The morning times., 1896-05-19
Senate Amends the House Bill
by a Large Vote.
WILL COME In FIVE YEARS
Mr.. Gallinger Says Washington Is
Full of "Chronlc Grumblers and
Kickers"-Mr. Thurston's Analysts
of the Gas Company's Published
Statement.

shall be reachedin five years, If the company
desires it.
The mended bill was explained by
saying that the Committee on the
District of Columbia considered the re-
ducton of price In the light of an expert
ment. They did not know that the gas
company could make gas for $1.15 per
thousand cubic feet, and by giving tive
years in which the price could be gradu-
ated IL could find out.
The feature or the debate was the speech
of Senator Thurston, who simply took the
published statement of the gas company
and pointed out its enormous profits. He
characterized the statement as 'one OF the
most extra ordinary money-making state
ments ever presented TO the American
public"
Only fifteen Senators voted in favor
of dollar gas. They were Messrs. Allen.
Bate, Berry, Butler, Carter, Chiffon. Mel
son, Peffer, Pugh, Teller, Thurston, Turpie,
Vest and White. Senators Kyle and
George, who made the fight, Were paired and
unab BILE to vote. Thirty-one Senators
opposed 1T.
On motion of Mr.. Faulkner, the Senate
refused TO recede from its amendments
and Messrs Mcmillan, Faulkner and Gallin-
ger were appointed conferees on the part
of the Senate. The only hope for dollar
gas Is that the House may refuse to acCede
to the Senate amendments.
OPENED THE DEBATE.
Mr. Kyle opened the debate on the bin
finishing his remarks begun Saturday. He
was followed by Mr.. Gallinger. His re-
marks were largely devoted to sarcastic
review of Mr.. KyIe's address. He also
spoke feelingly OF the women and children
who owned stock in the Washington Gas
light Company, and inquired
us Congress going to grasp these In
nocent women and children by the throat
and ruthlessly take from them their hveI-
hood?" He believed not.
Mr.. Galhnger then devoted himself to
criticisiug the action OF Mr. Sands in max
ing public the correspondence of Senator
Mcmillan and himself and Ieyie wed the op-
portuuities given Mr.. Sands OF being heard
He discussed the price OF the manufacture
| OF gas and claimed that the company should
| have given to ii certain considerations. He
| objected to being criticised for doing his
| duty and said he had arrived at this con-
! clusion after careful consideration.
Mr. George OF Mississippi was the next
! speaker. He insisted there should be. rea-
| sonable profits permitted the gas COM
| pany, but that was all. Beyond this Con-
! gress ought to step i'll and help tie people.
| He quoted from a report made in the last
| Congress to show that Senators Gallinger
| and Hansbrough were then on the side Of
| dollar gas.
what exclaimed Mr.. Kyle in aston
| ishment, 'you mean to say the Senator
! from New Hampshire ever favored dollar
gas?''
Yes" replied Mr.. George.
Mr George then reviewed the history Of
| the Washington Gaslight Company, as
Shown in the report OF the spooDer COM
mittee. He ridiculed the excuse given
by the company for the destroying of its
books in 1866, and claimed that this de-
struction was inte ntional. He referred 10
it as ''scandalous." He claimed the pass
age of the bill as il came from the House
is not only Just and right. but demanded
by the people. In the Senate, Mr.. George
said the committee acknowledged that 81
was proper charge if The company We're
permitted five years to reach it.
Mr. George wanted to know what would
happen to make the gas cheaper in five
| years. This point the committee had
failed to make plain. Mr.. George read an
analysis OF the companys last report and
| found, he said, "a most extraordinary
state of AFFAIRS
1t showed that the price could not only
be reduced to 81, but to less. He found
that 30 per cent was the profit of the COM
pany last year, 1 s per cent being paid out
to stockholders.
MR. FAULKNERS REPLY.
Mr.. Faulkner answered the speeches OF
| Mt Kyle and Mr. George. He told the
| Senate how carefully the Committee on
tue District of Columbia had examined the
question. He claimed the testimony be-
fore the committee showed that gas could
not be made for 20 cents thousand cubic
feet.
He claimed that electricity was forcing
down the price OF illuminating gas. He
told how the, company had the finest plant
in the country, and then told of the fair
ness of the burner test
Mr. Faulkner be came very earnest In his
remarks, especially on the burner test,
aud told why the change was made from
% to "a candle power. He claimed that
great deal of the complaint about the quail
ity of gas was due to bad burners and bad
pipeage.
He said the reason why dollar gas should
not be granted now was that the committee
was ente ring on an experiment. 1t did not
know that dollar gas could be made and
Sold 1t cost more in this city to lay pipes.
The law requires a double expense; pipes
must be laid on each side Of the street,
aud the committee hopes that in five years
the company can meetit.
Human nature is the same in gas
company as in Senator" said Mr.. Faux
uer, land you have no right to eriticise
the company for making big profits in the
past.''
Mr. Faulkner and Mr.. George at this
point exchanged a few pieasantries con-
cerning the report Of the company to the
House, aud Mr. Faulkner said he would
take it up. do it, replied MI George.
During the last six years, Mr.. Faulkner
said, the cost Of gas was 81 i 2 pei
thousand cubic feet. He didn't cane what
Mr.. McIlhenny or any gas expert said, he
knew what the gas cost and the company
would have to curtail expenses in some
way if this bill passed to make expenses
He said the cost was very great here. He
challenged Mr.. Kyle to name any city
where the cost was the same as is Wash
ington, where there was dollar gas. This
started a series of questions between the
two Senators, which amused the Senate
highly.
Mr.. Faulkner next paid tribute to Mr.
John r. Mclean, president OF the company
and said he had placed all the books o