New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-06
NO OPEN MOVE IN GAS WAR.
STANDARD CoMPANY's EXECUTIVE CON-
MITTEE MEETS.
Mr.. SAGE SAYS 40 DECISION WAS REACHED 70
REDUCE THE EXPERIMENTATION or THE
CONTRACT WITH THE STANDARD OIL


REDUCE THE REORGANIZATION or THE
CONTRACT WITH THE STANDARD OIL
COMPANY FOR OIL on JUNE l.
No further public move made yesterday
bv any Of the companies involved in the present
gas war in this city. The Executive Committee
Of the Board Of Directors OF the Standard Gas
Light Company held a meeting yesterday at
No 81 Nassau-st.
Russell Sage was met by group Of reporters
a. he emerged from the meeting. and was asked
II there were any change in the situation.
we have not reduced the price Of gas" he
replied edging away.
Does that mean your company wants peace?'
was the next query.
Now, don't ask me any more questions" said
Mr. Sage, for I can't answer them. | can't
talk now. All will say is We have not reduced
the price below 60 cents" and with that he dived
into his private office. which is just across the
hail. and slammed the door behind him.
Secretary Hoyt was then waylaid By the re-
porters but before question could be asked OF
him exclaimed. with laugh: II have nothing
to say"
Being asked IL agents Of the Standard. who
were yesterday Offering 50-cent gas to custom
ers who threatened to leave the Standard for
the New Amsterdam, would have their 50-cent
contracts recognized by the company, Mr.. Hoyt
paused for awhile. and was evidently sorey
tempted to reply "Certany' but he finally said
appeallngly, with a roll of his eye toward Mr.
Sage's door: Boys. you understand my position
/ have nothing to say" Then he jumped upon
the elevator and vanished. going rapidly up
ward just as gas is confidently expected to do
when Mr.. Sage has been compelled to join the
big combination Of companies which is proposed
Secretary Zollikofrer. Of the Consolidated Gas
Company. said yesterday afternoon that he did
not know when there would be a meeting OF the
directors Of the company, nor whether or not
the price per thousand cubic feet to the con-
sumers would be brought down to the 50cent
rate made by the New-Amsterdam Gas Light
Company. At the office Of the latter company
It was said there change in the sltua-
ton a similar statement was made at the
office of the Mutual Gas Light Company.
interests connected with the New-Amsterdam
deny that their company has is likely to
have any compact with the Consolidated Gas
Company. The latter. they say, has long been
making efforts to buy control of the New-Am-
sterdam. but without success; and the fact that
General Jourdan, president Of the Brooklyn
Union Gas Company. controlled in the Standard
OH interest, is also preSldent Oh tne NeW-hW-
sterdam Company. and the further fact that II.
H. Rogers, OF the Standard on Company, is also
a director of the New-Amsterdam Company,
should not be regarded as tending to prove that
the Consolidated and the New-Amsterdam are
allies in the present contest because the Stand
ard Oil interests are In a decided minority in
the New-Amsterdam Board
The Standard Gas Light Company's contract
ri 70 IT'S
of OIL it developed yesterday, expires on June l.
The only other company from which the Stand
ard Gas Light Company can secure oil is the
Manhattan Oil Company owned by the Peoples
Gas Light and Coke Company. of Chicago. The
managers of the latter corporation the prin-
cipal owners of the New Amsterdam Gas Com
pany of New-York Therefore, the Standard
Gas Company must ally itself with one or the
other in order to get it's oil. 1t was suggested
yesterday that the Standard OIL people. acting
through the Consolidated Gas Company, might
benefit largely bothsthemselves and the New
Amsterdam company, BY making arrange
ment which would prevent the Standard Gas
Light Company from securing oil from the Man
haitian OH Company as well as from the Stand
ard Oil Company, with the result that Mr.. Sage
and his friends would have to sell their Stand
ard Gas Light stock at figure which would en-
able the Standard Oil Company to pay high
price for the New Amsterdam Gas COmpany's
stock.
on the other hand it is reported that the
New Amsterdam and Standard Gas companies
have effected an alliance upon basis which en-
abes the Standard, IL necessary, to procure It's
gas through the Amsterdam tunnel at very
low price in return for pledge OF the Standard
to stand by the Amsterdam company to the end
Of the present war and that the Consolidated
Gas Company has Just bought controlling in
terest in the United Light and Power Company,
the only electric-lighting and power company
outside of the New-York Gas and Electric Light,
Heat and Power Company having wires running
to all parts of the city--the latter corporation
beInr owned by the Whitney syndicate" GER
tain interests in which represented in the
New Amsterdam companys board-and will
through this United Light and Power Company
start a rate war in the electric lighting and
mower field in this borough. as we'll as carry on
warfare against the Standard and New Amster-
dam Gas companies.