The Sunday herald., 1881-02-13

All the reasons which are urged for the
acquisition Of the telegraph lines of the
country by the Government apply with even
ment's acquiring the gas works in this city.
The Washington Gas Light Company has an
intolerable monopoly, just as the CONSOLE
dated telegraph companies have. Its prices
and profits are just as disproportionate to
the real service rendered. Excessive divi-
dends are paid upon its stock at the expense
Of the public. 1t is even now placing q new
issue of "scrip stock" allotted to its share
holders at par, upon which ten per cent. is
Immediately paid, making it worth almost
double its nominal value. 1t is nearly if.not
altogether useless to think of granting oppo-
sition charters with any good result, just as
it is in the case of the telegraph. The en-
trenched monopoly can always, by threats,
cajolery, or the use of money, buy out or
crush opposition, or make it improbable,
even when consolidation 5" is stringently
forbidden. Take any of the arguments now
so strongly urged from every part of the
Union to induce Congress to go into tele-
graphy, and by the change of few words
they can be used literally to apply to the
gas question in Washington.
The case is really much stronger. While
there may be doubt as to the constitutional
powers Of Congress in regard to the trans
mission of dispatches, there can be none in
regard to its paramount powers over all SUBJ
jocts Of legislation within the District of
ercised without question by the municipality
of Philadelphia. The gas-light monopoly
carries on its extortions solely by virtue of
gifts and franchises from Congress. The peo-
pie have right to look to the creator for de-
liverance from the cormorant it has created.
Nay, the Government itself, through its
general and local departments, is sufferer
from this Frankenstein monster. A night
session at the Capitol costs an enormous
sum, all of which goes into the pockets of
! this company. Our streets cannot be prop
erly lighted these dark and foggy nights for
| the prevention of accident and crime, because
the District Commissioners are bound down
| by jug-handle contract, which virtually
enables the monopoly to charge what it
pleases for lighting the lamps when it
pleases. 1t is difficult to see what other re-
suit could have been reached when there is
not and cannot be any effective competition.
A repeal of the charter of incorporation
would summarily put a stop to this career
of oppression and swindling by end
ing the life of the concern. Its In
corporators would be entitled TO no
more than the cash value of their works and
pipes, since their privileges were mere
gratuty from the Government, and they
have already derived more than a fair profit
from their Investment. Ofcourse this means
that the Government should itself imme-
diately step in and assume the profitable
task of supplying itself and the citizens with
light, and that is what we intend. There is
no security in intrusting this prime necessity
of civilized life to private hands any longer,
any more than there would be in returning
the water supply to individual spectators
Lighting the streets is as imperative police
duty as keeping ample water supply in case
of fire. There can certainly be no objec
tion to the Government manufacturing its
own Illuminating material any more than tc
its doing its own printing or building its own
offices. The supply to the citizens may BIZ
treated as incidental, if it is necessary tc
satisfy any strict constructionists. Who
will be instrumental in starting petition
that Uncle Sam assume the gas works as h,
has already undertaken the water-works
and is asked to do, and ought to do, in regart
to the telegraph lines all over the country