Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29

Through the kind medium of your valuable
and influential columns, KS article entitled
''SoDle Pertinent Questions" has partially accom-
pliShed its purpose in eliciting public opinion
ID regard IN. and public condemnation OF, the
lndIscriminate taxation of consumers of gas by
the exaction of a deposit with that powerful
OF ten dollars: and we trespass again, respect
tuIly, TO merely review the subject that ft NAV
be sept in condensed form before the eye of q
suffering constituency.
a Mr.. ODonnell (whom I do not know has
Thrown some light upon the subject and effect
ually clinches one nail when he shows by his
own depOsit-receipt of two years ago that the
loan forced by the gas com any from the peopi !,
amounted at that time TO nearly 1000
certainly snug little sum il it be remembered
THAT ii cost the holder nothing TO collect: while
the same gentleman counter-sinks anothe.
SPIKE when he states that Though a dollar dou-
bes IN IL years at q per cent compound inter-
est, the gas company pays only simple interest
and in the period mentioned thus saves 50 20
81 900. 1'e'ea sio' or s2so on each
Next comes Merchant" whose special claim
10 recognition lies In the fact that in a moment
Oh apparent wrathful indignation he denomi-
bates the believer in individual right a
"Growler:" But Merchant has been so com
batteries of my stranger-friend. O'Donnell, that
70 further discuss him would be tantamount to
striking man when down!
linen comes "Citizen," also unknown to me,
He represents the Landlord and says: II take
certain OF my tenants on faith, and wait for my
I Whv until shd,d have ,b rendered 9a PRO gae
same custome" Most Potent logic indeed
But under the caption of Some Pertinent
have been entirely lost sight of, viz: That the
company ttself-Or one of its most hOnored up-
right and faithful employees endorsed me as
honest so tar as my relations TO the ompany
were concerned. On the back of my applica-
ton for this most needful commodity one OF the
the agent of my house: "Mr has ai,cnus
ptttdhis gas bills promptly. and IL you
,s g1arS ,s ;. tP s,r on he gas during as
gas company says: "Mr. Agent your tenant has
been paying us promptly for gas for nearly 20
quantity, he must now make a deposit for the
same article he has been receiving without Sc
curly curing this long period .atess yom put up
known your tenant nearly fifth of a century;
you hardly know him at all. You will risk
the nasf t. anv US LOT ne Will surely pay II
future. Lend him the deposit money and it
VIII be all right and this, notwithstanding ,Ue are
han yourself, and moreover nothrtthstandin0
, es reap aa ne p1oa Gro.s ne sale Of what your
Mr. Gas Company, furnish pipes and fl xtures
and am responsible for the meter: IL is Won who
Sell the illuminating substance my tenant de-
sirs.s and upon which you realize a handsome
profit Pray tell me why should take any
risk IN the matter? furnish this tenant with
q range and latrobe stoves and draught power
Tor the same, should make his fires and go
security for his wood and coal? supply him
with water pipes, water-closeS and bath tub,
i
him an asphalt walk leading from the pnblic
pavement 10 his front door; should paw for the
wear and tear of his shoes in his use of the
safnee This knock-dOwn logic on the part OF
Agent remains unanswered and will continue
1ndestructiole when CleOpatra's needle shall
have crumbled to dust
Agall, then, (in company with my unknown
Iriend- ODonnell and Citizen ask why
should not the gas company be made to dis
criminate or do their business concerns and
ascertaining, as far In its power lies the
1acts concerning "a consumers responsibility
and integrity, make the same distinction in
regard 10 credfting parties that has been Gus
tofnary in banking and business circles for
generations past Let Echo reply, since its an
swer will be about as potent among business
view a. would anything Merchant" could
oher, since we take IL that Merchant Is an In
telligent being and one who would deem a
tradesman with whom he was dealing q hit cam
OiGat- Tor an asylum should the latter exact a
security OF SlO for 50 worth of tine very same
article he. Merchant, had been purchasing and
SETH - ior promptly each month for nearly
twenty years, and especially Ii Merchant held
SAID trtdesmans 0Ica Endorsement that he had
always promptly settled" the Identical class OF
bills he desired to continue.
As illustrative OF the consistency of this mo-
nopoiy when told 10 would sooner have land
lord sign the book than I'd have the deposit
offered a continuous note, so drawn as never 10
be outlawed, and endorsed by as many proni.
nent individuals as could we'll get their SIGMA.
lures on Its back. On no, "a thirty day note,
was demanded! And yet .it Is not YOUR moner
we want, Is the cry of this company! Com.
ment Is unneceSsary-indeed would be wholly
out OF place.