The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-10-28
HETRUE REASON
ldeLean's Desire to Get q
Seat In the Senate.
rs SNAPS AT WASHINGTON.
- Monopoly Worth Millions Needs
Protection.
AluABlE RAILROAD INTERESTS
u Be Nicely FOstered by Congress
slOnal Action.
STATESMAN FOR REVENUE ONLY
|normous Prices Demanded and Obtained
For Gas Can BE Maintained If
Mclean Can Control
n Congress.
J Monopoly Worth Millions Needs
Protection.
IluABLE RAILROAD INTERESTS
! Be Nicely Fostered by Congress
slOnal Action.
STATESMAN FOR REVENUE ONLY
why does John r. Mclean want to

Why does John r. Mclean want to
30 to the United States senate?
OF course il is -. honor to any man
b represent any state in the senate Of
the United States. 1t is great honor
10 any man to represent the great state
0f Ohio in the senate of the United
6ta.es.
But are there other reasons why Mr..
Mclean wants to 50 to the senate?
Arc these reasons of personal or self
4 ash character? And do they combine,
with this personal or selfish purpose,
plans and schemes which would result
70 the disadvantage of any other citi-
ZEN or of any portion of the people OF
the United States, or to the govern
ment itself?
These are questions which the people
Of Ohio ought to have answered. 1t
may not have occurred to all of them
that there is occasion for asking such
questions, but if there is they ought to
be answered.
A Multimillionaire.
Let us see. John R. Mclean 10 a
of him in his Bosses and Boodle.'
his early ambition was to be rich and
to get rich quickly. He succeeded. His
wealth is measured by millions. He
does not know how rich he is, though
he comes as near it as any rich man
can. But like all wealthy men he
wants more.
hi 10 ic
ambition to get into the United States
senate?
His Great Gas Monopoly.
Listen. Mr.. Mclean is the chief
owner of the Washington Gas Light
company. He is it's president. That
company has monopoly of the gas
supplying business for the city of
Washington, a city of nearly 100000
inhabitants, with a prospective half
million in easy sight.
Congress Legislates For Washington.
The congress of the United States
legislates for the District of Columbia.
Its action determines what prices the
great corporations of that city, the gas
company, the street railway company,
the electric lighting company, and 9TH
'er organizations for public conven-
ience and comfort may charge to the
citizens for the service which they may
perform. The great organizations
which are now engaged in supplying
light and heat and street railway con-
veniences to the citizens of that great
city have successful and valuable, ex-
tremely valuable, franchises. The acts
which congress passes determine what
these organizations may or may not
do in demanding rates of compensa-
tion from the people who are depend
ent upon them for light or the conven-
fences Of street travel. In other words,
the prices which the Washington Cas-
light company may charge for gas, the
prices which the electric lighting COM
pany charge for light and the rates
which the street railway companies
may charge for transportation of pas
sengers depend altogether upon the ac-
ton of congress- II congress should
pass an act requiring street railway
companies in the District Of Columbia
to carry passengers for cents, instead
OF as they now charge, they would
be compelled to perform the service
at this price.
II it should pass an act reducing the
rates for gas to 10 or 25 or so per cent
below those now charged, the gas COM
pany would be compelled to supply gas
at the rates named. If it should pass
an act Incorporating another gas COM
pany or dozen gas companies and
permitting them to lay their mains in
the streets of Washington and supply
gas in competition with and at prices
below those charged by the present
company. it would greatly interfere
with and reduce the earnings of the
present company, no matter how much
II might benefit and convenience the
half million of citizens of Washington
and vicinity. The Washington Gas
company, which now supplies gas at
$1.10 per 1,000 feet has that exclusive
right in the city of Washington, and
as result its stock is enormously val
uable. Shares of stock are worth in
the market today nearly two and one-
half times their original face value,
and the plant OF the corporation which
thus holds Tie citizens Of Washington
by the throat is, by reason of this ex-
elusive franchise. exclusive right and
high rate permitted by law, valued at
S5.000,00O. Its dividends are large and
paid with striking regularity; its stock
is in demand and can scarcely be
bought because of its extreme
value. II congress should pass
an act permitting it to increase
Its rates or giving It additional
Advantage by other process the
l9qek Would increase IN value and TIE
;''n