Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-05
MUNICIPAL LIGHTING.
Citizens Of the Northeast Talk to the
Commissioners.
Talking Against the Gas Monopoly
Proposing 10 Utilize the Great Falls
to Furnish Electric Lights.

The subject of municipal control of city
lighting was presented at a special meeting
OF the board Of Commissioners this morn
Ing by representatives of the Northeast
Washington Association. This association
at its last meeting passed resolutions, print
ed IN The Star. favo-ing municipal control
of city lighting and appointed q committee
to confer with the Commissioners upon the
subject.
The discussion was opened by Vice Pres
ident Tucker. who said:
when Congress lin 1S4s) chartered the
Washington Gas Light Company it gave to
that company the sole right to make and
furnish this important and necessary COM
modify in this city, to the exclusion of all
competition; presumably 1t was the inten-
ton Of Congress to do the public favor
by furnishing means for modern lighting.
which had not up to that date been en-
joyed by the people Of this city; that IL
was a favor to have modern facilities We
admit, but a far greater favor TO the COM
without opposition and practically without
restriction, which is conceded TO be the
surest and most remuneratiye which can
be conducted in any city.
In short, when Congress gave this valu-
able franchise to this company IL virtually
incorporated a monopoly, to the rules ana
terms of which the United States govern
ment. the District government and all VINO
nave uSeQ lIlS difilOSl
for nearly forty-five years have been COM
PEELED to comply.
That the said company has used the
power and privileges relegated to IL by
said charter to its own interests and with
out regard to the interests Of the public
IL very apparent after reviewing the follow
ing facts: The par value OF the stock OF
this company is SO per share and it is now
selling at $40 per share an increase OF 40
per cent The company has paid large
dividends and in 1888 there was a residue
of &JOO.OO0 after all expenses and a large
dividend had been paid. which amount, for
some reason unknown to the public, instead
of beng paid to the stockholders in the
regular dividend, was divided among them.
thus not showing in the dividend, and since
the stock has been selling at SO high a
figure large dividends are still paid
THE company has number of officers
who draw large salaries, ranging from
81 200 to $4,000 per annum and aggregating
Tin 1899 $4,000 annually. all of which
comes out of the profits of the business.
Gentlemen. there is no doubt that the
municipality could conduct this business
as economically. II not more so. than n
is now conducted. and the consumer could
be given the advantage of these large
profits by reducing the price of gas to the
minimum, or the District could take adj
vantage OF part of the proits nv nlacing
the price at a reasonable figure ana let the
net prncee@s he source ~ revenue In
conclusion 7 will saw that 7 hope that the
time is not far distant wher the more mod
ern method Of Hghtino will he odontas On
this city when the entire ritv r-'ii ~ Tight
81 Nv e'antYir'tv the power ~ n hai,-
frrnisho1 nv -No c-ea. Fnu~ rhe rreeont
pos works could tNar he utilised ~ s,,r-'s,
chean gas fuel To- hep-,-- a-s o.la-
nn-nosee. nnd win he reIsovoi ~ go
n'''snr"e OF cartine and handling coal ana
ashes"
We vas followhS ~ NJ w. e D>aoe who
road from caref,ilIv r-o,a-az eta-erne,.
the advantages OF r,unio'nar lighting nv
fhA rn"n'"'nn''tv u's rn-rarts snr-
c'nct and ~ the po'-t. He argued g., favo-
~ chean n~htine. We eare romnariso-s -
NenrAs. cited the ,nforn,a.son ohtairaz ~
investigations in other r'tiee prd c'airneS
th"t there was no roo--, for do"ht 20 the
advantage and pronr'etv ~ the D'strict's
havin" ITS own ~lert n-d furnishinU tie
own light not only fo- the streets and al
leys. but for citizens also