The morning times., 1896-03-18

noon, and al other times, listening to all
this talk before the committee, il seems
to me to be marvellous how, year after
year, the Senate and House give up their
time to listen TO this same old story, and
hear about the same old coon up the same
old tree. time after time. it is very
serious matter for the gas company, how
ever. that the Senate and House can be
constantly reached by these gentlemen
who are able TO tell you how wonderfully
and beautifully they can make gas by some
process which the rest Of US 90 not know
anything about, and how very cheap it
can be made.
The result OF this is found in the bill
which is before you for consideration,
asking that this company be required TO
reduce the price of gas to 81 per coo,
and increasing its Illuminating power about
Is per cent; and this is done without any
al olute technical knowledge on the part
of the committee on this subject.
Now, gentlemen, Lold that it is imrOs-
sible for the Washington Gaslight Com
pany TO make gas ard sell 1t i'll the city
OF Washington, and make reasonable
profit upon it, at 81 per l 600. Washing
ton IS city which is peculiarly situated.
1t pays more than the usual prices for all
its materials. 1t is paying very liberal
wages. IT is peculiar city in many re-
spects. Washington, after all, may be
looked upon somewhat In the light of
our large summer resort cities on the
eastern coast. Tn1s city does large busi-
ness while Congress iss in session. A great
many people are Iere. ..the hotels are filled,
the boarding houses are running over, and
the stores are doing more or less business
incident TO this Crowd.T They concentrate
in that part OF the year great portion OF
their business.
CARING FOR THE PLANT.
But so far as the Washington Gaslight
Company is concetned, The rest OF the city
has to be cared for.Justthe same during the
remlinder of the year.sThis three hundred
miles Of pipe has To beylaid ana cared for,
so that everybody around the outer edges
of the city can befsupR4ied with gas. The
standard here must bs kept equally gooa
during the renlaiHtlerd6f the year There
is no letting downgiI tilesqEaAgg OF tiIe gas
during the slack period. Every ything has
TO be run 1t the same iiieh pressure.
lit was argued, gentlemen, before the
House committee and toy the chairman OF
that committee, IN presenting his report.
that the cost of gas TO this company was
20 cents per thousand feet, and that SO
cents per thousand was enough to allow
them for the purpose of dividends and inter
est upon their bonds.
That may be true, if you look at itin the
light that 40 cents means everything ~
the way of expense. But when you come
10 fix the price OF gas you cannot be guided
by what is done in some other city. You
must be guided entirely by what is done
in the city to which this price applies. The
difference in the cost of materials, the price
of labor, the character of the street pave
ments, the taxes, and variety of things
that are diSSmilar in different cities, must
be taken into consideration.
The people OF Europe have had a very
much longer and more varied experience
In this matter of the cost OF the manu-
facture OF gas, and the results OF compe-
tition, and have arrived at the conclusion
that competition does not pay; that it does
not compete; that the consumer is not
benefited and that the gas companies
should be given an opportunity TO make
money. in order that they may furnish
the best quality OF light, have the best
possible plant, and use the best materials,
and call to their aid the very best ability
GAS LAWS OF EUROPE.
There are throughout Europe laws pro-
viding that the gas company may earn
dividends varying from s to 10 per cent,
and that in addition they may lay aside
sufficient sum of money to make their
current repairs, and for the betterment
of the plants, as it becomes necessary
year after year. The company is, there
FORE protected to that extent, and they get
a cheaper light and better light. The
men invest in gas companies with the
knowledge that the investment is a perma
nent and money making one for them, and
that it is not subject, year after year, to
attacks from the outside, All that the
investor has to be afraid of is the fact
that this is risky business; that cX-
plosions and fires may destroy his plant,
and that many men of various abilities
are studying constantly upon the problem
how to improve Illuminating gas, and, in
fact, how to do away entirely with the
use of Illuminating gas. SO that the gas
business has simply gone along in con-
scrvative way, availing itself of the best
that has been discovered, and applying 1t
in its various processes.
I'm this country there Is no security for
an investment made by citizens in any gas
making industry. They have got to con
stantly meet these atsacks of competing
companies and attacks from cities and
| municipal corporations upon them in the
way OF reducing prices They have been
absolutely obliged, therefore, by the sit
| uation, to keep the cost OF gas at higher
price than is absolutely right and fair
and at higher price than they would be
compelled to keep i5 Ii they We're in con
troll of the situation, in order that they
may have a surplus fund with which tC
meet these competitors! -
WHAT IT CAN AFFORD.
'Now, gentlemen.lit seems to me that the
simple question foryou to consider, and the
fair and just question for you to consider
with reference to the question of the pric,
and quality of gas which you have be
fore you, is TO ascertain what this gas com
| pany can afford to do, treating it justly
| and lioerally and from that standpoint.
There can be no Judgment by gentle
| man who may live three thousand mile
| from the city of Washington who knows
| nothing whatever about the question o
| the cost of the transportation of materia
| and the cost of material here, as to tue
| price at which gas should be Furnished
| here.
81 am satisfied that the gas company car
| prove that, with its present apparatus
| with the price it pays for material, for la
bor, with the illuminating power and quail
| ity OF the gas what Is now required, they
cannot continue to pay dividends of 10 pc
| cent and take care OF their stock and sci
| gas at 81 per thousand.
Continued on Tenth Page.