New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-22
GENERAL LEGISLATION.
GAS COMPANY COMBINATIONS FORDIDDES-I
vARNrM EXCIRE hill KILLED

GAS COMPANY COMBINATIONS FORBlDDKN-THE
vARHUM EXCISE BILL KILLED.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE THTnCNE.l
Albany, April 21.-The gas companies of
Noy-YorK City have reason to-day, perhaps TO wall
with grief the proceedings ~ the state Senate;
and the gas TO dance with JOY Recently ~
is well known, the companies by mutual agreement
vosy raised the rates. under the prctex that tho cost
of manufacturing gas had greatly increased Now. II
would SEEM they have project 10 combine all the com
names into one; thus plungng the consumerno despair
by cfectuay dcpryng him OF all hope Of reduction OF
the present rates through competition.
The bin by which this consolidation could have been
crcted was introduced b. woodin April g.
but unt to-day 10 attracted nOtce To Senator FOrs
ter belongs the credit Of discovering tho character Of the
hill While II was being considered in committee Of
the whole he suddenly moved that companies should
be excepted, we'll as railroad corporations, from the
permlssOn 10 consolidate thrr ntcress. This motion
oyiouslv annoyed Senator WOodn, who snid snapr hy
that Senator Forster OF an oversuspcious NATURE
Senator Forster tnkng no notice taunt said that
IL was clear that the bill would permit Of the consoida
tion of gas companies. He opposed TO such bill
passing the Legislature, the consolidation OF gas com
panies had always resulted In the people being com
pcllcd 10 my higher price for their gas Tho COM
panies Of New. York had lately enormously advanced
their rates and should not bo permitted TO consolidate
and maintain those rates for years
Senator Madden sought TO make diversion ~ Sena-
tor WOodin's favor by pOlntedly saying TO Senator
III
dat M into one, undoubtedly public business would be
expedited" Senator Forster rep led; Yes, aud II all
nIo one aud the enacimg clause OF that one stricken
out doubes, the State would breathe easier" Senator
| Schroeder, Of Brooklyn. said that an attempt hal
recently been made 10 unite practically uniir on
management the gas companies OF Brookyni nut that
| NAMES not accepting The terms. He tncn rcItGd the
various experiences OF BrGollyn vim gas companies
tort high rates for and the existence OF rival conpa
| MES was the only obstacle to high rates
1 Kama
reny admitted the correctness OF Senator FOrstCTs s
pcion that the bill introduced for tho purpose OF
permitting the gas companies OF Eew-York TO cOnsOll
date by crticisug that eentemanS remarks. He said
that Senator Forster had proved by his remarks about
the recent increase In the OF NeWIOrk that
The gas companies could make combinations 10y when
under present laws as under the proposed one,
The SR in h %y by passing n% docGPa
that they must not impose rates for gas which would
OF capital. He closed his speech by declaring that the
LEGISLATURE the guardian OF the peoples interests
| and rates advanced To mn cxtrGyaPnnt point
| the Legislature wOud step III and right the people,
known fact that when the interest OF monopoly is
posed that OF the people, the monopoly is always vie
vote was then taken upon Senator Forsters amend
ment. It was adopted by z vote OF to il. The bill
The bls reducing the , rates OF klloage IN SewYorR
posing the passage Of the bills and seems likely now
that its effort to kin them has proved successful. The
bills are now the Senate and Will probably DO cOn5id
| cred by that holy tomorrow.
| Ihc "Varnum Excise Bill" was killed In tlC
| Assembly to-day. Tire temperance orgnuizatiIn5 %
the State opposed To any change in the Tx
else law. Their opinion controls tine action OF tho Re
publican majority in the Legislature, and Therefore III
modification OF the law lie expected this session
| Mr.. Varnum aud Nj. Wren made speeches I'm favor o
the hl I'm motion 10 order the bill 10 third
reading was defeated by vote oil lG yaes 10 81 nays
The bil to suppress trampS-a very severe measure
| passed the Assembly to-day.
| The Assembly Committee on Insurance reported al
versey Senator Ses3lOEs's Insurance BILL This bill dc
clares that the face OF fire insurance policy must
taken as the measure OF the loss N Of Ore III
Assembly refused TO agree with tho report, and sent III
| bill " the Committee OF the Whole.