Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
THE DOLLAR GAS BILL.
Majority Report Adversely-What
the Minority Say.

Senator Hunton this afternoon presented
to the Senate an unfavorable report from
the District committee on the bill H. Il.
1918, better known the dollar gas bill.
The report is of great length and quotes a
mass of figures furnished by the gas COM
pany to show that 1t Is not practicable at
this time to reduce the price of gas. In
conclusion the majority of the committee
say:
Your committee are of the opinion that
If the policy announced by them is APP
proved by Congress - no increase of the
capital stock of the Washington Gas Light
Company allowed, no necessity presented
for the issuing Of bonds, and the company
understanding that Congress will not ap-
prove of the distribution of any profits
greater than 10 per cert annually upon its
present capital Of S2,0O0.OO0-but a short
time will elapse before it will be in
the power of Congress, if not previously
done by the voluntary act of the company,
to make a reduction in the price OF gas.
Under the views expressed and the rea-
sons set forth in this report your commit
tee felt compelled to recommend adverse
action upon the bill"
A Minority Report.
With this, the report of the majority, was
presented a report from the minority of
the committee, signed by Senators Hans
brough, Gallinger and Martin, disagreeng
with the adverse recommendation In the
course of this report these three Senators
say.
reduction year by year in the amount spent
by the company for coal and oil, and an
equally decided reduction in the amount
spent for extension Of works, while the
increase in the amount of gas sold has
grown each successive year, being 2Oo,OO0,-
COO cubic feet more in 1888 than in 1883.
For the same period of five years 100000
was paid as dividends to stockholders.
1T is claimed on the part of the gas
company that the price OF gas cannot 6e
reduced because of the expense attending
the extension of works. The minority of
the committee are willing that the figures
in this regard should speak for themselves.
AS to the chief source of expense, Goals
and oil, the statement In the majority re-
port that the cost of these articles in
Washington, with her advantages in rail-
way and water transportation, must be
greater than in other cities, having no bet
ter advantages as to transportation and
where cheaper gas is furnished, leads the
minority to the conclusion that closer in
yeStigation than 1t seems can be made
with the gas companys figures as basis
might throw new light upon the whole sub
ject
A Right to Expect Reductions.
Furthermore, a concern that Is making
annual dividends of 10 per cent with clock
like regularity and paying interest on
100000 of certificates of Indebtedness
which, as a matter of fact, do not repre-
sent a single dollar Of Indebtedness, but
are, in truth. the fruit of extra dividends
over and above the regular 10 per cent
dividends seems to be in the complete and
permanent enjoyment of profits so far in
excess of the net returns of like companies
elsewhere that Congress has right, and
an overtaxcd public the right. to expect
decided reductions in the present prices"