Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-27
Ia GAS HEARING
The Columbia Company Now Wants
to Obtain a Charter Here.
ADVOCATED BY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Statement Of One Of the Proposed
lncorporators.
A G. AS EXPERTS TALK

The House District committee gave
hearing today on the bill to incorporate the
Columbia Company Of the District of CO.
lumbia. This company proposes to make
gas and generate electricity for lighting
purposes in this city. The bill does not fix
the price to be charged.
Representative Stones Argument.
Representative w. A. Stone Of Pennsyl-
vania first addressed the committee He
said the question of the improvement Of gas
and cheapening of price should be consid-
cred by the Congress The incorporators Of
this bill, he said, are wealthy men Of Pitts
burg, who have been engaged in the gas
business there, and are seeking the priv
lege to make and sell gas here. He said
these men are In earnest, and do not pro-
pose to get charter from Congress for the
purpose of selling it out. He said there is
no way Ly which the people of this city,
who are afflicted with poor gas and dear
gas, are to be relieved except by compet-
ton. He said Congress cannot regulate the
price of gas furnished by the present COM
pany by legislat on. He said efforts to this
end merely have the effect of auieting the
public and tiding over the matter for the
present. The only thing to be done Is to
give competition. 1t IS possible and practi-
cable, he said, to put into this bill propo-
sition-restrictions as to quality and price
Of gas and provision against consolidating
with other companies.
Think There IL Natural Gas Nearby.
Mr.. Stone said these people have faith in
the presence Of natural gas in nearby West
Virginia fields, which they will develop
and pipe the gas to Washington. If natural
gas cannot be found the company will make
gas to furnish to consumers
MIR. Stona said that consolidation can be
prevented by providing that If majority
of this stock shall ever be owned by an
other company, or stockholders thereof, the
charter of the company shall be forfeited
Mr.. Sands said this could not be done, be-
cause 1t would be an injustice to the minor
ity stockholders
What Mr.. Pew Said.
Mr.. JOS N. Pew of Pittsburg. one of the
incorporators of the proposed company,
said Ais associates have been engaged In
developing Oil fields. selling the Oil to gas
companies to enrich gas. They now pro-
pose to pipe this city and furnish the very
best quality Of gas, manufactured from
coal and enriched with Oil. He thought the
public wants good quality of gas, and
Is more concerned in that than in the price.
Mr.. Hulfck asked Mr. Pew If he thought
1t would be to the public benefit, tfter
granting this company the right to enter
the city, to permit other companies to
come IN and lay their pipes. in order to
make competition.
Mr.. Pew reIlied that in several cities
there are four or five companies, and he
would not oppose competition here. Mr.
Pew was asked If he thought he could
make better gas than is now furnished in
this city
He asked to be excused from answering
that question. When asked what price his
c. mpany proposed to make, he said he would
leave that matter entirely to Congress. The
price for the best Illuminating gas in Pitts
burg is 81, but of course, 1t costs more to
kn have how
thought, however. gas could be sold here for
81 His company would be glad to supply it
for that price
Mr.. Sands. who is attorney for a rival gas
company asking charter from Congress-
made an argument to show that, while it
might be difficult to restrict the proposed
Columbia Company from consolidation his
Cwn company could not consolidate, because
1t Will make gas for GO cents and the Wash
inston Gas Company, charging $1.25 could
not afford to make the deal.
Gas Experts Opinion.
Mr.. White Of New York. an expert on gas
matters, was introduced to the committee
by Superintendent Leetch of the Washing
ton Gas Company. He said 1t is an absurd
proposition that competition In gas compa-
MES has ever accomplished anything. In
three cities of this country. and three only,
there are so-called competing gas compa-
MES, but in each case there is a state law
bia Company does not make any PROPOSE
ton of practical consequence. 1t is a fact,
he said that gas cannot be made proftably
in this city for IS cents. If charter is
given the new company they will not paral-
lei the 300 miles Of existing mains. They
will lay mains in the thickly settled portions
of the city only and within two years the
same old thing will happen, either the eX-
listing company will own the new one or the
new one will own the old one.
Il defy Congress- said MIR. White, ito
prepare any set of restrictions of this kind
that the mind of another man will not get
around"
Mr.. White held that Washington is one
Of the best-fighted cities in the country,
and that the gas is furnished as cheaply
as possible.
Cross-questioning of Mr.. White brought
out the statement that the best gas in
America is made in New York city, is fur
nished at the same price as gas in this
city, and that there is no reason why the
gas here should not be as good as the New
York gas.
For Final Action.
The House District committee today de-
cided to hold q meeting next Tuesday to
take UP for final action the dollar gas
bill. The officers of the Washington Gas
Company Will be asked TO explain to the
committee at that time the financial state
ment which has been submitted and is
now in the hands Of Chairman Babcock