The morning times., 1896-02-13
GIVEN 4 HEARING ON Gas
Whole Question Aired Before The
House Committee.
COMPANIES DEFEND PRICE
Both Sides Presented Figures to Sup
port tContentiGns-Mr. .Leetch'sCom-
prehensivc Statement . Citizens As
sociations Also Represented-Effect
OF Reduction in Price.


hearing yesterday on the bill known as the
dollar gas BILL" Representatives. OF the
two local gas companies OF this city, of the
East Washington al nd the Northeast Wash
ington Citizens Associations were in at
tendance to give their views upo the pend
ing measure. Representatives of the Civic
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 orpha rs with
guardian, and the guardian is holding the
orphans by the throat, while the gas COM
panies despoil them. This situa ton is
brought about by the action OF Congress
having jurisdiction OF the law regula ting
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.
Mr.. SIDD0NS IND0RSES Mr. DODGE
Mr.. F. L. Siddons spoke in behalf of the
Civic Center, an organization OF citizens,
with a membership OF fifty or sixty. He
indorsed what Mr.. Dodge had said about
municipal ownership of gas nd electric
lighting plants. He thought the quality OF
gas shouH be improved. The gas now fur
nished has greatly deteriorated OF late. and
he thought it was due to the use OF water
gas. He favored an amendment to the
sibility OF the company avoiding compli-
anee with the requirements for maintain
ing the standard. He did not view favora-
bly, the chartering OF a new ccnipa ny, for
fear it would combine with the old one. He
submitted to the committee the report OF
heboard of trade on gas recently published
in the Star. lie said the dividends of the
gas company have approached nearer fifty
per cent than the sixtee per cent quoted
by Mr.. Dodge. Mr.. Siddons was questioned
about the alleged watering OF stock of the
Washington Gas Company. and insisted
that the stock had been watered.
Mr.. Babcock construed the term watered
stock to mean where increased paper stock
had been issued without a true value.
The gas company contends that its in
creased stock represents an increased
plant.
WHAT MR.. M'ILHENNY SAID.
Mr.. McIlhenny said:
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen. owing TO
the shortness of the time left, it Will be
impossible for me TO go into this as | ex-
| pec:ed to, and to answer all these argu-
meuts that we have heard here over and
over again; but would Just ike to state
| 10 the committee that / Rave been in the
| gas business all my life, and am ac-
! Guainted with nearly every prominent gas
man in this country; and ] have never
known a set of men who are so anxious
10 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 Washington get gas as cheap
as the people of New York or the people
! of Baltimore, or the people of other cities
| NiiSEc itt IbE IL dTe
far greater than here, or at least the
cost of producing IL is much less, think
| there ought to be very little complaint.
In the city of New York they pay $1.25
per thousand feet; in the city of Baltimore
they pay SIPS; and the average price
of gas throughout this country is $1.50.
have been acquainted with the officers
of this company for great many years,
and do know that it has been their con-
| slant aim, and their constant interest even
| we always consider it TO our interest
70 sell the gas at the lowest possible price.
They have reduced it voluntarily several
times. 1t has been as high as 81 here,
| and it is now down to $1.25. / have no
doubt but that when the time comes when
we can reduce ii. we will be very glad to
do so. because every man in this business
knows and it is so in every other busi
uess- that the cheaper the product, the
greater the sale of tit popularizes the
product and makes the people better salts
fled.
SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
Mr. Hulick-Did / understand you to say
that the cost of gas in the city of Washing
ton and the District of Columbia is SIPS?
Mr.. McIlhenny-Th price is SLIPS.
Mr.. Sands-To those who pay within ths
first ten days: otherwise $1.50.
Mr. Hulck-There was no qualification il
the statement of Mr.. MeIlhenny. / thought
he meant that absolutely.
Mr.. McIlhenny The price of gas here ir
the city OF Washington is $1.25.
Mr.. Hulick-The price you fix is $1.50, bu
you discount for punctual payment, do you
not?
Mr.. McIlhenny-Yes.
that means
Mr.. McIlhenny-There are very few peo
pie who are delinquents.
Mr.. Hulick-If they are delinquent, yol
charge them S1.50?
Mr. McIlhenny is the penalty /
they are delinquent, they pay $1.50 instead
OF $1.25.
Mr.. Hulick-I had a notice OF that kint
served on me the other day.
Mr.. McIIhenny-Every one who pays with
in ten days after the rendering OF the bill
is charged $1.25. 1t is the custom all owe
the country.
Mr.. Hulick-You do that to encourag
people to be punctual in their payments?
Mr.. McIlhenny We consider $125 tn
price of the gas
THE LAW AND REGULAT TIONS.
Mr.. Hulick-But could your company no
charge $1.50 without making that redue