The evening times., 1896-02-06
CHEAPER and BETTER GAS
Something the National Capital
Light Company Promises.
HEARING AT THE CAPITOL
Arguments Advanced Before House
District Committee Why the Con-
Germ Should He Incorporated.
1t Is Claimed That 22-Can ndie Gas
Can he Made as Pure US 6-C Candle

| Ut Houot DiStTIct COIiiiDiltee tnlS MORN
ing gave hearing TO those interested in
the incorporation Of the National Capital
Gas, Heat. Light and Power Company.
Among those present to speak for the
proposed new enterp rise were Mcssrs.
Park Asnew, C. d. Ha,i2. ;sa jor j. Hastings.
| r. Z. Sands, Rennsalaer Stone ard Rep
rcsentative Livingston.
1t was desired to have the arguments
taken in full, but u stenographer could not
be obtained.
Col. Livingston, in beginning the hear
ing. said this Is the same bill that was
| ravorabiy reported from the committee
| in the last Congress. He said its purpose
! is to give cheaper and better gas to the
people of the District and the government.
He disciaimed any intention OF anita agonizing
the present gas company.
This bill. as was tn. previous one, went to
the Commissioners and received an adverse
report Oh the grounds that the streets must
DE torn nj and as against Congressional con-
troll. The streets. like everything else, be-
long to the people, and not to monopoies.
III IL Is conducive To the health. prosperity
and happiness OF the people, every street
and alley should be torn up withous hesita-
ton.
Ine proposed company. Col. Livingston
| said, would save annually to the citIzens
at least $6oO,OO0 and TO the government
S55,oO0, on the basis OF the present prices.
All the unhealthy ami dangerous proper
t.es IN the gas now served VIII be eiimi-
Gated, ard the candle power will be in
cTeased from sixteen 10 twenty-five.
75-CENT RATE EiMPRACTICABLE.
The proposition contained In the district
appropriation bill compelling the Wash
inton Gaslisht Company To furnish gas at
90 yen "
not be made operative. .af
Thal cuiilaihy has already given notice
that they cannot manufacture gas even ut u
dollar. III that attempt is made to enforce
that provision the company will compel ITS
customers to make private contracts at the
present prices or close Gown their plant.
Col. Livingston eTphaticaliy denled the
assertions tEat have been made that this
Is sandbagging or blacxngilIng scheme.
lie gave brier sketch OF each incorporation.
and said they We're not surpassed any where
Tor good character and high standing.
An amendment Will be 81 bmiit ed 10 sup
ply gas Tor heating and power purposes at
90 cents Per thousand. AT that rate resi-
dcuces could De heated with vastly in
pense now prevailing.
Col. Livingston saI I'd that twothirds of the
streets and alleys in Washington are so
poorly lighted that person dare not walk
through them alone al night. Especially is
this true OF the Capitol grounds and rescr-
vations.
The only way in which ii is possible 10
secure cheaper ard better gas, said Col.
Livingston, Is by competition and not
Congressional legislation. An amendment
will he inserted 10 prevent tie company
from selling or leasing it, franchise or
consolidating with a rival corporation.
In reply to questions By Chairman Bab-
cock. Mir Hastings said that Il 2.-oandle
gas would not throw out more smoke or I'M
purities in combustion than a lower candle
power. He also answered number or in
quries of a technical nature as to the
various systems of manufacturing gas, and
the peculiar qualities of the same.
CONTROVERTINGC COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. Sands. attorney for the proposed COM
pany, explained atlength what it proposeeitO-.
do if given a charter, and the benefits to be
derived therefrom by The citizens. lie dis
cussad the method intended to bc pursued in
issuing bonds. and the great precautions
taken in the bill 10 guarantee good faith.
The chief portion OF Mr.. Sands remarks
were directed to cOntroyeriing tEe argu-
ments OF the District Comm. sicners in re-
porting the bill adversely. He referred 10
the great expense and Inconvenience at
tending the excavations necessary Ia in
stall the ca bic lines and the underground
trolley systems, ana said there should he
no hesitation because of dctrimcnt TO the
when the benefits in health !
and economy obtained from better gas
world he zen times greater than those iol- |
lowing the introduction OF rapid transit.
Mr.. Sands said tina, for more than twenty |
years there had been no Congressional leg |
of this character. except in the in !
terest of the Washington Gas Light Com |
pany. He said the object of this hill is to !
protect the people from monopoly. and he |
desired every member of the committee to |
aid him with suggestions as to how these /
precautions could be strengthened. He |
protested that dollar gas bill would af
ford no relief. as relief, 10 be effective, |
must come from competition.
Extracts were read from the records of |
hearings and Investigations in which the
officials of the Washington Gas Light Com
pany declare it TO be an inpOssibilty to fur
nish gas at a dollar per thosand without ac-
tual loss on the capital invested.
Reference was made to the enormous and
increase in gas bills for the
last month, and Mr.. Sands said the growing
greed OF the existing Z mon opoly had starpcned
the lines drawn between capital and labor,
the rich and poor, the dividend-Gra wers
and those who pa bills. Increased economy
and limita ton in use causes 10 commensurate |
,eduction in the sums carried on the bills
rendered.
Before the conclusion of Mr.. Sands argu-
nent the time of the committee expired
md he requested further hearing al some
uture time. He said Messrs. Hastings
md Hauk had come from Pittsburg to
answer any questions the committee
night see fit to ask.
The committee then took recess until
o. clock, for the purpose of allowing MIR.
sands to conclude his remarks.