Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-06
MORE GAS QUESTIONS
Some Of the Things Told to the
Senate District Committee.
AGAINST A new COMPANY
Mr. Leetch Presents Arguments to
Prevent Another Charter.
IF THE PRICE Is REDUCED

The gas hearing before the Senate Dis
trict committee was not concluded yester-
day afternoon. but after lasting upward
of three hours was adjourned until 2
o'clock Tuesday afternoon. The testimony
of Major Hastings. speaking for the pro-
posed new company, was finished soon af-
ter The Stars report closed. Mr.. Sands
was about to introduce another expert, Mr..
Charles q. Hauck, when Mr.. Leetch, su-
perintendent of the Washington Gas Light
Company, arose and protested that the as
ptrants for a new charter should not be
allowed to consume all the time. The two
gentlemen faced each other rather angrily
across the table, and Mr.. Sands in an in
cignant manner declared that his COM
pany had not had a fair chance at being
heard by the Senate committee. Senator
Harris interfered with the decision that
the committee proposed to hear all that
there was TO say, and he ruled that the
best way to proceed was to allow those
who occupied the floor to exhaust their
arguments. Mr.. Leetch submitted with
good grace, and Mr.. Hauck made a brief
statement explanatory of the methods Of
the new company and the advantages of
making gas from bituminous coal, which
Is employed by the Rose-Hastings system.
The Question Of Capital.
Senator Martin wanted to know IL all
the money necessary for the establishment
of the plant was subscribed, and Mr..
Hauck answered that the bill provides that
at least 40 per cent of the capital stock
shall be taken by the people of Washing
ton, and the remaining GO per cent is now
subscribed. He asserted that all the money
necessary for the satisfactory completion
of the PROJECT would be forthcoming if the
bill were passed.
The matter of possible consolidation with
hrn rrryhf INV Mr..
Gallfilger and this elected an indignant de-
NAL by MIR. Sands, VINO said that such sug-
gestions had been made to poison the
minds of the committee against his COM
pany.
1t was agreed Informally that If passed
the bill should be SO amended as to re-
quire that certain number of mains
should be laid within a certain period Mr.
Harris wanted to elicit some definite irfor-
nation about the finances of the company,
hut could get no more than general state
lnent from Mr.. Sands 20 the effect that all
the necessary funds would be forthcoming.
Mr.. Lectch's Opposition.
Mr.. Leetch occupied all of the remainder
of the time. He read a prepared statement
in opposition to all propositions TO charter
new concerns or to reduce the price of gas.
He urged that the Rose-Hastings plants
wore not successful, and that the gas they
furnished cost more than had been claimed.
He produced a letter from the president OF
the gas company at West Chester, Pa, where
there is ROse-Hastings plant, saying that
the system was no good, and was endured
only because it CHANGED to he in position
Statistics were presented showing that the
cost for production, distribution, etc. Of gas
for the last year was $71S:'37, or about so
cents per 1000 feet In addition to this
$72,mO were expended for interest on bond
! ed Indebtedness. and s2o0.O0 for dividends
| to stockholders. making the total cost $3.50,
| 5t3, or about 81. 10 per ! 600 feet. This was
about the average for each year The re-
duction In the price of the gas would result
! in great loss to the company, because the
latter is compelled to lay mains along new
streets wherever they are opened. withou,
regard to possible return from service
Mr.. Leetch urged that the high price of
coal here was an important factor in the
local price of gas. Mr.. Gallinger suggested
| that the price of gas in Boston, which is
further from the coal fields than Washing
| ton. is only 81 a thousand. Mr.. Leetcf
| replied that this was because the Boston
people get their coal by water. and so re-
duce the cost of transportation. Mr.. Gal
| hnSer wanted to know why the Washing
| ton people do not get their coal by water
| but received no reply.
Effect of Reducing the Price.
Mr.. Leetch asserted that to reduce the
price of gas would be to reduce the divi-
| dends. He admitted that gas could be fur
| nished by the present company cheaper
| than at present, but not at such a good
| profit.
Mr.. Faulkner declared that in his opinion
the company should not be forced into
bankruptcy, ard this brought forth a state
nent by Mr.. Harris that he thought it
worth while to ascertain the cost of the
plant. Il want to squeeze out the water, -
he said The hearing was shortly after
ward adjourned until next Tuesday.