The Evening critic., 1883-04-28
SHALL WE HAVE BETTER GAS 2
What Commissioners Edmonds and
West Say About the Proposed New
Gas Company.

Gas Company.
The new gas company was leading
topic of interest to-day in all quarters
where the affairs of the local government
are discussed, and various theories and
opinions were expressed.
A CRITIC man inquired of Judge Ed
monds as to hisviews of the probable action
Of the Commissioners
MIR. Edmonds said that he had been in
conversation with the representatives of
The proposed company several times, and
learned that they propose to supply the en-
tire demand for gas throughout the city at
maximum rate of 81 So the gas to be of a
superior quality to that now sup
piled. He had not personally
examined the law as to wether the Commits
sioners had power to grant company per-
mission to tear up streets and lay mains
without an act of Congress ; but it was rep
resented to him that the old laws empow.
ering the Commissioners to grant such per.
mission had been continued by more recent
legislation, and were now in force. He
would much prefer having one gas company
to having two, and would oppose any un-
necessary opening of Streets but at the
same time he was resolved on getting
cheaper gas, and would not let the
tearing up of streets, or anything else,
prevent that. He judged from the ex-
ample of other cities aud gas companies
that the present gas company will reduce
their price to $1.50 to maintain their present
monopoly and advantages, and that in this
case he would oppose the application of the
new company, as he would not grant them
permission at the same rate as the present
company. Mr.. Edmonds had informed the
new company that they had better con-
slider the advisability of agreeing to furnish
gas at less than Sl.50, as he would oppose
their application if the present company
will come down to the proposed figures.
Judge Edmonds says that his course will
be, in few words, to favor reduction of the
price and an improvement of the quality of
gas. If this can be obtained at once under
the present state of affairs to oppose the APP
plication of other companies; but If this
cannot be obtained from the Washington
Gaslight Company, then to throw open
every opportunity to company that will
do what is wanted.
Commissioner West, when seen in regard
to the matter, said that he was fully de-
termined upon obtaining cheaper and bet
ter gas, and would favor whatever course
proves necessary to accomplish that end.
As to the right of the Commissioners to
permit the laying of mains, ETC., by new
company he did not think it could be
questioned, as he believed that among the
inherent rights of a corporation was the
power to secure its own illumination. He
had examined the law on this point, but
had no doubt that the Commissioners have
full power to do what seems to be to the
best interest of the city. He had pre-
dicted long ago that the obnoxious course
of the gas company would not only
arouse public dissatisfaction, but if persisted
in would eventually injure the company
and destroy its monopoly. He was not
prepared to say that the new company
was the proper source from which the de-
liverance of the people was to come, but if
it so proved he would not hesitate to ad-
vocate the granting of their requests The
new company had made no formal appli-
cation to the Commissioners, but the whole
question of the lighting of the city was
being informally considered, and the Com
missioners would not be long in deciding
upon the course to pursue.