The morning times., 1896-02-12
fails TO GRANT RELIEF
New Gas Bill Is Not What Is
Wanted.
NO RADICAL CHANGES MADE
Price OF the Illuminant is Reduced,
But the People Are Still at the
Mercy of the One Corporation-The
Public Dema nds Either Competition
or Present Municipal Ownership.

The bill recently submitted to Congress
| by the Commissioners, entitled ian act to
authorize the laying OF subways in the
streets, roads, avenues and alleys OF the
District, and to amend the charters OF
the Washington Gaslight Company and
the Georgetown Gasiignt Company was
accompanied by an exhaustive argument
in favor Of municipal ownership OF public
lighting plants, but in its provisions 1t leaves
the control of the monopoly in the hands
of the same old corporations.
There are provisions in the measure for
the closer supervision of the gas companies
as well as tor the reduction of the price OF
the iiluminant, and for an Improvement OF
it's quality.
Section IL OF the bill amends the char
ters, SO as to require each of the gas CON-
panics to pay annually, on or before the
9Th day Of February, as compensation
for the use Of the streets, one-half OF all
its profits for the preceding year, ending
December 81, in excess Of six per centun
on the amount of the capital stock actually
paid up.
SWORN STATEMENT REQUIRED.
Each of said companies is required to
make full and accurate sworn report to
Congress annually of all its receipts and
disbursements of every kind and ON every
account.
The provision is also made that where
the Illuminating quality of the gas fur
nished shall fall below the standard pre-
scribed, twenty-five candle power, the COM
pany shall incur a penalty of 500, to be
recovered in the police court for each and
every day during which such violation
shall continue, and should the average
Illuminating power be less than that pre-
scribed as the standard, the amount charged
shall be proportionately reduced. The
Commissioners ask for the appointment
OF two additional inspectors to aid in
carrying out the law.
A criticism of the bill, as made yesterday,
is that Is does not go as far as the interests
OF the people would seem to demand. 1t
leaves the gas question practically where it
is, with the exception that additional re-
strictions are imposed, and the companies
will, under the new law, be required to
divide profits with the District.
TOO MUCH GAS CONSUMED.
The great difficulty, it was observed, is
that the consumption of gas is outof proper
ton, and that no complaint made at the Of
flee is susceptible OF demonstration SO long
as the one company in the District has en-
tire control Of the machinery-the inspec-
tious, the meters, the pipes, the supply. and
the regulation of the pressure.
Gas at 81 per thousand feet, with 10 per
cent reduction for prompt payment, is a
just concession, but the distrUst that now
disturbs the people will never be dissipated,
ii is claimed, SO long as they are at the
mercy of the corporation.
The Commissioners point out the benefits
that may beexpected from mmunicipalOwner
ship Of the works, and at the same time
demonstrate the impracticability of present
purchase.
The demand OF the public seems to be, as
pointed out yesterday, for either COM
petitioner presentmunicipalo ownership, and
it is not believed by many that there will
ever be real relief obtained except through
one or the other of these alterations.