New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-16
GAS FOR NETWORK CITY.
BILLS ACTED ON by THE LEGISLATURE.

WANTING COMMISSION APPoINTED-sPfNoLAs
AND GRADY's BILL.
IrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRrBUyE1
ALBANY, April 15.-LegislatiOn for the pur-
pose OF lowering the price OF gas In NewYork held tho
attention Of the Senators and Assembymen to-day The
Assembly ordered 10 third reading the bill Of the
Standard Gas Company which processes q willingness
lower the price of gas 25 cents thousand feet and
the Senate passed Senator Murphy's bill creating
Board OF Gas supervise the manufacr
Of gas In NewYork and II possible reduce the price,
The Senate also passed Mr.. Rey's bill lowering the
price in New-York to 81 % thousand feet The days
action gas matters ended with the Introduction OF
bill by Senator Traphagen repeating the charter OF the
Consolidated Gas Company OF Ncw.York The
bill iprefaced with preamble declaring
that the evidence taken by two Investigating
committees showed that the gas companies
OF New-York had violated the State laws The bill an
nuIs of gas companies In consolidating
The Attorney General Is authorized TO bring an action
for the appointment Of receiver for the Consolidated
Gas Company, who is to distribute its asseta
Senator Murphy's BIN is supported by the Gas Con-
sumers Ass ociation They desire the appointment OF
board OF gas commissioners. Objection was made to the
bill the tina Ilyor Grace owned gas stock, and
thus ucapacitatol from appointing members OF the
board OF gas commiss Jners.
Senator Murphy said: Mayor Grace does not own
dollars worth OF STOCK IN any gas company and Is not
in any way Interested in any company Senator DAILY
said that he could make the statement Inc Dill
| passed by unanimous VOTE
Under the bill there to be q Board OF
Gas Commissioners OF three members, to be ap-
pointed by Mayor Grace Controller Loew and
tue Chief Justice of tho Court OF Common
Pleas They authorized compel the gas companies
to max minute reports on their financial afars' Inc
companies conduct their bookkeeping according
to methods prescribed by the commissioners The OBJ
ject of this provision enable tho commissioners 10
have the means OF ascertaning exactly the financial
condition of the companies The Board is to ascertain
what cash paid the Consolidated Company by
company by stock and bondholders, what amount
has been actually expended and employed In its busi
ness Tho Controller is to tho companies for the
expenses Board No dividends are to be paid by
the companies unless earned. The earnings from tue
excess OF dividends to form reserve fluid to an
exceeding 10 cent OF tho actual capital
that amount is reached all the surplus net earn
ings excess be applied toward the reduction OF
the price OF gas. The companies to make semi-an-
nu reports on the quantity and quality OF the gas tnoy
obtained from safes. aad their expenses. No COM
pany Is to no permitted 10 Increase us cap
nor to any except purposes OF construc-
ton The commissioners are each to have yearly
The Senate also passed by unanimous vote Senator
Reys bl declaring that hereafter the price OF gas ia
Now City shall not DO more than 81 20 thousand
feet -, .. ,r
gas at III 90 thousand feet evidently desires ess
to have its bill become On law u before Sao
/
the bills passed by the Senate to-day become laws Some
people think that the Senate bills will pass tho Asse'
Grady. who behind the standard BILL put up MI.
IIagan in the Assembly to push 1t forward Inc Assem-.
by Is very busy body the eve OF Adjournment, put
almost every one dropped WORK on other matters ana
turned attention to the pill Almost every one na as9
members seeming to be especially enthusiastic
bin on ' he part when they are usually indifferent
the cltys welfare shOwsIhow thorouIy General ophoia
and ex-senator Grady have done their work. Mr. Ham
iton offered an amendment to the bill, providing that
the price OF the sold by the company should 9e on
81 70 thousand feet; but the Assembly was III such
love with bill stood that II paid no alton " the
Mr. McColand did not think 1t fair that the Standard
should be compelled to sell gas 50 cents less thousand
feet than the Concentrated CSnpany MI ti h nres 20
81 25 thousand feet Mr. TapPon said shst tTs t sa
the companies could sell gas az ~ cents 'os"uu
saying This bill comes TO us with the sign MARI Oh
great fraud upon It. 1t Is conressedly special Legislation
in favor of one company Every Assemblyman knows
that the Gas Consumers Association have Dill mere
and the Gas Inves igang Comritee another. ie 81
these bills which all acknowledge are in the interest o
people permitted to sumber ana TINS ns
fayora6y and pushed IN this assembly n v aG ne
investigating Committee was snow ras n az b c co%
company with the Consolidated Gas COMPANIES VINO
have watered their stocks aud bonds NIFTY iod ana nave
to make preht on the water ms company ssrts
"Sa 9 .app Ss@ al
Mr. Erwin said that ne Thought the bill good one
because u would pIhg Gonpel'tOn mn NO npce OF Gas
Messrs. Cantor and Haggery expressed similar views
NJ Kruse doubted II competition was secured anu
no thought enormous powers were gwen 70
the Standard 1t could put its pipes III any street III
New-York There no limit OF time AS to when ~
should antage OF its charter and could sell It's
| rights TO the Consolidated Gas Company. go
| H. c. Howe said that he was struck with the pro,
visions that ought to condemn the bill It was special
| legislation of the kind For instance the COM
pay could occupy street OF Newfork without ask
Ing the consent OF the local authorities This was
| directly contrary to the doctrine of home rule.
| A "a
order bill third reading and IL was adopted py
a vote OF "a TO 10 The vote shows the tnoroughhess
with which the work Of lobbying through the I'LL was
| done by Spinoa and Grady