National Republican., 1883-04-11


provisions you please In the charter, that
they shall not sell out TO the old company,
still you cannot prevent individual stock
holders of the old company or their friends
from buying up the stock of the new com
pany, and ceasing operations whenever 1t is
for their interest. That game Of chartering q
rival company has been tried too often TO adj
init of any doubt as to the final result. IL
won't wash. As to the electric light it has
been demonstrated that it cannot be furnished
for private dwellings as cheaply las gas, so
there is no relief to be had from that source.
The remedy is simply for congress to do
one of two things-either fix reasonable
price for gas, or condemn the works, take
them at their actual value, and provide for
their being run by the district Or, If there
be objection to these plans, then let congress
authorize the district or the United States
government to build works of its own and
rent them to parties who shall be bound to
furnish gas of certain standard and at
fixed and reasonable price.
Few persons have any idea how cheap gas
can be produced or the enormous profit there
is in it. If THE REPUBLICAN will procure and
publish the sworn statement of the gas COM
pany published by congress year ago and
analyze it, so the public can see what dividends
it has paid on the amount actually invested,
in addition to the $S00,000 surplus now on
the matter.
But it is useless to expect any relief at the
hands Of congress so long as the district COM
mittee is made up in the interest of the COM
pany, as it has been continuously so far.
There is where the company gets in its work,
and not in distributing theater tickets. AS
illustrating this point take these facts: When
there was proposition to charter rival
company some three or four years ago, gem
tleman who had never been in the committee
room before, after hearing the remarks, and
coming out said to member of the company,
"You are all right; that committee will
never do anything to hurt your company"
"Why, what makes you think soW said
the member.
Because" replied the other, "thero are
too many of them interested in gas"
"What makes you think sol"
"Their actions, tho questions they asked,
and their remarks show IL plainly enough. |
don't know single one of them, but could
see that plain enough"
"Well, now, which one do you think is in
terested in gasW
"The one at the right hand side of the
table, at the foot"
EYES," said the gas man." "he is president
of gas company. What other one ~
"The one at the right hand of the chair
man."
Yes" said he; che owns gas stock"
ANY moreW
"Yes, the one sitting SO and so, on the op-
posite side Of the table,"
Yes" replied the gas man, "he owns stock,
and is q director in a gas company believe"
Now, how did he know all that? Is it not
obvious that they were put on that committee
for purpose, and with full knowledge Of
these factsp
Again, when subcommittee was appointed
year ago last winter to investigate the mat
ter, the chairman of that subcommittee de-
clined to act, because, as he said, he was in
terested in u gas company, and no one was
ever appointed in his place, consequently no
investigation was had.
The investigation last winter was the merest
farce. No one who knows Mr.. Bailey ever
dreamed for q moment that any testimony
could be produced that would implicate him
in any corrupt action.
mention these facts simply to show the
Importance of looking after the committee at
the next session, if it is expected that anything
shall be done If Randall shall be speaker,
no doubt Brother Bartol, the president, also
from Philadelphia, will be able to arrange the
matter to the satisfaction of the company,
unless there shall be such decided public
movement here rs shall prevent it.
My idea is that there should be citizens
committee selected to cooperate with the
district commissioners in the NATTER and
that such committee should be organized soon,
so as to afford plenty of time to gather the
necessary facts and information, and get it
in shape to lay before congress as soon as it
meets, for unless some such action is taken
the matter will fzzle out, as it always has
heretofore.
At future time may give some facts
about the cost of gas, &C., but my object now
is simply to call the attention Of the public to
the real remedy, and the obstacles which
must be met and overcome if they expect any
relief CITIZEN.