Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-16
T He LAST EARN G
Consideration of the Dollar-Gas Bill Draw
ing to Close.
President Winship of the Georgetown
Gas Company Appears Before the
Senate Committee.

neon granted what 1t Is expected is the last
public hearing on the dollar gas bill now
pending before that body. 1t was under
stood when the subject was under discus
sion last Friday that after the hearing of
today, arranged for special purpose, the
bill should be sent into the committee in
executive session again tomorrow, and
there discussed to a finish.
This purpose was to hear Mr.. Henry c.
Winship, president of the Georgetown Gas
Light Company, and also the agent through
which the Washington Gas Light Company
" hich is reputed to be the real owner of
the Georgetown company, procures it's
coal. When Mr.. Winship was before the
committee at the last hearing on the bill
there was no opportunity to question him
on the cost of producing gas west of Rock
creek, and as the pending bill fixes the
price of gas in Georgetown at % cents
higher than in Washington it was deemed
advisable to listen to tie reasons for such
a difference.
When o'clock came Senator Mcmillan
was called away to the committee on COM
merce on an important matter, and Sena-
tor Faulkner. at the suggestion of other
members, took the chair. There were also
present Senators Gallinger. Pritchard, Wet
more, Baker, Gibson and Martin.
Mr.. Winship's Statement.
Mr.. Winship read a statement, outlining
the charter history IF the Georgetown Com
pany. At no time in the course of the COM
pany. he said. had the price of gas been
the subject of congressional regula ton I'M
I'll now. The company has necessarily been
very modest and conservative in its OPERA
tion in view of the limits of its field
The lowest cost of manufacture. he said,
was s1.22 thousand cubic feet. while the
average cost was about $1.3;3 40, and the
receipts averaged $40, giving an average
profit of . cents and 3 mills thousand
cubic feet.
One year, said Mr.. winship the gas at
the holder cost 9S cents a thousand while
the distribution cost 80 cents, leaving a
loss on the actual business of making and
selling gas of cents and mills. Had 1t
not been for the sale of by-products and
residuals 1t would have been impossible
to pay the dividend of $4,000 which was
declared.
Impossible to Reduce the Price.
Similar showings We're made for other
years. In 1895 the dividend amounted to
$1,000
Under existing circumstances, urged Mr..
Nnship, 1t would be absolutely impossible
to reduce the price of gas to s1.25, as pro-
posed by the bill, and he referred to the
fact that the average cost of manufacture
and distribution during the past three
years was s1.21.
In view Of this, he requested that all ref
.erence to the Georgetown company from
the bill under consideration be omitted
Inc competition of the electric lighting
business, he said has made serious inroads
into the receipts of his company.
Says They Are Satisfied.
Mr.. Winship asserted that the people of
Georgetown are quite satisfied, not only
with the price, but the quality of the gas
furnished, and he asked. in case the ques-
ton of purity should be raised. that a day
be named when Mr.. White of New York
well known as an expert gas, might he
heard
Mr.. Winship referred to the various eff
forts made to produce gas by new methods,
and urged that the committee should pay
no serious attention to such enterprises
but should investigate the ques ton of just
how much it now costs to produce gas in
Georgetown. and he assured the committee
that the most economical methods are en-
ployed.
Small Market for By-PrOducts.
Mr.. Winship went on to declare that the
market for the by-products in other cities
was so small in this vicinity that this item
was comparatively sn all here. At this
point Mr.. Wfnships time expired. and Sem
ator Faulkner asked him what dividends
bis company had declared
The answer was that in 1893 the COM
pany declared a dividend of per cent on
the capital stock. in 1894 one Of 10 per cent,
and in 1895 one of 10 per cent.
In answer to a question by Senator Baker,
Mr.. Winship said that the capital stock was
s1JoOOO.
The company. he added, made few extern
sions.
Mr.. VIM. 1. Lewis was then heard to
affirm Mr.. Winship's statements in refer
ence to the finances of the Georgetown COM
pany.
Mr.. J. H. Ralston, chairman of the COM
mittee on public lighting of the board of
trade. announced that that organiza ton
had Endorsed the dollar gas bill.
Mr.. Winship said he member of
the board of trade. and he declared that
no member of that body had ever asked
the Georgetown company for any informa-
ton.
Mr.. Ralston answered that a letter had
been sent by the board to the Georgetown
&C mpany early in the Investigation, and
had never received a reply.
Where 1t Gets It's Coal.
Just before adjournment of the hearing
Senator Proctor asked certain questions of
Mr.. Winshp, which developed the fact
that the Georgetown Gas Light Company
purchases it's coal from the firm of which
MIR. Winship is a member. and also that
the coal firm has an interest in transport
tation facilities on the canal whereby the
gas coal is brought to this city. Mr. VIM
ship also testified, in answer to Mr.. Proc
tor, that his firm sells gas coal to the
Washington Gas Light Company.
THE SUBWAY PROBLEM