National Republican., 1883-04-17
THE POWER OF GAS.
Mr. KlOts Says 1t Has Killed Forty Adverse
Measures in Congress in Nineteen Years.
How the Monopoly Closed His Mouth and
Kept Him Out OF tho "Reoord.n

Hon. Robert Klotz, late member from
Mauch Chunk, has published at his own ex-
pense speech which he prepared during the
last session of congress on the Washington
Gaslight company. He says he found it i'm
possible to get the floor to deliver IL, and the
influence of the company was great enough
to prevent its publication in the Record, al
though the people will remember that Mr.
Wheeler and others were permitted to print
undelivered speeches for several days after
the adjournment. Mr. Klots has ornamented
his pamphlet with some very appropriate
headlines, the concluding one being, How
the government and the people Of Washing.
ton have been bled by monster monopoly"
After reciting the circumstances Of tho inves-
tigation had during tho session, Mr., Klotz
gives the following account Of his efforts
to be heard: "From the time of the pre-
sentation of the report" he says, cup to
within ffteep minutes Of the close of the
forty-sevonth congress endeavored with per.
sistence TO be heard on this subject, as / GER
tainly had q right to be heard, but to my utter
surprise some members of the committee, who
knew all the facts Of the case, Objected
II next endeavored to obtain permission to
print the subioiped remarks in the Congress
sional Record, and went personally three times
to the speaker for that privilege, and two
other gentlemen, distinguished members of
the house, also bcsought the privilege for me,
but that functlonary refused TO give his con-
sent to recognize me for the purpose.
Three times / asked permission Of the
house to print my statement, and in each in
stance Messrs. Hazelton, Pettibone, and Bis
bee objected. Immediately after the adjourn
ment of congress the ex-speaker, Mr.. Keifer,
sought out one Of the clerks and notified him
to Remember that Mr. Klotz has no right
to print in the Record any speech in reference
to the gas company"
Mr.. Klotz's speech is devoted first to an ar
raignment Of the speaker for appointing o
committee, one member Of which had already
made two reports in favor of the company,
and then proceeds to review Of the charges,
the testimony, and the report. In the course
Of his remarks he says this, which ought to
be read with interest by the residents of
Washington, who are laid under tribute con-
stantly and increasingly by this monopoly;
you will perceive that Mr.. Glover, the
treasurer, says that for thirty-one and half
years the Washington Gas company only paid
1853 per cent. per annum as dividends; but he
forgets to say that the capital stock in the
meantime was increased By profits from $780,
900 to 81, 100000.
Is IL any wonder then, / ask, Mr.. Speaker,
when charge that by orereharge the United
States government was mulcted out Of ST.
100000 by this powerful monopoly, who has a
paid agent in the employ Of this houseP No
wonder, sir, that some members Of congress
and clerks of this house speak with bated
breath when tho subject Of Investigating the
gas company is talked about.
Some Of the clerks have been intimidated
by the receipt of anonymous letters, threaten
ing dire vengeance If thoy didn't lot up. Yes,
sir; the heavy pressure brought upon them
made almost every one reluctant witness,
as will be seen by referring to the evidence
taken
Since 1864 forty bills were introduced.
Tho records show that in 1864 bill was
passed to incorporate the Union Gaslight
company, but as 1t never made It's appear
apce the assumption is that Its defeat was
caused by the Washington Gasligbt company.
From 1864 till 1882 tbirty.nine bills have
been offered in congress, many Of them promis-
ing to reduce the price of gas, having among
its petitioners some Of tho most prominent
mon in the land. But each and every one in
its turn was slaughtered by the influence of
this giant corporation and grand monopoly
and, therefore, l repeat that was justified in
saying that this gas company controlled con-
gress. To provo my assertion and TO show
that these bills didn't fail to become law for
lack of time, four bills introduced during
that time, at tho instance of the Washington
Gaslight company, having for their object the
benefit Of this grand monopoly, were promptly
passed aud became laws"
In conclusion he says: 1--WE are now paying
$4,000 per annum and some $4,000 year
for the white house and grounds, and onor-
nous amounts in other buildings of tho gov
ernment; and when any one takes into con-
sideration the profits of tho gas company,
which has been over three million Of dollars,
more than 10 per cent on the invested capi-
tai, including the half million of watered
stock, think 1t high time that line is
drawn somewhere and halt ordered; and
shall therefore beg the next congress TO i'm
vestigate the Washington Gaslight company,
which, under the construction Of the resolu-
tions was not permitted to do or to have
done. With nearly one million cash on hand,
they can we'll defy even tho mon who would
like to tell the truth; but the fact is so
patent, the action Of tho gas company so bold
and the evidence so plenty If only pressed
into service, that this thing can not last much
longer"