The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-24

North Carolina bill, they may again become .
power In tho Unioa ana regain the Triumphant
position hey held for 70 many years before
they were disgnosd and broken down by ths
fossils and adventureu who have recently
been in consultation in this city.
TN Gas QUESTION. Movements have re-
Gently been set on foot In the cities Of this and
other States for . reform in the prevailing
method Of supplying gas to the consumer
With very few exceptions the gas companies
arc in the hands Of private individuals, who
from time to time have obtained charters, and
who have generally been powerful enough to
exclude competition, either BY successfully
opposing the granting of new charters or by
buying out the interests Of the parties who
have obtained them. The consumers are at
the mercy of these monopolies, and have been
compelled to pay an exorbitant price for their
gas and to submit to other annoying exactions.
Immense fortunes have been made by the
directors and stockholders of the corporations
ct the expense Of the public; and the wealth.
thus accumulated has not unfrequently been
used to defeat any attempt to protect the con-
sumner. The citizens of New York and Brook
Ign have recently been directing their attention
to this question with view to thorough
reform. A Brooklyn Alderman has introduced
. resolution in the Board which proposes that
a law be framed and submitted to the Legisla-
ture to provide for the creation Of Municipal
bureau of character similar to the Water and
Sewerage boards, which shall be invested with
the power of supplying citizens with gas at the
cost Of production and relieving them from
the private monopolies under which they now
suffer.
This Is movement in the right direction.
Gas has become one of the necessities OF life,
and there is no reason why it should not be
placed on the same footing with water. No
person would consent that the Croton Aque-
duct Department should be abolished and the
supply Of water for the use of the citizens Of
New York intrusted to the hands of a private
corporation. It is an established fact that gas
could be made ct cost of less than two dol
lars to the consumer, and profit realized by
the department at that rate, which would be
SO much direct gain to the taxpayers.
Cheap gas would not only be a mate
rial saving to the mechanic and the
housekeeper, but it would drive kerosene and
all explosive burning fluids out of use, and put
a stop to many Of the distressing calamities
with which the columns of the papers are
almost daily filed The private companies
are tyrannical and destitute of conscience. No
matter how low the price Of coal may be, we
neverhear OF any decrease in their rates. while
they are always ready to resort to some scheme
or other TO raise the actual cost to the consumer
The Legislature should take the matter in
hand at an early day of the approaching ses-
sion, and give us thorough reform in New
York and Brooklyn. Letthem repeal oil exist
ing charters and create municipal bureaus in
both cities similar to the Croton Department,
SO that the citizens may be supplied with that
necessary article at the lowest possible cost.
If such measure shah be proposed it will not
be an easy matter to defeat it by the usual
appliances. since no member can obstruct or
oppose such law without rendering himself
obnoxious to the charge Of being influenced
by corrupt motives. The republican party,
with its overwhelming majority in both houses
and in possession of the executive power, will
be held accountable TO the people for this and
other popular reforms. They have positive
responsibility which they cannot eyade, and IL
is moreover necessary that they should vindi-
cate themselves against the charge 80 tre-
quently made by their opponents, that they
are the especial champions Of aristocratic
monopolies. - +