The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-02-21
Low GAS BILL DEAD,
Exciting Debate Over the
Majority Report in 0ppo-
sition to 1t.
EISELE LET'S TIE CAT OUT
Bill Only introduced as a Re-
aublican Sop to Catch Voters
at Last Election.
Numerous 4ssembIymen Shirked
the VOte-Some Democrats
Among Them.
EISELE LETS TIE CAT OUT
Among Them.
.saecial 10 the JERSEY City Ne,rs.

TRENTON, Feb. 21 1s35.-The fight on
cheap gas opened in the House this
morning and ragged finely for several
hours. Mr.. Sporrs began the sk.rmish
with a resolution that the rule excluding
all from the floor of the House except
the. members, State officers. ex-mem-
bers and correspondents, be rigidly en-
forced. The Speaker so directed and the
first time in years lobbyists were driven
from t:le floor.
The first gun in tie battle was fred
by Mr.. Codding and Mr. Eisele OF the
Committee on Municipal Corporations.
VINO submitted majority and minority
reports.
Massrs. Codding, King and Stafford,
presented a majority report adversely TO
the bills. The report claims f1rst the
courts do not sanction such legislation,
second, so notorious abuses exist III
the conduct of business OF raanufactur-
ing and delivering Illuminating and fuel
gas TO consumers in the cities of this
St4.te which, the laws of trade VIII not
coan teract." In investigating this ques-
ton the committee says that the people
engaged in the business are of the high
est standing. These men are a guaranty
OF good faith, but it is claimed that they
managed all right, but charge an extor-
Tomato rate to first and second class
critics and there is no remedy because
the ordinary laws of trade do not pre-
vail III the gas making business, and the
State must control it and keep prices
down. The committee find competition
ever present and an important factor;
that there is a great competition in fur
nishing light to all the cities of the
III ~i,oi+ md a
present and always great competitors
with gas. These competitors will compel
gas companies to furnish light at the
lowest possible figure. 1t also says that
increased consumption will be another
factor in reducing the price; as soon as
all tine large cities and people therein
use it the consumption will reduce the
price this being proven in the two large
cities where the charge has been gradu-
reduced during the last twenty years
This will continue until the minimum
figure is reached. As previous Legisla-
tures nave not s+duched this question;
as competition is increasing by electric
ity, etc.; as consumption Is being larger
and prices are favorable when compared
with other cities, New York, Philadel-
phia, Brooklyn, ETC., they are forced to
conclude that such legislation should not
be enacted, reasonable as to deman it is:
1t further reports that under the most
favorable circumstances, gas cannot be
furnished to consumers in this state at
the price of 81 as fixed in these bills. In
many cities the companies could NOT ex-
ist at that rate.
Messrs, Eisele and Schober submitted
a minority report favorable to one dol
lar gas for first class cities and one dol
lar and thirty-five cents for second class
cities.
VIGOROUS PROTESTS.
Mr. Eisele moved the substitution of
his report for that of Mr.. Codding and the
battle began by Mr.. Codding protesting
strenuously that he was not interested in
the bills further than to do his duty as
chairman of the committee. He dis
cussed the Constitutional right of the
Legislature to pass such laws and con-
eluded that it had the right; but he
claimed that it should pass reasonable
laws and ones which would stand the
criticisms of the courts. He then quoted
long array of figures to show that no
company could furnish gas at the price
named in the bill without incurring loss.
Philadelphia had tried the experiment
and had lost $3.50, 900, and that only con-
first class cities in this State. He ap
pealed to the members not to be carried
away by public clamor, and adopt such
a socialistic measure.
Mr. Eisele said that he had heard all
the arguments in the committee by the
learned counsel of the gas companies,
but he had none ADLER than those of
Mr.. Codding and he honored him for his
efforts. The rate charged by the COM
panies in some cities was extortionate
yes, prohibitory. The Counsel before the
committee did not argue against the cost
mentioned in the bill. but declared that
the Legislature had not the right to fix
the price.
JUMPED ON GRUBER
Mr.. Gruber moved that the further
consideration of the bill be laid over un-
til Monday evening, and five of the
Hudson members, Messrs. McAndrew.
,Cagneyy Farslow, Usher and Smart,
were absent.
Mr.. storrs jumped on him for ineon-
sistency Mr.. Gruber, he sad had been
hindering the committee day after day,
crying to have the matter brought be-
fore the House, and now that it was
there he wanted it laid over.
.sThere'n he larger galleries then"
remarked Mr.. Robertson.
Mr.. Gruber withdrew mis- motion and
then Mr.. Robertson made a long argu-
ment against the bill. He said the min
ority report was scheme to catch the
vote OF second-class cities. He Ike Mr..
Codding, read carefully prepared ar
gument the purport of which was to
prove that if the price of gas was re-
ducea the pay of the laborers would
also be reduced, and said that he rep
resented a workingman's district He
made good appeal fer the poor, down
trodden wrorkingmar1
He accused Hudson of being perme-
ated with socialism. and he appealed to
the member not to vote for such a
socialistic measure.
Mr.. Gruber said that the advocates OF
the bill were the only ones who pro-
duced any figures before the COMMITTEES.
All 9he opposition did was to, heap ridi-
- Il