Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-19
THE PRICE OF GAS
Committees Sliding Scale Adopted
by the Senate.
QUITEALIVELY DEBATE ON THESUBJEG
Those Who Fought for Immediate
Reduction to a Dollar.
T 81 E FL n A L V 0 T e
QUIqEALIVELY DEBATE ON THESURJEG
T 81 E FL N A L V o T E

vote of IA to 81 the Senate refused to re-
&C nsider tho vote by which the committee
amendments were adopted, and the bill was
then passed without division. The votes
in favor Of reconsideration. that is to say,
in favor Of dollar gas at one stroke. were
cast by the following named Senator's: AL
len, Bate, Berry, Butler. Carter, Chiffon,
Nelson, PETER, Pugh, Teller, ThurstOn,
Turpie, Vest and White.
Those voting against reconsideration and
in favor of the sliding scale proposed by
the committee were: Allison, Bacon, Baker,
Blackburn, Brown, Caffery, Chandler. Clark,
Cockrell, Cullom, Davis. Faulkner, Gal
linger, Gear, Gibson, German, Gray, Hale,
Hansbrough. Harris, Jones (Ark.). Mitchell
(Wis-), Perkins, Platt, Pritchard, Roach,
Sewell, Shoup, Squire, Stewart and Wet
more.
Senators Kyle and George were paired In
favor of reconsideration, and Senators Mar
tin and Proctor against.
The debate did not come to an end until
nearly o'clock. At times it was rather ex-
citing, Senators Kyle, George and Thurs
ton making strong arguments in favor of
Sn immediate reduction of the price of gas
The committees position was sustained by
Senators Faulkner and Gallinger, while
Senators Proctor and Bacon declared that
while they were not wholly satisfied with
the solution of the problem reached, they
majority of the committee.
After The Stars report closed, Senator
Kyle declared, in conclusion, that the
complaints of the people as to the extor-
tfonate prices of the gas company are we'll
founded. In view of all the circumstances,
he urged that the Senate committee amend
ments should not be accepted but that the
House bill should be passed instead.
Mr.. GalIinEer's Remarks.
Mr.. Gallinger followed Mr.. Kyle, express
ing regret that this bill should be discuss
ed in the absence of Chairman Mcmillan.
who was probably better qualified to dis
cuss the gas question than any other men,
Der of the committee. He said Mr.. Kyle's
arraignment of the committee was some
what remarkable and uncalled for.
He spoke sharply of Mr.. KyIe's mention
of lobbyists swarming about the corridors
of the Capitol. This brought Mr.. Kyle to
his feet with the disclaimer that he made
no reference to the members Of the COM
mittee in that connection.
Mr.. Gall continuing. spoke Of the
extraordinary and un-American form of
government under which the people of the
District OF Columbia are row laboring."
and ne showed how minute are the details
of the District committees work.
He asked Mr.. Kyle, Indirectly, whether
ne would vote for proposition for the
government to buy the plant of the Wash
inStUn Gas Light Company.
Il would promptly answered Mr. Kyle.
And yet the Senator has always voted
against every proposition to issue bonds to
permit the construction of sewers for the
betterment of the health of the District
people, returned Mr.. Gallinger
Il certainly oppose such propositions"
retorted Mr.. Kyle, which are directly in
the interest of the real estate men,"
THE Senator ought to be consistent"
said Mr.. Gallinger, land refuse to vote for
bonds to buy gas plants, for bonds would
surely be necessary.
What the Proposed Bill VIII Do.
Senator Gallinger quoted from the bill,
and declared that the reductions in price
would cause decrease in income to the
gas company of $4,000 during the first two
years. and s1sO,OOO in the fifth year.
In concluding his speech, Mr.. Gallinger
said:
Il am always willing to stand for the
rights and interests of the people of the
United States, and especially of those of
this great capital CT the nation, of which
we are all so proud. but am not willing
today, nor will be willing at any time, to
cast my vote simply because there is
clamor outside, whether 1T be newspaper
ciamor or the clamor of unthinkng men, in
favor OF measure that will to any extent
rob the men who have invested in good
faith their hard-earned savings in the
stock OF any corporation. I will not do
that simply because we are told that If we
do not we will be regarded as the friends
of monopoly and aggregated capital rather
than of the interests of the plain people of
the United States.
Il have given very careful attention to
TINS matter l am not a gas expert and
90 not pretend to know much beyond what
L have learned in the committee room on
the subject, but have como to the DELHI
crate, the honest, the conscientious convic-
ton that the bill which the committee on
the District of Columbia has reported and
which 1t asks the Senate to pass today is
bill that will do equal justice to every in
terest involved in this controversy, to the
people of the District, and at the same
time to the men, women and children who
nave invested their money in the stock of
this corporation. Believing this, 1 urge the
passage of the amended bill"
Mr.. George for Dollar Gas Mt Once.
Mr.. George followed Mr.. Gallinger, max
Ing careful argument to show that dollar
gas was at once possible and desirable He
went over the ground step by step to show
the various efforts made to reduce the
price, and to bring out the findings of the
Spooner committee and of the minority of
the last District committee consisting Of
Senators Gallinger. Martin of Kansas and
HansbrouSh, who then advocated dollar
gas. He analysed the figures of the ex-
pense and earnings account to show that
the company is now and for years has been
making great profits that might Justly be
reduced to give the consumer the benefit
OF reduced cost Of production caused by
modern bettermentS.
Mr.. Faulkner Defends tho Amend
ments.
Mr.. Faulkner, who had charge of the bill
then took the floor to defend the amend
ments. After speaking at some length of
the matter of strength of the gas and the
tests, he said. replying to remark by
Mr. George: II will give the Senator the
reason which influenced me as a member
nf fh0 oSy>
other members, in favor of this sliding
scale. We are trying an experiment with
the object and purpose of accomplishing
what the citizens of Washington desire
We are trying an experiment, and, under
the figures presented to us, we doubt
whether 1t will be absolutely just or right
to the company: but we know, in the
growth of this magnificent city and In its
development, that If we lower the price
Of gas. necessarily there will be additional
consumption, and that the consumption
will increase without perhaps largely in
creased cost for any additions to the plant
If a ho