Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-27
THE PRINCIPLE DOES NOT APPLY.

No principle is better established than
the right OF the Legislature to correct ex-
tortion by public corporations carrying on
business through virtue of public franchise.
Especially where the privilege OF competi-
tion is denied and a monopoly takes advant-
age of the situation to make oppressive
charges. the right becomes a duty. 1t is a
duty which we rather think there is little
prospect of the Pennsylvania Legislature
undertaking to exercise, in view of the
swift rejection yesterday of the Burdiek k
bill which rested on this ground, and of the
other fact that the bill to reduce telephone
charges has not lately been heard of. We
may judge, therefore, that there is but
very cold prospect, indeed, for the Act
brought down to Harrisburg by Mr.. Frazier
to give consumers of natural gas right to
have the rates which they shall be charged
fixed by the Courts instead of by the COM
panies which furnish the fuel.
And yet, despite the small likelihood that
the Act has the slightest chance of passing a
Legislature which refuses to interfere in a
far stronger case, it is we'll to show why it
should not pass and wherein it differs radi-
cally from the telephone and the Burdick
oil bills. Competition is open to anybody
in the gas business who wants to go into it.
We may, for instance, decry the sharp twists
and jump around because of the pain IN the
pocket which the Philadelphia Company
here at heme gives to consumers every few
months, and feel at times in any but an
amiable mood toward that interesting con-
cern. Yet we cannot ignore the fact that
Brown, Jones and Robinson, ourselves, or
any other consumers are at perfect liberty to
60 into the gas business any day we please,
and that the streets of the city are as open to
us as they are to the Philadelphia Company
to bring the product to market. 1t must at
least be said for dead and gone Legislature
of the State that, at the very inception
of the gas business, it did the right
thing by commanding the cities and bor-
oughs to pass general ordinances allowing
admission to all gas companies on equal
terms. So likewise the Philadelphia Com
pany has no monopoly OF the gas fields outside.
There are several other companies in opera
ton, and there may be just as many more
as citizens with capital to invest think we'll
to organize. The case of the Standard and
the oil trade is different to the extent that it
built up practical monopoly in the many
years during which the privilege of build
ing pipe lines was denied to others in the
field. As for the telephone, it is monopoly
of course of the strictest sort by the force of
its patents; and one competing concern
which had gone to the trouble of erecting
poles and plant in this city was quickly
compelled to shut up shop.
1t will be seen that it is not only unneces-
sary, but would be seriously unjust to the
gas companies. so long Es this free competi-
tion is possible, to practically put their bust
ness in the hands of the Courts. The pre-
carious condition of the supply is in itself
conclusive on this point. If there was any
certainty, or even a good prospect, OF the
fields lasting for great number of years,
there would be a dozen companies to-mor-
row to compete with the Philadelphia at
present prices. But there is no such protr
pect, and for that reason new capital keeps
carefully aloof Under the circumstances
the right of the existing companies to pro-
tect their investments cannot be denied. The
principle of legislative intervention against
an exuortionate monopoly is a sound one;
but it would be made highly ridiculous by
applying it where no monopoly exists.