New-York tribune., 1896-12-11
THE GAS INVESTIGATION.
AND THE QUESTION OF MUNICIPAL
CONTROL.

ALDERMAN orroTT on THE PLANS OF HIS COZ
MrrTrE-DEMAND FOR CHEAPER GAS
Much interest in tho coming investigation OF the
gas conpanies in this city is being exnlpted d!
taxpayers and other citizens, and some oi 'ne
newspapers are urging municipal controi OF d" ''ie
gasworks rs a means of obtaining cheaper gas
Tho example Of birmingham. England. has been
cited to show that cheap gas can nc haue ~ Z"
city with substantial profit. The showing made py
Glasgow Scotland is mentioned also as lIustral-
ing the advantages of municipal control IN ioo'
Glasgow paid s2Go0.c0 for the gaswor"s "".."
had been owned by corporations Since 'he" vi,
city has spent over $4,000 In Improving anu III
creasing the plant. and il has reduced the pm
gas from 81 Il TO 60 cents thousand feet lhsteau
Of losing money the city has been able TO pay more
than half Of the Indebtedness due 10 the acquire
ment and improvement OF the plant ana mas crea,eu
q sinking fund toward the payment o the remain
ing Indebtedness ,
Alderman Olcott. the chairman OF the conh'''.
! appointed to investigate the gas companies III 'nS
ci,v said Yesterday that the experience of Glasgow
was an argument for municipal control "hich
| see,sed to be unanswerable. Il am ihiofne"' II"
| said that Glasgow owns its own gasworks' e'eo-
trIc light plants street railway lines ana water
| system and derives from them revenue VINO"
| more than pays the expenses Of the ci'y govern
| 1nent so that the prOpcrty-o in GIasgo" uo
| not have TO pay taxes. II that II Poss'o'e ia ~
| gow why not in Ncw-York?
Mr. Olcott said his committee would get TO WORK
| in few days and begin the collection OF inforina-
| tion as to the cost OF manufacturing gas !" ''
| city. Il do no, expect" he said. that the gas
companies will allow the committee 10 examine
| their books unless they compelled 10, pu' ''c
Legislature will be asked to pass bill empowering
the committee call for the production oi DOORS
| and papers and get at the truth II thefe Is Il
question about the right Of the Legislature 10 d'ie-
| gate such authority an investigating committee,
| hit
| TO conduct the investigation.
The object of the investigation will be TO discover
| and make public only the cost of the produc-
| tion of gas but also the profits which the gas
| companies have been making. When asked yes
terday If he thought the best illuminating gas could
be manufactured and supplied to customers In this
| city with profit at the rate OF II Thousand ieer
Mr. Ocott said: II have no doubt that there
gas at that price there should be n great proht
IN gas AT that price I'm this city because OF me
OF the pipes. The gas companies have been paying
nothing for their franchises and they have 10 pay
TO make repairs or lay new pipe; ara an tney nave
been charsns 2 housand iss, fIr 20
with too much haste his brother Aldermen VINO
voted to give the franchise to The Consumers Gas
Fuel Company. or TO suspect them OF receying
brhes. because II was stipulated In the francnise
that the company should not charge more than ~
cents a thousand feet for gas. ana some or the
Aldermen argued that what the city might lose In
reduced price OF gas As the od-ostablished gas
conpanics could not be made pay for franchises
long enjoyed they might be compelled TO reduce
the price gas, he said. but he was more inchned
TO favor plan for cheaper gas by municipal con-
troll OF all the gasworks. .
Some New-Y Workers yesterday said they thought
a few public meetings should he called to civ" ex-
preston 10 the demand for cheaper In the ci'y.
In response the demand Of the public. expressed
In nass-meetngs they said. the l.cgis aiurc prob
ably would to reduce the pric" OF gas IN
this city to 81 "A thousand fecf while the question
OF municipal control was being considered. There
have been many complaints recently that the quail
iy Of gas IN parts OF the city was detcrorat-
ing and people have thought that IN" gas
companies were making gas OF AN inferior quality
IN the expectation that the Legislature might pass
q bill 10 decrease the price Of gas There have been
reports OF the secret formation OF an enormous
gas trust the city. and the companies hav" prac-
tcally divided the city in such manner that
they do not compete with each other In n way 20
iniure the business Of company. II is gen
orally believed that the prOnS OF the companies
in the city have been enormous for wears
There was a generally expressed expectation
among city Hall politicians YESTERDAY that Mayor
strong the resolutions passed by the
the Consumers Fuel Gas Heat and Power Com
pany. The Mayor himself declined 10 indicate what
his purpose is.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Turner has been
busy for da looking into the legal aspects or
the case II was understood yesterday that he was
particularly directing his Inquiries TO the questions
OF whether a suit can be brought by any taxpayer
OF the city cnjon The Mayor from appro,ing the
Consumers tOmpanys scheme. IT this Il feasible"
a mandamus will be asked for. a wcll-known tax
payer taking the place Of plaintiff IN the case THIS
is way proposed for getting the franchise be-
fore the courts.
second method IS follows: II such suit can