National Republican., 1883-05-28
So Far, So Good.

The Washington Gas company had not n
hide so thick after all that it could not be
pierced by the lance of truth. A creature of
public bounty, drawing the breath of its life
from an act Of congress which it has violated
time out of mind, and is constantly violating,
it acted like the master of the people and of
the government. Insolently parading tho
record of its ill-gotten gains, convicted out of
its own mouth of unparalleled extortion and
greed, it has at last been brought 10
bay. 1t wants something. 1t wants to
add joints to its long fingers with
which to reach deeper into tho
peoples pockets. 1t cried out against charter
ing new gas company last winter because
that would involve tearing up our streets.
But no sooner had congress adjourned than
it projected additions to its mains and called
on the district commissioners for permit to
tear up streets for that purpose The commits
sioners made stand, saying that the company
could have no privileges not already granted
by its charter until the city street lamps were
lighted for price which would enable the
people, with the limited appropriation by
congress for the purpose, to have lighted
streets on those dark nights when clouds
prevent the moon from giving light. At the
same time complaint was made by the
commissioners of the price charged private
consumers. THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
then commenced turning on the light to the
ways of the gas company-its original stock
quadrupled by the watering process, SO that
the rates paid by the people yield interest
ON two millions of dollars whore only half
million has been invested, and then fifteen
per cent. n year realized on this fictitious
amount, being sixty per cent. per annum as a
return on the investment And what is the
result? The company, desrous of the privi-
lege of laying new mains, in localities where
twill occasion much public cinconvenience,a and
which are now served by long connecting pipes
has graciously consented to light the street
lamps four hundred hours moro during the
year, and to reduce the price of gas
from $1.75 thousand to $l5O after the
first day of July. Tho nominal price
now is So, but discount of % cents
thousand is allowed on bills paid
within seven days. The reduction should
carry the discount with it, so that private
consumers would pay $3.50 with 20 cents a
thousand of, when paid within seven days.
Then the company should be compelled to
furnish gas instead of smoke, and to make il
of sufficient Illuminating power, regardless of
its own trick of not requiring this of itself in
the bill which its solicitors drew for passage
by congress- 1t is outrageous that corpora
tions should draw leaky contracts between
themselves and the government and then
defy the people with the question "What
arc you going to do about it?"
If the Washington Gas company expects to
supply this city with gas after the next ses-
sion of congress it will have to make gas that
is fit to be burned in our houses, and which
will not make us blind in its use. Then il
must reduce the price so that it cannot declare
dividends to exceed 10 per cent on tho actual
cost of the works, and hereafter it must pay
for improvements out of dividends and not by
adding to tho burden of the consumers.