ROADS PROBE IS ORDERED Ritchie Directs Investigation of Operations Since 1928 Scandal. | OKLAHOMA POET ARRIVES TO SELL DREAMS OF YOUTH. | Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE. Md., May 25— mittee to invest'gate the admis | methcds of ine Stat> Roids Com: ince the scandal of 1928 was appointed | | yest-rdey by Gov. Albert C. Ritchie. | This move was the outcome of a sug- | gostion macde by Howard Bruce and John K. Shaw. recently retired mem- bers of the commission, in a statem regarding the payment by Mcntgomer: County of a debt to the commission of $510.000, whici had been allowed to accumulate sinca 1925, | Invited Investigation. | Mr. Bruce and Mr. Shaw invited the Covernor to investigate the roads b-dy | in an efiort to answer criticisms of the | commission regarding its dealings with While Joe Robinson today was as- | Montgomery County. sailing Presiden; Hoover's economy pro-| The chairman of the ccmmittze to | gram; Andrew Mellon was advocating a | make the criticcl inquiry is John J.| tax revision; an anti-prohibition asso- | Nelligan, president of the Safe Deposit | ciation was ‘figuring up the liquor bill | & Trust Co.. who was chairman of the of Americans, and the latest so-celled commission which investigated the State gengster-slayer was groaning remorse in | roads shortage of 1928. At that time, | his cell, a slim, bluc-eyed traveling | the investizating c mmission reported | troubadour came smiling into Washing- | that Montgomery County owed the | ton singing her muce. State approximately $5.000. This debt | She i3 Miss Goldie Laden, who halls | was paid. The debt of $276.000 recently from Chickasha, in Patrick Hurley's | uncovered as owing for work done from | home State — Oklahoma. Twenty-one | 1925 through 1928 was not discovered cr | years old, Miss Laden has written more | published by th> Nelligan Commission. | than 50 poems and sct out a little move | ~Others named by Gov. Ritchie to com- | than three years ogo to visit every |pose th> commities were: Willlam J State in the Union to gain recogni- | Cescy, chairman of the Ccmmission on | tion and, like the bards of old, to seil | Governmental Efficiency and Ec:nomy | her_book, “Dreams of Youth.” ice president of the Maryland | Thirty4hree States have been v : C. C. Groggon of the firm of | ited and 16,000 copies of her book have | Haskins & Sells, certified public ac- | been sold. The poet explained that, | countants: John J. Ekin, controller of after running into disappointment from | the Baltimre & Ohlo Railroad, and | publishing houses, as all poets do, she | Willlam Schmidt, jr., treasurer of the | GOLDIE LADEN. —Star Staff Phcto. WIFE DREAMS OF ‘STRANGE DEATH,’ | Wallace D. Rodgers, Leeway, Va., Found Dead With Col—f lar Caught in Throttle of Engine. Disregarding the plea of his wife not Y?;:ilnlnn that Mr. Rodgers tripped and ' to go fishing at Solomons Island be- |fell against the engine. He was so, = stunned by the fall, they belleve, that cause of a realistic dream she had Fri- | he"coula ot free himself, and, with | day night that he met a “strange” | his collar caught in the hook, soon died | death, Wallace D. Rodgers of Leewa of strangulation. Va., got his motor launch out of Wi Dr. F. A. Camalier, county health| ter storage Saturday and today was officer, who was summoned when the! dead of strangulation in one of the odd- | body was found, sald the man had been est accidents on record in Southern dead several hours. Justice of Peace| Maryland for some years. {John R. Drury, county coroner, con- A’colored men who was to pilot Mr.|ducted an inquest which resulted in a Rodgers to the fiching grounds found | verdict of “accidental strangulation.” | his lifeless body lying across the motor | Mr. Rodgers was employed in the ac- when he boarded the boat early yester- ccunting office of the Post Office De- | day morning. His collar was caught in | partment. He was 41 years old. Sur-| viving him are his widow, Mrs. Penrl‘ Veach Rodgers, and two daughters, | Julia Elizabeth, 8 and Mary Jane, 6. | the timing throttle of the engine. St. Marys County authorities, who investigated the tragedy, expresced the BOY, 11, SHOT IN EYE BY BABY BROTHER Waverley Hills Youth May Lose Wife of Shady Grove Preacher and | Sight of Optic as Result | Friend Seriously Hurt | of Accident. | < | | in Crash. 'PASTOR IS KILLED | IN AUTO ACCIDENT By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. WAVERLY HILLS, Va., May 25.— Special Dispatch to The Star. Shot in the right efe yesterday wilh| HAGERSTOWN, Md, May 25—En n alr riffe in the hands of his 4-year- : . ol bmofher, Rred @cre; 11 year (ald, of | Ot to Presclilily tarewell sermion he- this place, is in the Eye, Ear, Nose and | fore leaving for a year's furlough, Rev. Throat Hospital, Washington, where ef- | S. Ven Dyke, 72 years old, former forts are being made to save his sight. | Alaskan gold prcspoctor and pastor of Fred and his three brothers, William, | th® Waynesboro ~Dunkard Brethren 4 years old; Landon, 15, and Oshorne, Church. was killed. and his wife, 60 16, had driven to a spot on the river | vears old, and Millard Gearhart, 57 shore just above Key Bridge. The two | years old, were seriously injured, when | older boys went fishing, leaving the | their machine was struck by an electric two younger ones in the car. William car near their home, at Shady Grove.