The evening times., 1896-02-13

sociations Also II Represented-Effect
of a Reduction in Price.
The House District Committee gave
hearing yesterday on the bill known is the
"dollar-gas bill.'' Representatives OF the
two local gas companies OF this city, of the
East Washington and the Northeast Wash
ingtonn Citizens Associations were in at
| tendance to give their views upon the pend
Center were also present
MR.. DODGE THE FIRST SPEAKER.
Mr.. W. C. Dodge OF the East Washing
ton Citizens Association was the first
speaker. He said the people OF this city
are in the positions OF orphans with a
guardian, and the guardian is holding the
paines despoil them. This situation is
brought about by the action of Congress
having jurisdiction of the law regulating
the price of gas. Mr.. Dodge reviewed the
operations of the gas company for many
years past. showing the large dividends
paid by the company and the increasing
value of the plant.
MIR SIDDONS INDoRSES MR.. DODGE.
Mr.. F. L. Sid,ions spoke in behalf OF the
Civic Center. an organization or citizens,
with a membership OF fifty or sixty. He
indorScd what Mr.. Dodge had said about
municipal ownership OF gas and electric
lighting plants. He thought the quality OF
gas should be improved. The gas now fur
nished has greatly detcriorated of late. and
he thought il was due TO the use OF water
gas. He favored an amendment to the
pending bill. which would prevent the pos
>hility OF the comrany avoiding compli-
ance with the requirements for maintain
Ing the standard. He did not view rayora-
bly, the chartering of new company. for
fear it would combine with the Old one. He
submitted to the committee the report OF
the Board of Trade on gas. recently pub
lished in the Star. He said the dividends
OF the gas company have approached nearer
80 per cent than the l6 per cent quoted
by Mr.. Dodge. Mr.. Siddons was questioned
about the alleged watering OF stock OF the
Washington Gas Company, and in sisted that
the stock had been watered.
Mr.. Babcock construed the term watercd
stock To mean where increased paper stock |
had been issued without q true value. The
gas company contends that its increased |
stock represents an increased plant.
WHAT MR.. McILHENNY SAID.
Mr.. McIlhenny said:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen. owing to |
the shortness of the time left, it will be i'm |
ilussible for me to go into this as Iexpected |
to- and TO answer all these arguments that |
we Ia re heard mere over and over gain: but
| would Just like TO state to the committee
that | have been in the gas business all my
life, and am acquainted with nearly every
prominent gas man in this country, and
have never known n set OF men who are so
anxious to sell their product cheaply as the
gas people. There is limit, OF course be-
yond which the price cannot go to make
profitable returns to the stockholders. |
That limit by legislation and by public
opinion. has been very nearly reached
throughout the entire country; and as long
As the people Of washingtonget gasas cheap
Is the people of New York or the people OF
Baltimore, or the people of other cities
where the advantages for producing 1t are
'ar greater than here. or a { least the cost OF
producing it is much less, / think there
,ught to be very little complaint. In the
.ity of New York they pay ST .25 per 900
eet: in the city OF Baltimore they pay 81 -25:
md the average price OF gas throughout this
country is $50.
/ have been acquainted with the Officers
If this company for great many years. and
do know that it has been their constant
i'm, and their constant interest even-we
Ilways consider it TO our interest to sell
he gas at the lowest possible price. They
lave reduced IL Voluntarily several times.
t has been as high as 81 here. and 1t is
low down to S1.25. l have no doubt but
hat when the time comes when we can re-
luccit. we will be very glad to doso, because
very man in this business knows-and it is
o in every other business-that the cheaper
he product. the greater the sale of tit
opularizes the product and makes the
eopie better satisfied.
SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Mr.. Hulick understand you to say ,
hat the cost OF gas in the city OF Washing
On and the District of Columbia is S1.2o? ,
Mr.. McIlhenny-The price Is $1.25.
Mr.. Sands-To those who pay within the ,
rst ten days: otherwise S1.50. I
Mr. Hulick There was no qualification in +
he statement of Mr.. McIlhenny. thought I
e meant that absolutely. r
Mr.. McIlhenny-The price of gas here in |
he city of Washington is S1.25. 7
Mr.. Hulick-The price you fix is S1.5O, r
ut you discount for punctuaI pa ayment, do r
ou not? y
Mr.. McIlhenny-Yes. r
Mr.. Hulick-I want to understand what n
lat means. n
Mr.. McIlhenny-There are very few pco- h
lie who are delnquents. n
Mr.. Hulick-If they are delinquent you n
Iarge them S1.5O? v
Mr.. McIlhenny-That is the penalty. II n
ey are delinquent they pay $3.50 instead n
T S1.25. r.
Mr.. Hulick-I had a notice OF that kind n
rived ON me the other day.
Mr.. McIlhenny-Every one who pays with
ten days after the rendering Of the bill
charged S1.25. 1t is the custom all over u
e country. G
Mr.. Hulick-You do that to encourage
'ople to be punctuaI in their payments?
Mr.. McIlhenny-We consider S1.25 the
ice OF the gas.
THE LAW AND REGULATIONS.
Mr.. Hulick-But could your company not
large S1.50 without making that reduc-
IN il it saw fit under the law? n
Mr.. Mcllhenny-Not il the people paid Il
thin the ten days. II
Mr.. Hulick-Does not the law authorize e
III to charge S1.50? Il
Mr.. McIhenny-If the bill is not paid IL
thin the limit. Y
Mr.. Hulick-Is not that provision in your Il
Iarter? 8,
Mr.. McIibenny-No; think 1t is only in d
q rap, Iat inns