Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-18
FOR CHEAP GAS.
senator Kyle SIN Fighting for q
Price of One Dollar.

Senator Kyle did not conclude his re-
marks ON the dollar gas bill Saturday,
being iEten upted at $50 O'Clock by the
Grain euloey resolutions, which had been
made a special order for that hour. After
The Stars report closed Mr.. Kyle said
that the gas company was power in the
District and a power over Congress. The
company had always charged immense
rates and had ever reduced the price I'M
less through fear OF compulsory legisla-
ton by Congress.
Sci ator Faulkr er quoted the Commits
sioners' l,p port to prove that some reduce
lions had been voluntary.
Il recognize the fact that the price has
been Volu: tarily reduced" said Mr.. Kyle.
but in NY judgment it was under fear
that something was going to be passed by
Congress-
Il should like the Senator to give his
reasons for that statement" said MIR.
Faulkner, "becarse 1 never heard that
before and l have leen investigating this
question for seven years."
Have you discovered" interrupted Sem
ator George That in 1866 the company
voluntarily burned its books?"
M sir, have not discovered any such
thing" replied Mr., Faulkner.
IT is the fact" repeated Mr.. George.
mo, Sir" said Mr.. Faulkner. Il differ
entirely With that statement. and 1 am
ready TO answer II on the floor"
Senator Kyle argued that If, the
port showed, gas was used in only 26oo0
dictated that gas was so high that 80 per
cent of the people could Tot use II. The
high prices brought In immense profits,
but there would be n much more general
demand if the price was lowered, and the
profits would be just as great without any
injustice to the people. Senator Kyle
quoted figures TO show the low price of
gas in scores of cities all over the United
States.
Senator Kyle said that a syndicate had
offered the city of Philadelphia S20ooa,oO0
for the city gas works. because the works
We're so profitable and turned so much
money IL tc the treasury.
A scene occurred when Senator Kyle,
asserting that gas could be made for -
cents a thou sard feet, brought in the
Rose-HastingS Company, which proposed
to furnish gas at that price Senator Gal
linger said the company had not satisfied
the committee.
'Of course not" remarked Senator Kyle
with considerable bitterness. You gave
the repreSe natives of the old-line COM
panies all the time they wanted and you
would not give the Few company a proper
hearing"
That is a very serious accusation. and
it is not true" promptly exclaimed MIR.
Gallinger.
You would 7 OF give The attorney of the
company the final hearir which he ask
ed" repeated Senator Kyle.
do you mean Mr.. Sards?" interrupted
Mr.. Harris.
yes" caid Mr.. Kyle. land 1 have the
correspondence to show it,
when he makes such a statement"
shouted Mr. Harris, in angry tones, he
is wholly unjustified and states a false
hood He has been heard and heard and
heard" exclaimed Mr.. Harris, his voice
rising with every repetition, land heard
to a greater extent than any other gas
Company IN existence"
Senator Kyle then read the correspond
ence between Mr.. Sands. the attorney.
and Senator Mcmillan. the chairman of
the committee, I'm which Mr.. Sands asked
for a final hearing, and was informed that
the committee would not grant 1t. Mr..
Harris said that he knew nothing Of the
correspor dence. but that the company
which Mr.. Sands represented had consum-
ed n time than any other company had
occupied.
After this episode Mr.. Kyle asserted
that he opp, sed to the five year con-
tract which the bill carried and to the
high price of gas He quoted statistics to
show that New York paid from Sl2 to Sl7
for each Public lamp for 1000 hours of
lighting, v bile according to this bill Wash
ington was paying 5000 per annum for
a much less number of hours. He thought
the company could furnish gas for 81 per
thousand feet and for this he proposed 10
fight.