National Republican., 1874-05-08
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TslNffAvlxaS TlNfssf AwAa5Eb St 4 TIE asAafsd9 sAs HoA-
Tho House oemnit.es sa ths District Of o.
Iuhbia yssisrdsy says hearius 70 the ispfe-
,sentativss tf the Mashisstea 9asiigbs UenpAny
and number Of gsnsiensn. mess u vheu Afs
ltsem New York. knd ahs fepfsseni shs Mutual
dasligki Uonpaaf tf khat cliyl n fsxssl V ths
fsfmatssn d new sas ssmpsoy h Washington.
The W Washinasen senpsuy MAS represented By ~
PrssIdeai, MI b q, Barred, snd Ar. 9ssfss A.
hstiheuny, its enelnseri hisoty MI J. d. aossn.
sarssn, Of Phiisdeiphis. uhs spbssrsd ks counsel.
The opposition was Represented by Messrs John
KsuusdA Mmi d hoy, thsriss Pises, Robert
n. Gsilassy and wu. ffsrrIck, 6f-N, r., the nrst
being airsstsra Of the New York Mutual Com
psuI. and Jss. @. Berrot, =. q. Ingsrsoll and e.
W. Rios, sf Washington.
Mr.. lRgsrsoll addressed the oommittso on BE-
half Of the applicants for charter for . new gas
company, He was followed by the Representatives
Of the oxygen gas patent, and by Mr.. Leach, on
behalf OF tho National Gas and Iron Company
Mr.. j. 8. Rossngsrtsn, Of Philadelphia, appeared
on behalf Of the Washington Gasltght Company,
and submitted that the proposed charter was
merely k;jobbing speculation. II had none
Of the conditions and Limitations imposed on the
existing company BY its charter. In the new one
there was practically no public, no subscription
for stock, no organization. The persons named,
Hoy aud Kennedy, and their associates, were to
be authorized to issue two millions Of stock sell
IL for what they could, and put up their works
whore they pleased and put down their pipes
where they liked. The old company was obliged
to defer in all these matters 10 the District gov.
ernment
There was no liability on the part of the stock
holders, no restriction to price, no conditions as
to the excellence Of the gas; In other words It
Al 0ft afr fa mill hv In
other cities, Of chartering q new gas company,
selling out to the old, and so burthening the ctI
zens with the duty of earning the expenses OF o
double organization. The old company came to
Washington In ls4s, and 1t had grown with the
growth of the city, sharing fits bad and good for
tunes, working without profit for Q number Of
years, and investing q large portion of Its earn
tngs in laying gas-mains and pipes to meet all the
requirements OF the city for twenty years to come
without disturbing the streets and breaking up
the Improvements just completed. lie said the
Senate has lust passed o bill imposing severe
test OF purity, and reducing the price of gas The
old company would comply with these require
ments, but no new company could or would do so.
Mr.. Bartol and Mr.. .McIIhonny gave an interest
ing account OF the growth OF the gas interest Of
this country, and agreed that the proposed new
companies Were only sort OF credit uobIlier, in.
tended to put of Q couple Of millions of dollars
worth OF their stock on the communlty and make
the consumers pay for the outlay without getting
In return.
The discussion was closed by Msssrs Kennedy
and Ingersoll for the applicants, and throughout
the several members ofthe committee expressed
great interest In the proceedIngs and put o va.
riety Of searching and Intelligent questions.
Mr.. Hsrmer, Of Philadelphia, referred to tho
the gas engineers Of that city had won
BY building gas works throughout the country
and for this city.
General Chapman directed his questions mainly
tho interests Of the District both as to Its right
Of control over tho proposed works and tearing
up the streets to lay pipes we'll as to the cost
Of lighting the streets.
Messrs. 1ngersoll and Kennedy, In their remarks
in behalf Of their proposition to form new com.
pany, said they meant business. The gentlemen
interested represented large amount Of capital,
and they proposed In good faith to build gas
works, lay pipes, and supply gas at cheap rates
TO the bill regulating gas works, they
expressed their willingness to conform to any Law
or regulation Of Congress, and said that all they
desire is an open Geld for honest competition