The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-16

Gas-something Wrong.
II seems 10 be utterly impossible look into any Of
the transactions OF thls administration without seeing
evidences OF bad judgment, ncompeeney something
worse Individuals have frequently pointed out 10 us
traces OF encouragement which the heavy demands
our time and attention would not permit to follow
Among other things. the arrangements between the Sec
rotary of the Iateor and the Washington Gas Company
were mentioned TO butt was not until recently that
we obtained any definite information with regard TO The
matter
An amendment was made TO the appropriation for gas
of March, 1884, limiting TO year any contract which
might be made and requiring the Commissioner OF Pub
lie Buildings issue proposals for lighting the Capitol.
the Presidents House, Pennsylvania avenue, and other
public buildings and grounds atfu s first day Of March,
1852. This amendment made in the SenAe because
of the enormous price charged by the Washington Gas
Company compared with the prices in New York. Phila
dephia, and Balhmorethe company here charging six
dollars thousand, while the average price in the three
cities mentioned three dollars and wenly-nne cents
| thousand feet
BY the amendment we have mentioned, the Commits
soner OF Public Buildings specially and partc
instructed to advertise for proposals, and accept the most
favorable TERMS for lighting the avenueand public build
ings after Tie first of March, 1882. AT that time oil the
main pipes belonged to the government and it was
sbe TO have competition in the supply Of gas to the
government. But it seems that the Commissioners of
Public Buildings, or the Secretary OF the Interior, or
both, thought best to trust to the tender merces of
monopoly and to that end, made present OF twenyodd
thousand dollars worth OF public property 10 the gas
company, in defiance OF the law we have spoken Of al.
ready. That performance was accomplished follows:
II was discovered that the three miles OF pipe belong.
ing 10 the government not in good order. although
they were well laid and ought to have lasted twenty
thirty years; whereupon the Commissioner of Public
Buildings, under the authority OF the Secretary of the In
| terror, conveyed the pipes TO the gas company, and
gave that company the additional privilege of extending
hsm 10 The wes north, and east sides OF the Executive
square, condition that gas should be furnished the
government three dollars and half thousand feet
which IS just toentyone cents more than the average
price in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, two
years ago. Congress contemplated retaining the pipes
which the government had laid, that il might have the
advantage OF competition but Mr. Stuart and the Com.
missioner cared not for that Congress had ordered that
proposals should be advertised for; but Mr. Stuart and
the Commissioner vetoed the congressional ORDER and
conveyed the government property to the gas company,
that il defy all competition The Of repairing
the pipes, and the reduction in the price Of gas, were
the pretexs to Justify this conveyance OF public prop
ertyihe consideration paid for the transfer in contempt
of the of Congress The gas company had tapped the
pipes points in order to supply private
toners; and if they leaky, they must have been
made by the handling Of the gas company itself
Without such damage, they ought to have been good
for twenty years TO AS to the cheapness OF the
gas furnished, affirm that it is too high now-much
higher than il would have been had competition been
ved as Congress commanded We have seen that it is
much higher than the average price New York, Phil
adelpha and Baltimore and last, bW least, I'M
derstand that responsible anxious to furnish
the government cheaper rates at the very time when
the gas pipes given away and the government and
citizens of Washington placed at the tender mercy
of close corporation, managed by nonresident direct
ors Mr.. Stuart and the Commissioner had rs much
right discover that the Capitol in leaky condi-
ton, and give that away condition that was kept
in repair and opened the government at low rent
We understand that the property which has been given
away is worth from twenty to twenty-five thousand dol.
lars. We say gvrn o,oay for that the right expression
Nothing like adequate consideration appears in the
transaction. The act of Congress deliberately vic.
lated and public property illegally guen to cor
poration for the price less than nohing-worse
than worthless. There is something rotten in Den
!, mark" we fear.