Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-31
ANOTHER GAS HEARING
Representative Livingston Advocates the
Charter Of the New Company.
Some Remarks by Mr., Cooper ns to
His District-An Executive Meet
ing by the Committee.

The House District committee today gave
a hearing upon the bill to incorporate the
National Gas and Electric Light Company.
Representative Livingston Of Georgia ap-
peared before the committee in behalf of
the measure He said this bill proposes to
authorize a company that will reduce the
price of gas from $1.25 to IS cents to the
consumers and to 60 cents to the govern
ment. The only question is whether the
company Is in earnest, and Mr.. Livingston
asserted that the company means business.
Up to day before yesterday, said Mr.. Liv-
ingston, there was a cloud upon this bill.
A Senator had said that there was sus-
picion Of this company offering to sell out.
1t has been developed in testimony before
the Senate committee that the man who
proposed to sell a franchise did not have
reference to this company, and did not
know any Of the incorporators.
THE fact is" said Mr.. Livingston. 1.-The
Commissioners of this District have block
ed competition, and they propose to block
it."
Mr.. Hull asked II it would be easier to
regulate the price Of gas than to grant q
new charter.
NO. replied Mr. Livingston. because
this company will make it pure, manufac-
turing it under a process unknown to any
one else"
He said the process is not in operation
anywhere else. The only objection urged
against the bill by the Commissioners was
on account Of tearing up the streets.
A Mere SubterfuEe.
There is no man around this table but
knows that this objection is merely a SUBJ
terfuge," said Mr.. Livingston.
Il don't know that it is so,'' protested
Mr. Heard.
"Of course 1t is So" continued Mr.. Liv-
ingston. 'The proof is that for sixty days
New York avenue has been torn up. because
it was necessity. 1t would be necessity
to tear up the streets for this purpose. too.
1t would save the government and the peo-
pie of this city 81 l,OOO,UO year in gas bills.
Moreover. it would benefit the health of
the people and save their eyesight by CIV
ing them pure gas"
Mr. Livingston declared that this COM
pany will not allow any other to succeed it.,
and would sell to the government If 1t was
decided to establish municipal gas works.
Mr.. Sands. attorney for the company, fol-
lowed in an address in behalf of the bill.
He said the streets are constantly being
torn up for the extension Of street railways
and the public do not m4rrnur at the tenn
porary Inconvenience. because of the bene-
fit that Is to follow. 1t Is much more to the
benefit of the public that they should have
cheaper and better gas.
What Mr.. COOKER Said.
Mr.. Cooper of Indiana asked how much
the government pays the Washington Gas
Company for supplying the public build
ings with gas. In this connection Mr..
Cooper took occasion to state that he had
started the investigation Of the :,as ques-
ton at the last session. The result was
that the Washington Gas Company die
tated dispatches which were sent from
Washington to every county in his district,
stating that he was busying himself look
ing after the interests of the people of
Washington instead Of his own people.
Mr.. Aldrich asked Mr.. Sands for informa-
ton as to the process of manufacturing
gas. Mr.. Sands replied that the process
has not been patented and the owner does
not think he should be called upon to ex-
plain the process.
MIR. Aldrich held that this is not a valid
excuse for Withholding the information
and declared that it would be an unhcard-
of proceeding to grant the franchise upon
such shadowy grounds.
Ia Executive Session.
The committee then went into executive
session to vote on the bill. Those present
were Messrs Heard, Richardson, Cobb,
Meredith, Cooper Qnd.). Cooper F'la.). Har-
mer Babcook, Hull and IAldrich.
On the motion to lay the bill on the
table the vote was a tie. A motion to in
definitely postpone action also resulted In a
tie. The committee then adjourned with
out further action, leaving the Dill in an
unfinished state.