| obtained possersion of the air rifie and | The minister died an hour after being pulled the trigger, accidentally shooting | taken to the hospital. An inquest will Fred in the eye. | be held today. | MAY 25, HUSBAND STRANGLES IN BOAT | | 115 per cent upon their capital invest- | unit of 16,000 will be installed in six reached the conclusion that only by being a pamphieteer could one reach the heights of his or her possibilities. So, accompanied by her father, D. L. Laden, she has gone from State to State reading and selling the first fruit of her pen, which, she sald today, “is | The screams of the injured boy . | Gas and Electric Co. | brought the older boys to the scene | and they toci him home. _Upon nis ar- - | rival at home his father. W. L. O. Gore, | Trust Building at 3 o'clock tomorrow | {horities this marning Were unable to |afternoon. Members of the State Roads | decide Whether the eye is destroyed. Conference Tomorrow. In normal times there are 50,000,000 | employed persons living in the United | States. | 1931. BROOKHART WOULD| DRAFT INDUSTRY Bill Conscripting Enterprises| During War Will Be Pre- sented to Congress. By the Astociated Press. Legislation to euthorize the Govern- ! ment to conseript industries and busi- ness enterprites in time of war was| drafted today by Senator Brookhart, | Republican, Towa, for introduction in the next Congress. Brookhart's bill would provide that the Government py to the owners of conscripted property 1'; per cent upon their capital investments Income Tax Provided. The Towan also would fmpose, in time of war, an income tax of 75 per cent upon net incom:s of $100,000 and less and would tax all incomes above $100,- 000, 100 per cent. He wculd restrict the profits of in- dustries which are not conscripted to ments, Price Freezing Hit. “In the drafting of men for war,” Scnator Brokhart said, “all are to be cqual. The millionaire’s son is to go into the trenches with the artisan and the walf. Therefore all capital must be_treated with the same equality.” Brookhart sald the proposal made befcre the War Policies Commission by Bernard M. Baruch to freeze prices during the war at the level existing before the war was unjust. fechnbyiing New Phones in Johan;lelburg Johannesburg, South Africa, is t» have automatic telephones. The first local exchanges and will be in use late this year. The type of system is sald to be based on those used in many large citics of the world. most surely all the world to me. I hope | Commission, its auditing officers, Ed- Even though life's petty cares may | Bruce and Mr. Shaw also were requested strive to lead me from my aims, I feel | to be present. my powers will not die upon the sea committe2, Gov. Ritchie said: : of oblivion or in the hearts of future| “I am glad to adopt the suggestion Such ambition must be deserved. |concurred in by Mr. John K. Shaw, both = ds.5 bl <g>rmer members of the State Roads TWO CAPITAL STUDENTS |ministrative methods of the commis- sion, and this, I am sure, will b> en- WIN COLLEGE HONORS | i “This review should, I think, cover business system and methods which Stone Enters Speaking Finals |have been set up by the commission at Hamilton College. under which it is operated, or which are in process of being set up.” Stone, 3023 Macomb street, and Graeme | mittee, which he said would “be a| C. Bannerman, 1901 K street, have |committez which will undertake to re- Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y., ac- |their opinion as to the adequacy and cording to word received here. [cnmprehemlv&nm of the existing sys- to participate in the McKinney Prize or recommendations they think should | Declamation contest during commence- | be made for its improvement.” record in public spcaking this year. | PRSI, The McKinney Foundation provide: a member of the college | Tariff Commission Dismisses Three baseball squad, and of the sophomore | | Bannerman is captain of the varsity | The Tariff Commission has dismissed | f team and a letter man both in | thrce applications for a reduction in the 8 member of Qusdrangle and D. T.|reason wes given. | Clubs, honorary groups. The 1930 law increased this rate from | to devote my life to its betterment. |Wward R. Stewart, State auditor. Mr.| they cannot succeed. * * * I hope| In announcing appointment of the | generations.” | recently made by Mr. Howard Biuce and ommission, as to reviewing the ad- tirely agreeable to the present com- Bannerman Gets Athletic Letter, |th? financlal, accountng and general for the administration of its work and ‘Washington boys, Benjamin J. Gov. Ritchie then named the com won athletic and forensic honors at | view and give the State the benefit of Stone is one of four juniors chosen |tem and methods and any suggestions ment week. He was chosen on his 5 il [ prizes for the best and second bu: SILK HAT DUTY STANDS | ey ey Applications for Cut. golf and fencing. He is a senior and | duty on men’s silk or “cpera” hats. No 60 per cent ad valorem to 75 per cent | ‘The use of natural gas in this coun- try hes increased 130 per cent in the l past 10 years, due to the discovery of new large reserves. and $2 each. The epplicants were | Brooks Bros. and Watson & Levine, Inc., | both of New York, and a group of | French manufacturers. < DOES THE TOOTHPASTE YOU USE BEAR THIS ACCEPTANCE? 'COLGATE’S Ribbon Dental Cream DOES! The MAYTAG WASHER holds every” WORLD RECORD" Longest life in actual operation ... Greatest number of original features ... Largest sales to city homes ... Largest sales to farm homes «++ Widest distribution, both domestic and foreign ... Largest factory devoted exclusively to the production of washers and ironers. For homes without electricits, the Mayiag washer is avaslable with in-builé gasoline motor, Free Auto Parking for Customers—I Sireet Be THE HECHT F Street at Seventh The MAYTAG is in its eighth consecutive year of world leadership. MAYTAG NOW MAKES AWASHER MODEL F THAT SELLS FOR LESS THAN THE NEW MAYTAG IRONER The Maytag Table Ironer brings new economy of time and effort. Use itwherever there is an electric wall plug. 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