The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-08 00:00:00

We shall he likely, it seems, before many months
are over to have the Metropolitan Gas Supply
placed on a more satitfactory footing. It has long
been one of those questions which were periodically

discussed without much good being effected ; and,

in fact, gas is so much a matter of necessity to the
Londoner that he is content to pay for it, however
exorbitant the demand, in the same way that he
pays a rent three times as high as his country
neighbour. By some extraordinary oversight, or
apathy on the part of the public, the gas companies
were allowed to obtain a wholesale monopoly by
the Gas Act of 1860, and since then there has not
only been the inevitable difficulty attending any re-
form to be got over, but the added obstacle of a
compact and united body of vested interests who
have nine points of the law in their favour. In May
sunshine we can all afford to regard the gas ques-
tion with some indifference, but when the long
nights of winter and the inevitable November fogs
return the questions of how much or how little
light, and of the price per 1,000 cubic feet, will re-
sume their old imimrtanne. The illuminating power
of the gas now generally supplied to the metropolis
is not, we are told, equal to that of many provin-
cial towns, while the price is unquestionably higher.
This is the more unfair, as the gas companies can
obtain a much higher price, and readier sale for
their coke in London than in the country. We hope,
therefore, that those who have interested themselves
in the matter will not abandon their efforts, since
the gas companies, although prepared to mak e
certain concessions, are evidently not inclined
to come down to the standard which com-
petent authorities declare would give them ample
remuneration.

Yesterday the Select Committee of the House of
Commons, on the gas bills affecting the metropolis,
met again, when great interest was shown in the
proceedings, and the large room was crowded. Mr.
DAVISON stated that the Chartered Gas Company
were prepared to accept the terms required by the
Committee in their six resolutions of last Session.
The Chartered Gas Company are preparing to erect
works at Barking, which will take eighteen months
to complete, and which will give them a consider-
able accession of manufacturing power. At pre-
sent, thanks to the arrangement between
the companies, the Chartered Gas Company
can only supply a certain limited district. The two
other companies which supply the city asked for
some modifications on certain points. They ask,
instead of starting with gas at 3s. 9d. at the com-
mencement of 1870, as proposed by the Chartered
Gas, that the determination of the price shall be left
in the hands of the revising commissioners, to guard
against the risk of starting with too low a price and
going back to a higher. Further, they ask for a 5
per cent. reserve fund to meet accidents, and for
the continuance of the power to pay back
dividends. This is not very promising, and
augurs ill for the grand reforms we heard
of some time since. However, the committee,
without absolutely giving a decision, are determined
not to allow ,the public to obtain less favourable
terms than those which they recommended last
year; and, accordingly, after the arguments by the
several counsel bad been heard, including those by
Mr. O'MALLEY, the counsel for the Corporation,
they retired for a brief deliberation. On their re-
turn they stated their belief that some terms might
be come to between the Corporation and the Char-
tered Gas Company, and therefore they were willing
to give them time to consider their terms. The other
companies, if they desired to come in at all, must do
so in accordance with the resolution, which provided
that the terms of supply must be not less favour-
able than those recommended by the committee of
last year. As for the reserve or insurance fund
they regard it as an open question, to be considered
hereafter. After some little discussion the com-
mittee adjourned, leaving the, principal agents time
to decide upon their various points of difference.
The gas companies already in existence could of
y new company,an d course supply the gas if they would cheaper
than
oasrgatnhiseaon
ytihavethe
plant, an
and material,
ready.
Unfortunately, they have been allowed to
have matters too much th • eir own way, and to
dictate their own terms so l 1 comp ete yto the con-
Eurner, that it will, we fear, be difficult to
bring
them down to a fair and reasonable estimate. The
Chartered Gas Company seems to be the most in-
clined to meet the reformers h lf
a -way, and the
counsel for the Corporation intimated
that if that
company would leave the whole question in the
bands of the committee, the Corporation
would do
the same. Under the proposed system of
or arbitration commission and a Government in-
spector there will be a much greater check on the
companies under the new system than there has
been heretofore, and we hope that due • .1 ance
will be exercised of the vigilance
. to keep the quality gas up
to the standard, and the price down to a reasonable
rate.

LATEST INTELL CGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.
Head-quarters, British Army, Talanta,
April 21.
Magdala and its fortifications have been entirely
destroyed. The British expeditionary force com-
menced its return march to the coast on the 18th
inst. All well.

AMERICA.
(By the Atlantic Cable.)
WASHINGTON, May 7.

The Senate Court agreed to-day to adjourn until
Monday, and to take the final vote on the impeach-
ment of the President on Tuesday next.

ARRIVAL OF THE SCOTIA.

The Royal Mail steamship Scotia, from New
York on the 29th ult., arrived at Queenstown at
7.30 a.m. to-day, May 8, with 206 cabin passen-
gers and $231,500 in specie. She landed 109 sacks
of mails and 36 passengers, and proceeded imme-
diately for Liverpool. All well.

NEW YORK, via QUEENSTOWN,
April 29 (Morning.)

At the Impeachment Trial on Monday, Mr.
Groesbeck for the defence made a long speech, in
which he claimed that the Senate was a court
governed as such by principles of law. Mr. Stan-
ton's case was not within the Tenure-of-Office Law,
he having been appointed during Mr. Lincoln's
first term of office, and been only commissioned to
hold the office during the pleasure of the President.
It would not therefore be a crime foi Mr. Johnson
to act under an interpretation sanctioned by
the entire Cabinet and the legal advisers.
The President was not bound, as the Managers
claimed, to enforce the laws, regardless of his own
opinion as to their constitutionality. If Mr. John-
son honestly believed the Tenure Law unconsti-
tutional, he would violate his oath of office by
executing it. Mr. Johnson was justified in
seeking a decision of the Courts, and
had proved the honesty of his purpose
by offering the War-office to Generals
Grant and Sherman, and Major-General Thomas,
soldiers of admitted loyalty. Mr. Groesbeck, re-
ferring to the President's speeches, alluded to the
provocation given to Mr. Johnson, and referred the
Senate to the constitutional provision denying the
right of Congress to abridge the freedom of