The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-02

for the Government supply-especially az all the
cessively high" ] believed, and still believe
without meaning to underratc the quality of their
gas, when properly made-that the same quantity
OF light can be furnished, from gas quite good,
for less sum. And, as the language of the appro-
priation declares that it shall be " expended under
the direction Of the Commissioner of Public Build
ings," should have been rccrcant Of duty had ]
forborne the expression of such an opinion. But
the company allege that have stated the cost of
lighting Pennsylvania avenue " as TO be likely to
impress the uniformed with the belief that a very
high price had been paid for lighting the avenue
no such thing. In the exhibit Of expenditures
made by me, which is attached to my report, and
to which presume ausion is made, only the heads
Of the different appropriations could be given; as,
&c.;" "ior grading, &c, he public mali This
is mere reference 70 the appropriation, and is full
enough for that purpose while under the head Of
+" Estimates of appropriations" the whole is clear
ly stated.
The remarks Of the company relative to the gas
pipes abound in a total misconception of relative
rights, and far exceed what any one else, cog
infant of the facts, could expect. They as fol
lows:
The Commissioner asserts, in regard to the
pipes, that the company have no claim upon them.
This assertion we think rather gratuitous, to say
the least Of it. 1t is to be remembered that the
penses incurred by this company entered
upon under the reasonable expectation that the
lighting Of the Government was 10 be given it.
They have laid about one mile and three fourths of
their own, which form circuits, and connect with
the Capitol than could otherwise be obtained.
At the time Of laying these pipes, under the eye
OF the Commissioner, branches with outlets at the
different streets were put in by the company These
outlets were not paid for by the Government.
60 II would be an awkward predicament, as well
for this company as the Government, if, according
to the suggestion of the Commissioner, the lighting
should be taken from this company and given to
some other. Who is to cut off these outlets and
separate the avenue pipes from those Of the COM
pany!
has no claims upon Government property! Were
not the pipes laid at Government expense, and has
not the company received over $4,000 for laying
these very pipes, under a contract with my prede-
cessor in officer Il allude to the main pipes along
the Avenue; their entire bill for laying gas-pipes,
&C., is above $19,000.) They were mere con-
tractors, and, like all other contractors looked to
the profits of their contract, to which they had
no special claim, and which the Commissioner of
Public Buildings was neither bound by the law,
nor yet by implication, to give them, unless they
stipulated TO complete the work upon the most ac-
ceptable terms. II, therefore, they have any claims
upon these gas pipes, which the Commissioner was
specially charged "to have fully and sufficiently
tested and proved before they were received" the
principle is at once established, that every con-
tractor employed by the Government Is privileged
to abuse, he peases, the work he executes.
Acting upon this suggestion, which owes its pater-
nifty solely TO the company, the contractors who
furnished them may, with equal propriety in
their case, claim the of the chandeliers, pen
dents and brackets at the Presidents house.
As there other source from which sup
ply OF gas could be had, IL a reasonable expect
alton OF the company when they commenced ope-
ratons, that the lighting Of the public buildings
and grounds would be given to them. But they
had no reason TO expect-no more than an individ-
ual engaged in profitable pursuit has TO expect
that none besides himself viii engage in the same
pursut-that, If at any time the Government
could procure gas from another source of equal
quality mt cheaper rate, they were, nevertheless
20 monopolize its patronage. The Government
takes their gas as private individuals take it, and
upon no other conditions. No contract has been
made with them, and there II no obligation upon
the Government, now or hereafter, 10 make such n
contract. rt
II may be that the circuits and connexions,
which the company have made with the pipes
along Pennsylvania avenue, do enable them TO
furnish ga much better light at the Capitol than
could otherwise be obtaincd;" but the reasoning is
not very clear. How the Governmentis benefited,
and how better lights arc obtained for its accom-
dation, by tapping the pipes To suit the interests
and convenience OF the company in conveying gas
10 private individuals Is rather difficult problem
solve. And II IL be true, il suggests another Gu
tious and somewhat similar inquiry in this how il
happens, when the supply OF gas is low, that the
Government can only obtain a limited supply, and
sometimes none, for the outer lamps, while others
suffer such Inconvenience. IL 10 very true, that
cat the time Of laying these pipes, branches with
outlets at the different streets put in by the
company" and that "these outlets were not paid
for by the Government" Against this, however,
my predecessor, as the company well know, in per-
SON and through the superintendent of the work,
repeatedly and earnestly protested. And when
came into office, again and again forbade them
70 tap any Of the pipes, which was. nevertheless,
more; they applied through me, in June last, TO the
Secretary of the Interior for permission TO tap the
main pipes along Pennsylvania avenue. The Sec
rotary submitted the subject 10 the President, who
an he
opinion that IL should be referred 10 Congress for
their action. These facts were communicated to
them, and yet they continued, regardless Of every
remonstrancc, 10 use the pipes when and they
pleased Indeed, in some Instances they were tap
ped nj night whether with the consent or by the
authority Of the company have no means Of know
ing and shall not therefore, venture 10 state The
question, "Who is TO cut of those outlets and sep
arate the Avenue pipes from those Of the company
il the Government should form other engage
mcnts, is, in this connection, easily answered.
The Government can cut them of, whether this
company or any other should furnish the eas The
pipes were laid for the Of the Government, not
Tor the convenience Of the company Of individu-
ais; and the Government has, and may assert, by
cutting of the lateral pipes, or in any other way,
the right 10 the exclusive Of its own property.
have preferred no "cbargcs" against the com
paRy, nor is there any thing in my report TO which
IN have any reason TO except. IL, however, they
choose 10 conclude that an Investigation Of their
conduct is necessary shall certainly throw no OBJ
stacles in the way. Ofthis the company must judge
and act as TO them seems best
Az TO the statement that the amount Of gas con-
sumcd s entirely within the control Of the Com
missioner; and the allusion 10 tho cold bills for
candles and oil" their purpose is evidcnt-it il TO
divert attention from the question at issue. The
Commissioner Of Public Buildings has the control
Of the lights, but every knows that. TO lessen
the consumption OF gas, he must either reduce the
number Of lights or limit the time Of burning.
Whenever this is done, there is just ground Of COM
plant; and, had yielded 10 the demands of the
company, this control 80 necessary TO the protcc-
ton Of the Government, would long since have
been wrcsted from me; for their President actually
claimed at one time the power Of removal and APP
pointmcnt over the lamp lighters i'm the Govern
mcnt service. have never intimated any wish 10
have the old system revived, and only anxious
that the lights should be ample and OF the best
quality. AZ tho same time contend that the Gov
eminent ought not TO be taxed with unnecessary
expenditure, and is entitled 10 procure gas at the
best advantage. My report makes no other pre-
Tensions, and Is based npon other principle.
And my belief that the charges il now bears are,
under the circumstances, excessively high" is
by no means singular for, unless ] am greatly
mistaken, these charges are generally complained
OF by private consumers. ! have no more 10 say
upon this point and only regret that the gas COM