Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-22
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Resolution to Investigate the Making and
Price of Gas.
lexington Railroad Matter Again
Discussed-Other Items of In.
terest Considered.

Mr.. Odell has written the report on the
resolution to investigate the price and
quality of gas in the District of Columbia.
The report says:
There seems to be a general discomfort
with the quality of gas and with the stand
ard Of measurement adopted in the act of
June g. 1896 That the price is no lower
cannot be decided by the meter readings
alone, for it may be that the gas contains
more of deleterious matter than is author
lied in the act, and this of course cannot
be determined by investigation upon the
part of the private consumer. Recourse,
therefore. is necessary to expert testimony.
This can best be had through congressional
action. The investigation can be of no
harm to the Washington Gaslight Com
pany, but, on the contrary. may be of dis
tinct advantage in case it is shown that
the complaints, which SO numerous.
are groundless by the investigation which
this report authorizes; and 1t may be- also,
of direct advantage to the consumer in
securing to him better quality of gas
than that now furnished. For these rea-
sons the COMMITTEES recommends the adop
ton Of the resolution"
Letter From the Commissioner.
Accompanying the report is q letter from
the District Commissioners. as follows:
while the Commissioners are of opin-
| ion that, as to thesauhntity of the gas to
consumers a proper reading of the meter
would protect the oplIblic from extortion,
yet the ordir airy Citizen cannot know ac-
eura.ey with rega the quality of the
no harm to cry interest can come from the
proposed investigaaonr'
The Resolution.
The resolution re.cites that at is stated
and claimed in the public press Of the city
that It appears that ,the cost Is not re-
duced to the consumer, but, on the con-
trary, the bills rendered by said company
| to the consumer arai rs high, If not higher.
than they were before the passage of said
| act. and that the candlepower has not been
increased and maintained at the standard
| as required by the foregoing provision Of
said act'' THE Resolution provides that a
&C mmittee, consisting of five members of
the HOUSE, be. appointed by the Speaker,
with power to send for persons and papers,
whose duty 1t shall be to investigate the
said charges and all facts connected there
! with, and report their conclusions to tbs
House at the present session of the Fifty
fifth Congress-; the expense attending the
Investigation such shall be necessary,
to be paid out of the contingent fund Of the
House.
The lexington Road.
The House District committee held spe-
cial meeting today to consider the Ecking-
ten and Belt Line railway bill. No de-
Cisiou was ESdCheu DIS u the dCllOu 10 De
taken on this bill.
The committee authorized q favorable
report On the Commissioners bill to reg
u,ate the licensing Of plumbers In the Dis
trict.
To Relieve NOn-Residents.
Mr. German today introduced in the
Senate bill for the relief of non-residents
who have paid license taxes to the District
Of Columbia. The bill provides that the
Commissioners refund to persons or firms,
citizens Of the several states and terri
tories, license taxes paid for agents of
residents of the District such license
taxes having been heretofore imposed by
acts Of the late legislative assembly of the
District and declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court of the District, in con-
formity to decisions Of the Supreme Court
of the United States, as imposing taxes on
internal commerce.
To Sell Title.
A bill was introduced in the Senate to-
day by Mr.. Culiom authorizing the sale
Of title of the United States in lot 1, square
lib, in the city of Washington, to Emma
L. Yoder for $798.1O, the assessed value of
the said lot.
To Regulate the Liquor Traffic.
Mr.. Gallinger has introduced in the Sen
ate a bill to regulate the liquor traffic in
the District Of Columbia. 1t is similar to
the measure reported from the Senate
committee on the District of Columbia
during the last Congress.