Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-05
President McIihenny Again Before the
Senate Sub.COmmittee.

President McIihenny Again Before the
Senate subcommittee.
ALLEGED CURIOUS DISCREPANCIES IN THE FIG
URES OF OFFICERS OF THE GAS COMPANY
CHEAPER GAS; HIGHER BILLS--THE MISSING
RECoRDs-FIvE THOUSAND DOLLARS PAID A
LoBBYIsr.
The sub-District committee of the Senate on
| the subject OF the price of gas-Messrs. Spooner
and Northumberland the inquiry to-day.
By permission Senator Van Wyck asked sew.
eral questions of Mr.. McIhenny, president of
the Washington Gas Light Company. In reply
Mr.. McIlhenny said he knew that Mr.. Barto,
formerly president of the Washington COM
pany, had lately purchased stock of the George
| town company; did not know how much; the
purchase was made within the last six months.
Mr.. Bartol once owned 1000 shares OF the
Washington companys stock, but now only
owns about 500. Bartol was resident OF Phila-
delphia while president of the company here.
DETAILED IMPORTATION WANTED.
Mr.. Sponner taking up some papers, said to
Mr.. McIlhenny that the committee had called
| for detailed statement of the moneys paid in
by stockholders from the organization OF the
company. As the books had been destroyed
down to 1866 he did not presume the items
could be furnished for that period but he called
| for u detailed statement from 1866 down and
tn n;or pest showing practicable for the period
ment furnished him by the company shows
that the aggregate dividends paid 10y the com.
pany amounted to So, 2O1 BIZ, and he wanted
| tn know how much oil that paid prior to
1855 and how much since.
Mr.. Mc1lhenny said he would submit the best
statement possible and would endeavor TO have
1t ready next Monday.
MR.. DODGE DISPUTES MR.. M'ILHENNY's FIG
URES.
Mr.. W. G. Dodge submitted a supplemental
statement. He said Mr.. McIIhenny had de-
clared that only 10000 feet of gas could be
made from ton OF coal. Mr.. Dodge submitted
| q ejaculation he had made upoE the basis of the
sworn report OF the company, telling the num-
Der OF tons of coal used, the amount Of gas pro-
duced. to show that the average yield was
| IL, Il ieet OF gas per ton. He also made cal
culation on the basis Of the secretary's report,
| taking the materials bought, TO show that the
| gas did not cost the company as much AS had
been represented; that Ii can be made and is
made ut less COST than MIR. McIlhenny stated.
| THE CHEAPER THE GAS THE HIGHER THE BILLS.
Mr.. Dodge submitted an exhibit of his gas
bills for ten years past to show that as the price
Of gas had diminished the amount OF his bills
increased.
| a telegram from ST. Louis 10 show that gas is
not sold there at one dollar per 1000. MIR.
| Dodge submitted kilograms from the mayor of
| st. Louis aad Others stating that gas is sold
| there at one dollar. He added that Mr.. Nell
| henny's statement was
| "a DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO MISLEAD THE
COMMITTEE"
Mr.. Dodge also submitted a calculation based
upon the gas company's sworn report, showing
that the cost of coal was SO per ton, aud not
$3.50, as Mr.. McIihenny had stated.
Mr.. Spooner wanted to know how this dis
| crepancy occurred.
Mr.. McIlhenuye replied that he spok of the
total cost of coal; that he included the cost of
handling, trimming, etc., and all that ran II up
Mr.. Blackburn wanted to know IL the cost of
handling The coal was not included in the labor
| expense.
Inc reply was in the affirmative.
| MIR. Spooner with evident surprise) You say
that you handle the coal with your own APP
piiances, and that the labor which handles II, is
| charged in the labor account?
The reply was in the Affirmative.
MIR. Spooner said then the item Of labor was
| duplicated.
| Mr.. McIlhenny denied that
| MIR. Spoouer insisted that if the cost Of hand
| ling coal Was included in the labor account of
expense and was figured also in the cost OF coal
| that was clearly a duplication, and he would
like to know how much duplication there had
been in all the estimates.
Mr.. McIlhenny SAID there had been no dupli-
caton but nnally said he could not explain
the Der Of to ona ana ss
(witnessD statement IA. 49), uut he Thought the
secretary's statement must have been erro-
neOus, and be would submit his reply in detail
| in writing He added that the company was
willing 10 sell to the government or to tie placed
under the English law restricting the net
profits To ten per cent.
Mir. spooner-But the difficulty there would
| be that you would want to Tx the capiLaIiza-
ton.
MIR. McIlhenny said the capital of the com.
| pany Is small, everything considered.
MIR. Mciihenny, in response TO questions, said
and Alexandria The gas works are owned by
the municipality. In Richmond and Alexan-
Tue general fund, aud is disbursed for public
benefit
THE MISSING RECORDS.
Referring to q copy OF The resolution of the
gas companys directors Ordering that the Sec
rotary be authorized to destroy dispose Of the
KS IF q con in
Spooner wanted lie date OF the adoption OF this
resolution, and promise Was given that II
Mr. Van Wyck asked If there was any con-
tingent fund or other fund for specific purposes.
Ihe reply Was in the negative.
5000 FOR LOBBYIST.
Mr.. Van Wyck wanted to know il the com.
pany did not pay out money Tor u lobbyist"
Mr.. McElhenuy replied that he understood
that S5, OOu was SO paid.
Mr. Van Wyck wanted to know what that
expenditure WAS charged To, Tut the gas presi-
dent did not know. He was ordered TO include
in the written statement to be furnished a
showing as 10 the pay meut OF that $4,000.
Mr. Blackburn called Mr.. McIlhenny's atten-
ton To sworn Statement OF Mr. B..rtol, pres-
dent Of the company In 1881. to the effect that
the company had then a surplus OF about three
quarters OF a million dollars which it uad accu-
mulated ior the purpose OF eniarging and i'm
proving the works, that it might reduce the
price Of gas. He wanted 70 know il the fund
was used Ior that purpose.
MIR. Mcllhenny said IL was not; that in 1883
that surplus Was
DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE STOCKHOLDERS
He could not explain why 1t was not used in
accordance with Mr.. Bartol's statement
Mr. McIihenny explained that In Philadelphia
the municipality found that 1t could not dis
pose OF the works because of complications
about loans and bonds; that the bonds had first
to he paid II anu saS had Ueen sold 81 go per
LOCO to accumulat u fund to pay of the bonds.
The surplus amour. - now to $2,OOO,OOO.
Senator SpvOner admOniShed Mr.. McIlhenuy
to have the detail ed information wanled by the
committee ready next Monday.
Mr.. James Crutchett reiterated his statement
that the government could take the works and
make gas at 25 cents per LOCO for light aud 15
Genus iOr fuel.
DR.. Moore, who keeps drug store, was next
| heard. He said lac had been a consumer OF gas
| since 1852, and he could never understand
why his bills increased with each decrease in
| the price vi gas. There had been no increase,
he said, in the consumption.
MIR. SpOOner said the subcommittee would
not hold another public meeting, Uut wanted
the gas company'S statements IL had ordered.
| [Senator Van w ck said u STAR reporter
| that, according 10 his Information, MIR. Bariol,
| formerly president of the Washington com.
pany, had recently bought seven hundred
| shares OF Georgetown company's stock
REPRESENTATIVE BARNES, OF GEORGIA,
| who Is, it appears. interested In the gas works
of Augusta, Ga, listened stlentively " the pro-
ceediugs. After the adjournment OF the COM
| mittee, Mr.. McIihenny asked Mr.. Barnes about