Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-02
FOR CHEAPER GAS.
Conference Report Has Been Adopted
by the House.
TO INCREASE TEE PRINTERS PAY
Favorable Reports as to Two Rail-
way Companies.
OTHER DISTRICT. MATTERS

In the House this afternoon Mr.. Babcock
presented the conference report on the gas
bill. AS reported in yesterdays Star, the
bill provides for gas to be furnished the
public in Washington at $1.10 per thousand
feet from July /. 1896, to July 1, 1901. and
81 after that date. In Georgetown 1t is to
be S1.35 and s1.25, respectively, under the
same dates.
Mr. Hepburn of Iowa said a mistake
would be made If the Senate propositions
should be agreed to as to the price of gas
and the increase of stock of the company.
He read from the reports at the hearings
in 1856, from which it appeared that gas
was being made in this city for So cents
for coal gas and less for water gas. That
wasn't a time when the material cost as
mulch or more than now, and when there
Was no sale for the residuum. The amount
of gas sold then was also less than the
output now. 1t was shown, he said that
for the first thirty-one years an annual
dividend of 10 per cent ON the stock, and
since then the dividends have been capable
of being larger
Some OF the gas used was water gas and
the cost of 1t has been reduced. There is
no reason, he said, why gas cannot be
made Tor % cents. and yet yield a hand
some dividend. He thought the House
should express itself in behalf of the rights
or the people.
He said the House is not defenseless in
ms matter. If this bill should fail as
doubtless the gas company wishes, there is
sun an amendment upon the District APP
preparation BILL which would accomplish
what is desired He begged the House to
refuse to accept the Senates terms.
The Increase of Stock
Mr.. Hepburn then addressed himself to
the question Of the proposed increase of
III Il
amount of S1,200.Oo0 now represented by
certificates Of Indebtedness and finally
there may be issued not less than 81. 900, 600
worth of stock. not one dollar OF which is
represented in the plant of the company
except the $1,20O,G0O certificates of in
dehtednesS
MIR. BabcOck's Reply.
Mr.. Babcock replied to Mr.. Hepburn, and
said Congress has handled the subject for
tWef:ty years without result. This Is the
first bill promising fruit in the way Of
reduction in the price of gas. The bill will
effect a saving of Si2oDD0 to s15OUo0 a year
The House conferees have insisted upon
collar gas to the point where il is this bill
oi roth1nS. The Gas Company will save
Sl2Jos,O year if the bill fails. Mr.. Bah
cock defended the clause relating to stock
issues.
Mr.. Babcock said this proposition is the
best the committee can j., and the respon-
sibility for further acton must rest with
TIE House.
Mr.. Richardson made few remarks in
defense o. the conference report and said
1t was all that could he done at This time.
MIR. Cooper of Florida wanted to know
why this bill was the best the committee
could do. In 1884 the District committee
investigated the gas question and reported
upon it.
Has Congress yet acted definitely upon
airy report" asked Mr.. Rabcock
rnnnEr IA had mo
done so, but the House had passed dol
lar gas bill before. He thought the House
should make one more effort by instructing
the committee to further insist To accept
the bill would be yielding 10 compulsion.
Mr.. Babcock said the House has empha-
sized it's position for twenty years, and has
accomplished Lothing. If this report is
rejected he believed the proposed legislation
would fail.
The conference reported was adopted by
a vote of l26 to ~.
East Washing ton II. II. Company.
Senator Gallinger today. for Senator Nc
MILAN, presented a written report favoring
the passage of Senate bill 2S4O, Incorporate
ing the East Washington Heights Traction
Railway Company. The bill contemplatos
street railway beginning at the present ter
minus of the Metropolitan railroad in East
Washington, thence by an underground
electric road to the AnaCoSta or Las ern
branch, which 1t is to cross by trestle to
be constructed by the company; Tn Ice
along Pennsylvania avenue extended to
Branch avenue, and to Garfield. When
completed the road viii take passengers
for one fare from any point reached by the
Metropolitan road to Overlook Inn and 9TH
er portions of AnacoStia.
Ii. and w. Transit Company.
Senator Gallnger today, for Senator Nc
MILAN, made a written report on the bill
to authorize the Baltimore and Washington!
Cmmending its passage. The report says:
This company is a corporation organized
in Maryland for the purpose Of building &
line of railroad through a prosperous sec
ton of country from Sandy Spring by
way of Burnt Mills, to Talloma Park, there
to connect with the Brightwood road. Ia
koma Park is situated partly IN Maryland
and partly in the District of Columbia
trict is about one-haf mile The bill was
referred to the Commissioners of the Dis
trict IF Columbia, who suggested amend
ments which We're incorporated in the
measure before it passed the House. The
Commissioners find no possible objection
to the bill.
Pay of Printers.
Senator Shoup today reported favorably
from the Committee on education and labor
the bill introduced last Friday by Mr.
Hansbrough, fixing at 30 cents an hour
the pay of all printers and bookbinders
and all skilled mechanics, such as carpen-
tiers, mac hnists, plumbers end painters
employed in the government printing Of
flee.