Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-14
The District I'm Congress.

MEETING OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
The House committee on the District OF Co
lumbia to-day agreed to make favorable re-
port on the resolution appropriating $4,000 for
up the grounds south of the Capitol and drain
ing the canal. The committee also changed the
days OF meeting from Tuesdays and Fridays to
Mondays and Thursdays.
THE GAS QUESTION.
At the full meeting of the District of Colum
ba committee to-day the subject Of the tncor-
poration of a new gas company was considered.
President Bartol, of the washington Gas Com
pany, and Mr.. McIlhenny, engineer OF the COM
pany, were in attendance. Mr.. Schade said that
ble, and that the charge was excessive. Mr..
Tenny, proprietor OF the National Hotel, said
that the gas was bad the charges excessive, and
he would be glad to see the monopoly 'go up
the spout" He said that he had paid as high
as s4.2O thousand for gas, with reduction of
1Sa4 per cent. off, but that his bills were now
just as high as they were when the price charg-
ed was three times as much. Mr.. Schade called
attention to publication made March I'd, 1879,
in the Capital Of this city, charging that clerk
in the employ Of the House OF Representatives
in that capacity certain favored members OF
Congress were given free gas, the clerk receipt
ing the bills. Mr.. Bartol the president Of the
company, denied that Mr. Bailey, the clerk al
luded to, was in the employ OF the gas COM
pany. He was only Stockholder. He denied
that any members OF Congress were furnished
1ree gas. He Sd1Q IN allIS10n TO The charge that
the Washington Gas Company was monopoly,
that Congress regulated the price to be charged
ana that the company in respect to the charges
made was solely under the control OF Congress.
He said also that the company had without
legislation or compulsion reduced the price of
gas several times. Mr.. McIlhenny, the engi-
Deer, said that he thought that the experience
of other cities and countries would show that it
is better to have but one company subject to
such regulations and restrictions as Congress
had the right at least to impose on the Wash
iDgton company. The committee will again
hear arguments pro and con at a special meet
ing to be held next Saturday.
THE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.
The Senate committee on the District OF Col
umbia met yesterday afternoon to consider the
question Of water supply for the District The
report of the subcommittee published in THE
STAR some time ago. was taken up and cOnSid-
cred for two hours and a half without any con-
clusion being reached Commissioner TWining
and Col. Casey were present for the purpose OF
giving such information in regard to the water
works as the members might desire. They were
asked great many questions as to the construc-
Improvement, etc. This proceeding occupied
the time until half-past O'Clock, when the COM
mittee adjourned without discussing the report
to any extent. Such expressions as were offered
indicate really the improbability Of anything
being done, for this session at least towards en-
larg1ng or improving the water works, beyond
completing the dam. An appropriation for this
purpose WILL no doubt, be made. At the regu-
lar meeting next Monday the District commit
Zee will resume the water subject and will
probably then dispose it one way or the other.