New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-02
TIE SENATE GAS REPORT.

The Senate Committees report on the gas
question follows the lines recently indicated In
The TRIBUNE. The committee show that
there has been systematic watering OF gas
stock and that the consumers have been made
to pay extortionate rates for the illuminant.
OF course all this was known before, and the
question of deepest moment is the nature and
effectiveness of the remedies proposed. These
have been embodied in bill which provides a
Board of Lighting Commissioners, three in
number: declares that the price OF gas shall not
exceed 81 80 per thousand feet and makes it
the duty of the Board to see that the profits OF
the corporations do not rise above 10 per cent
on the actual capital, and that gas of n standard
Illuminating power is furnished. The
limitation of the rate Of profit and of the price
70 be charged is liable to be- objected to on the
ground that it introduces n dangerous inter-
ference with commerce; but it may be pointed
out that the principle underlying this
proposition is not new one, neither Is It's legal
status in any way doubtful. Whether 1t be
dangerous OF not it is good American law
fully and clearly laid down as such In the
opinion of the United States Supreme Court in
the Chicago elevator cases; wherein the
doctrine was declared that the Legislature has
right to regulate the profits of any business in
which public use can be shown TO snbsst. Or
the existence of such a public use in the
manufacture and supply of gas there can be
no doubt, and therefore the principle OF
Legislative regulation applies to the case fully.
As TO the acceptability of the Commission bill,
however, regarding IL us a whole, there Is need
for careful consideration. What is required is
that the companies shall be compelled to
furnish good gas at reasonable price. The
question il, Does the proposed plan fulfil these
reaniremeuts enectuallyi The price of gas
being fixed by law it remains to see that the
quality is what it should be. Does it need a
Board 10 attend to this An expert and
vigilant inspector ought to be able to
supervise the mechanism which must determine
all questions of illuminating power and
regularity of supply. Ii has been shown that it
is possible for gas company TO increase the
consumers bills even when q nominal reduction
in the price of gas has been made. 1t is
necessary to make any such trick rs that
mpracticable 70 do SD requires full control
and constant inspection of the meters by State
official. 1t may even be necessary TO change
fle registering apparatus, and authority for
sucn "a CniUkc NC 'Ouici'tus i'ub IA
measures are taken to insure the supply of good
quality gas, at a reasonable price, through
Trustworthy meters the reading of which is
systematically checked by the agents OF the
consumers, it does not appear that anything
more can be done ; and the question is whether
o Board is absolutely necessary to perform this
work.
OF course there is the risk of official yenality,
but that has to be encountered even in the
Legislature, according to Mr.. Theodore
Roosevelt and other good authorities, and
perhaps it is not worth while to cast about for
a means of evading the danger. Publicity is
the best safeguard, and il whatever officers are
appointed are made to publish semi-annual
statements and to keep their books open to the
public continually. the greatest amount of
security compatible with the transaction of the
business will probably be attained.