New-York tribune., 1885-01-30
GAS MAKERS AND CONSUMERS.

The gas consumers of Ncw-YO are to be
represented, and they hope relieved, by an
organization just formed for protective pur-
poses. The Legislature is to be asked To IN
vestigate the situation, and whatever steps re-
Election and consideration may suggest are to be
taken to secure the public against the alarming
and impoverishing results of such reductions ia
the price of gas IA recently went into effect. AT
the meeting at Delmonico's Mr.. Agcrnon s.
Sullivan exhibited Il truly moving confidence In
the austere integrity of the genus gas director
a confidence which the other consumers do not
appear to have shared, however, for their ex-
perience was nearly all to the effect that since
the alleged reduction in the price of gas the
bills for consumption had increased. The
favorte theory in explanation OF this paradox Is
that the pressure on the mains has been raised,
thus forcing through the meters much more
pas than can be burned. But whatever the
cause. there seems no doubt about the Tact that
so far as the general public arc concerned the
gas bills have increased since. the reduction IL
the price. Whether special rates are allowed to
large consumers is "A question upon which more
lay be said hereafter, but it is certainly signit-
| cant that many Of these apparently indls-
posed to complain, while the large class of small
|
The staple argument of gas companies under
| similar circumstances is that consumers always
I are SO exhilaratcd by the announcement OF a
| reduction in price that they forthwith begin TO
| burn a great deal more gas than they did be-
| fore and so lose the benefit OF the reduction.
| Then too, the gas companies fall back upon the
meters, and asscverate that ~ the machine
| can't lie," which is To say the least n very
| dubious assumption, since meters have been
| known to register consumption of several
| thousand feet when none whatever has been
| burned since the last inspection. But the i'm
| portant question for the consumer is whether he
| can secure reasonable charges and a decent
| Illuminating power in his gas. AT present the
whole arrangement is so much in the hands OF
| the gas makers that they would have to be more
| than human if they did not abuse their Oppor
| tunities Ii is clear that by increasing the
pressure they can neutralze the effect of any
| reduction in the nominal price of gas aud that
| the only remedy open to the consumer is to at
| tach governor to mis- meter. But il cannot bo
expected that everybody will do this, and it is
| measure of precaution which the public may
| well demand from the gas companies. If they
were compelled by the Legislature to supply
every meter with governor, the consumer
would have perhaps as effective a safeguard
against waste and resulting overcharge as he is
| likely to obtain for some time to come, and
| there is certainly nothing in this proposition
which can be considered unjust to the corpora
| tiOns.
They ought not to be permitted to force gas
through the meters at II pressure so great that n
| large percentage of it is wasted, while every
| foot is charged for. To insist that they shall
supply gas of steady and moderat ely high
| Illuminating power, and at the pressure best
| adapted to insure its thorough combusti is
an entirely reasonable and proper line for the
| consumers to take, and the Legislature might
| be asked to embody these provisions in statute