New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-01
THE GAS MONOPOLIES.
HOW THEY DEFY LEGISLATION

FA1E OF TIE PERRY AND DONOHUE BlIIS-THE
COMPANIES ENORMOUS PRofrs-wBAr THE
PEOPLE SHOULD DO.
lrRou REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oF rHE rRmUSE.l
ALBANY, March 29.-Consumers of gas in New
York and Brooklyn have tried hard for many wears
past to procure some kind Of legislation at Albany
that would protect them from the extortion and
downright swndlng that all feel is practiced upon
them by the gas monoples of those cities But since
the session Of 1869 no measure for their relief has
succeeded in passing either branch of the Legisla-
ture. and such have generally been stran-
gled in the standing committees of the two bonses
In 1869 strenuous effort made and sustained by
the newspapers TO get through bill for
the protection of the long-sufering NC
Tins of the gas monopolists, and such
bill actually passed the Assembly by large ma
jority but was killed in the Senate during the last
days of the session. How it was killed would FUR
nish an investigating committee with subject OF
inquiry quite as interesting and far more important
TO the mass of the people than the question how
Tweed passed the Charter of 1870. 1t stated in
the newspapers at the time, and not contradicted,
that $4,000 was deposited In an Albany bank by
the gas companies of New-York aud Brooklyn, 10
defeat the bill and it was well known here as
snch matters are capable Of being known, that two
Senators received $4,000 each for doing the work.
AT all events the work was done, and since that
time although gas bills have been introduced at
every session. the companies have not permitted
them 20 make any perceptible progress toward a
final passage
This wear two bills have been introduced-one in
the Senate by Mr. Perry, and one in the Assembly by
Mr. Donohue. The Perry bill has not been heard Of
since j went to the Committee; the Donohue bill
was reported favOrably, discussed in Committee of
the Whole, ordered TO q third reading and when 1t
came up for final passage, recomnitted to the Stand
ing Committee the ground that the
clause providing for the appointment Of
eas inspector was unconstitutional and
needed amendment There was nothing
unconstitutional about it, and the best evidence
that this was pretext 10 get it referred back,
is the fact that although it referred nearly
two weeks ago, nobody has ever heard of the bill
since This bill Of Mr. Donohues merely required
the Gas companies to furnish gas of IS candles IL
Illuminating power at a price not exceeding So per
1000 feet and provided the public with the means
Of ascertainng whether the companies fulfilled their
contract OF not.
At present gas consumers have no protection
whatever against the most gross and barefaeed
swindling on the part Of the companies. They can
furnish they do gas of not than 10 candles
power, while they get pay for IS candles, and they
can charge for 20O0 feet when only 1000 feet were
consumed, and the public have no redress 10 any
| manner or shape under the law They furnish their
own meters make their registry of these meters,
and present aud collect just such bills they please
with no power on the part of the consumer to ques
ton the accuracy honesty of anything they do.
That the meters they not correct indicators
of the gas passing through them every consumer of
gas knows or il they correct, he knows that the
companies do not follow them or rely on them in
any way. Any gus consumer can test this question
| for himself ~ hundreds have done, by retaining
from the use of gas for month"; and then looking
at the bill that the companies present to him for
payment.
In 1869 the Legislature appointed Special Com
mittee TO inquire into the manufacture of gas in
| New York Brooklyn, aud Buffalo, and hear COM
| plants from gss consumers Among the witnesses
called by tho Committee while sitting in NewYork,
wasthe Hon. Chas. =. Daily Chez Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas. lie testified that he locked up his
house for q month in the Sux mer while he and his
family went into the country that he shut the gas of
from the street before he left that could
ter the honse On his return gas bill was presented
for payment the same AS il he had been at home.
He demonstrated to the Company, stating the facts
of the case, but it of USE and he finally
ceeded in compromising the affair by paying
half the bill. The reader can readily imagine
what chance an ordinary citizen has To escape from
such a robbery when a man like Judge DAILY was
only able to get deduction of 80 per cent People
complain of the extortion of railroad companies and
clamor for reduction Of fare on city cars bit they
are compelled to submit to Wholesale extortion
from the gas companies, and the law allows them
protection whatever. IL even compels them 10 de-
posit their MOI ey with Gas companies in advance to
the extent a double the amount of their indebted
ness at any one time, TINS securing the companies
against any possibility Of loss and enabling them to
force their customers TO supply them with capital TO
carry on business. There are no monopolies in the
country to be compared with che gas companies in
the absurdity and injustice OF the laws regulating
their business and the rights OF the people IN refer
enee to them. And yet 90 powerful and unscrupu-
Ions have the companies become that they do not
hesitate TO employ any means. however corrupt,
that may be fennd necessary TO prevent any egisla
ton for the prntectlon of the public.
II is notorious that tho gas companiesof New
York and Brooklyn pay from 20 to ca per cent divi
dends on fictitious capital, furnish the poorest gas
10 be in any city OF the world, and charge the
highest price for it. Dr. Wren appeared before the
Committee on Trades and Manufactures when Mr..
Dopohue's bill was under consideration, and pre-
septed the Committee with facts and figures show
ing the cost of manufacturing gas in this country
and England, and the enormous profits that accrue
to the gas compusies Of New-York and brooklyn
The following extract from has speech illustrates the
extortion that IL psaGiced upon the consumers OF
cheap gns in those cities:
NOW ~ we have foaHd by comparison whnt amount Of
gas the various kinds OF coa will give, eotn of England
and AmeEa we will commence to rgnre Hftle Coal
was sold ast Summer ia Eewfork by the cargo Az lew
ss 81 Is per ton Say that the gs on The
average 90 per ton, which they do net Six dollars pro
.I.l.. a a. a