The Evening critic., 1883-04-06
THE rNsoLENT GAS MONOPOLY.
Commissioner Edmonds Puts His
Foot Down Firmly and Says IL Must
ReciprOcate with Cheap Gas III it
Wnnts FRvOrs from the CITY.

RecipfOcate Win ChcNp Gas III IL
WANTS FavOrs from the City.
An important conference was held yes
torday afternoon between the District Com
missioners and representatives of the gas
light company.
President Bartol waited upon the Com
missioners- in company with Superintend-
ent Wilkinson, to urge the granting Of a
permit to tear up the streets in the heart
of the city for the purpose of replacing old
gas.pipes with new ones. Mr.. Bartol
claimed that under their charter the COM
pany has the right to lay mains and only
solicit the permit as n matter of form.
President Edmouds told Mr.. Bartol that
the District must have some concessions
from his company in return for this per-
mission, either more hours for the lamps
say 2,400 hours, instead Off, 200, for the same
money, or further reductions in the price to
private consumers, say SLIGO per 1000 feet,
for prompt payment, instead of Sl.75 as at
present. He wanted the company to give
gas to the District at the lowest remunera-
tive figure, SO as to satisfy the public de-
mand for cheap light, and prevent the ne
cessity of another company being given
permission to tear up the streets.
Mr.. Bartol replied that the company had
already conceded SO per lamp and that the
District was now getting gas for both public
and private consumption cheaper than any
city situated so far from the coal fields, except
Baltimore, where two companies have got the
price down emporarily by their competition.
In Pittsburg and Cincinnati II was cheaper, he
said, because these cities are near the coal.
All the coal for winter and most of that FOR
summer consumption comes from Plttsburg
and costs an average of So per ton.
Judge Edmonds said that this was not con.
vincing to the Commissioners, and asked that
the company give them the privilege of know
ing what the net cost Of the gas IS, so that
they can form some judgment as 10 what IL is
really worth.
This Mr. Bartol declined to do He could not
allow the Commissioners to see the books of
the company or give any details that would
inform them as TO the cost OF the. gas. He
thought that tho Commissioners should be
satisfied to be getting gas cheaper than in
Philadelphia or New York.
Mr.. Edmonds insisted that there was no
guarantee that the District was really getting
1t as low as 1t might be had, unless the bot.
tom facts were ascertained. The Commits
sioners wanted light at all times during the
night when the streets were not actually
lighted by tho moon. The fact that the moon
ought to be shining should furnish no excuse
for leaving the city In darkness.
Mr.. Bartol protested vigorously against the
stand taken by the Commissioners, and
thought that the company was being badly
treated.
Mr.. Edmonds asked what proportion of the
gas burned was consumed by the District.
Mr.. Bartol replied that the lamps took about
one.tweltth part.
Mr.. Edmonds asked why the company
Cout5 uiOEo W prlNdto DbE-
sons than 1t could afford to sell Ii to the city
for; could 1t not make the eleven-twelfths
cost, say $50, and raise tho public gas to the
same price, II necessary AS It appeared to
the Commissioners, there was a very large
margin on this great majority of tho gas con.
sumed.
Mr.. Bartol said that perhaps they could do
as suggested, but the $1.25 was about what the
gas actually cost without any profit.
Mr.. Edmonds repeated his statement that
there must be n largo profit. He said that
with largely-watered stock the company pay
six per cont, and how much moro nobody
knew.
The discussion was prolonged, the Commits.
sioners holding that the price Of gas must bo
reduced, or the quality and quantity increased
before the desired permit can be granted.