Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-21
SEVENTY-FlVE CENT GAS
Report on the Bill Authorizing the Incor-
poration of a New Company.
Strong Recommendations for Its Pas
Reasons for It's Enactment.

Mr.. Babcock Of Wisconsin has written a
report upon the bill reported from the. Dis
trict committee to incorporate the National
Gas. Electric Light, Heat and Power Com
pany.
The report says:
This bill Is very important one, and
provides for the manufacture and distri-
button Of gas, free from all impurities. and
that the price to be paid therefor shall be
75 cents per thousand cubic feet of gas to
private consumers, and 60 cents per thou
sand cubic feet to the government. which
price the incorporators propose to reduce
further after their plant is in full opera
ton.
The bill provides that they shall enter
into a bond in the sum of $5OOOOO. with
streties to be approved by the Commits
sionerS Of the District of Columbia, condi-
toned for the faithful performance Of the
several terms of this charter.
1.-The Investigations Of Congress in the
Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh and Forty-ninth
Congresses, and in the present Congress,
as set out in the evidence taken and in the
reports of the committees Of the Senate and
the House, show that the local company
the Washington Gas Light Company
charges $1.25 per thousand feet to private
consumers and furnishes a gas of 1S-candle
power, whereas the conditions of this act
call for gas Of 24-candle power.
Present Gas Supply Dangerous.
Evidence taken before the committee
shows the existence Of impurities in the
gas supplied by the Washington Gas Light
Company which are dangerous to health
and destructive to the furnishings OF
houses, and that the local company cannot
eliminate them. The fact that this new
company proposes to furnish, at much
lower prices, absolutely pure gas, demon
stIateS that the measure is one unQues-
tionably filling want Of the people, recog-
terests of tho people of the District, but
very materially the interests of the gen.
eral and local government demand its ia
vorable consideration by Congress-.
1T has been urged as an objection to
this bill that the experience of the local
gas company shows that gas cannot be
profitably made and distributed here at
lower price than $1.25 per thousand cubic
before Congress, and forms the basis of
their objection to the passage Of what Is
known as the dollar gas BILL that passed
the House on the 9th day Of April. 1894
At the time this measure was pending
your committee found from the statements
and figures submitted by the president of
the Washington Gas Light Company that
during the year 1893 their net earnings
amounted to s454.02S.O3, after paying the
interest on their bonded Indebtedness and
all other fixed charges.
Heavy Dividends ON Local Gas Stock.
This shows an earning capacity of 22.70
per cent OH their capital stock Of $1,000 900.
which in itself is evidence that gas can be
furnished at much less than $1.25 per 1000
feet, and still leave a large margin Of profit
to the company.
"On pages 46 and A of report GOO, second
session, Fifty-third Congress. is state
rnent showing that in addition to a 10 per
cent regular annual dividend paid on the
capital stock of the Washington Gas Light
Company, there was a special dividend of
10 Per cent additional to dispose of surplus
money that had accumulated in the treas
try, making total of 25 per cent for that
year. The committee also finds, upon in
vestgation, that in a large number of cities
located long distances apart gas is made
and sold to private consumers at 81 per
LOCO feet or less, in some places reaching
the low ngure of 80 cents per 1000
The Principal Objection Overruled.
THE principal objection urged against
the passage of this bill is that the INSTALL
ment of its plant would involve the up
tearing of the streets. resulting in great in
convenience to traffic and travel
1t being admitted that the successful
operation of the lew company would be
a great benefactfon to the people of the
District, the temporary inconvenience to
the public. following the installation of
pipes becomes less Objectionable when it
is understood that the work will be super
intended by the Commissioners and must
conform to their Instructions the lines so
Tar as possible, being constructed through
alleys instead Of streets. Your committee.
after full and exhaustive examination of
the whole subject, believing that this prop
osition Is made in good faith, as evidenced
by the offer to furnish a good and sufficient
bond in the sum of S500,OUO to carry out
the provisions Of this act recommend that
with the adoption of the amendment, the
bill be passed as being manifestly In the
interest Of the citizens Of the District, as
Well as the government ITSELF