The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-21
DISTRICT IN THE House
Measures Of Local Interest Under
Consideration.
The Bill Relating to the Extension
of Mains, Generalization OF IiIunai-
mating Corporations. and Addi-
tionaI Issue of Washington Gas
Company Stock Aronses Opposition.

Directly after the House met today. M
Loud reported the Postofhce Appropriation
| bill
MI Babcock, Chairman of the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia, called up
House bill 1860 relating to the Washing
! ton Gaslight Company. This is a bill en-
acting in its first section that the Wash
ington Gasiight Company be authorized
and directed to increase its manufacturing
and distributing plant as the present and
future needs and gro.sth Of the District
| OF Columbia may require, and in 50 doing
is to construct and maintain such addi-
| tjonal Improvements, mains. and conduits
as the Commissioners OF the District may
| consider necessary. The second section
I OF the bill authorizes the company. upon
| the assent of majority in value Of its
stockholders, to purchase and hold the
capital stock of any other illuminating
| company doing business in the District Of
| Columbia, and in such event to issue and
sell so much additional capital stock as
may be necessary TO complete said pur-
chase. This section also protects the
creditors Of such comp anies and prevents
the abatement of any suit against such
company Section authorizes an increase
| IN the capital stock of the Washington
| Gaslight Company within the limitations
prescribed by said section and provides
the method by which said increase of CAPT
tai stock shall be made. Section / au-
thorizes the recovery OF damages from
such company as may occur to pavements
or trees by reason Of leaks from gas
mains of said company.
Mr.. Pearre. who reported the bill. was
recognized, and proceeded TO explain its
provisions.
Mr. Moody of Massachusetts-Why can
not this company lay mains without ex-
press authorization OF law?
Mr.. Pearre-I suppose it might do this.
but 1t has been thought better that IL
may be done by authorization Of law.
Mr.. Hopkins desired to know what con-
troll over the matter of laying gas mains
was given to the owners OF abutJing prop
eEty. Because of confusion On the floor
Mir. Pearre's reply could not be heard II
the galleries.
Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts called the
attention OF the House 70 the fact that
the Commissioners of the District of Co
lumbia did not approve OF the second sec
tion Of the bill, and read from the Com
missioners' report on the bill. as follows:
"One Of the objects of the bill appears
10 be TO permit the consolidation of gas
companies and then permitting them to
unite with the electric-lightiEg compa-
MES now doing business in the District
Of Columbia. The adyisability Of permit
ting a consoNds ton of the gas compa-
MES with the electric-Iighting companies
Is one which the Commissioners are not
prepared at this time to recommend, al
though they approve the proposed con
solidation Of the gas companies"
William Alden Smith asked II Mr.
Pearre did not. consider the proposition
contained in the bill relating &c the issue
Of stock as most unusual. The gentle
man from Michigan said the bill did not
contain single safeguard
Mr. Moody OF Observation-Disclosures is
the present capitalization OF the Wash
iRgton GasIight Company
Mr.. Pearre-Two million six hundred
thousand dollars.
Mr. Moody-What would it be if this bill
should become q law?
Mr. Pearre-Eight million dollars
Mr. M0Ody-Air. Speaker, here is a bill
permitting a consolidation of companies
and an increase OF stock from s.. 600. coo to
ES,0t0.000 and the House is paying no at
teRtion 10 its consideration
The Speaker-The House must come 10
order. The Chair is constrained TO re-
mind gentlemen that the cloak rooms have
been provided for conversation. Public
business viii be suspended until the House
comes 70 order
T.
date all these Illuminating companies
Why do you want to set up another mo-
nopoly?
Mr.. Pearre said it was in the interest of
users Of light.
Mr Hopkins asked what protection was
provided in the bill for minority stock
holders in the companies. the stock of
which the Washington Gaslight Company
IS authorized to buy.
Nj Pearre did not know wba+ DrO+sr-
tion could be given 70 these stockholders.
He said that a majority of the stock Of the
Georgetown Gaslight Company is held
by the Washington Gaslight Company.
In reply 10 Mr.. Robinson Mr.. Pearre
said the Committee on the District of Co
Iumbia was advised that no project for
the consolidation Of the gas and electric
companies Of the District Of Columbia is
in immediate COS temptation.
Mr.. William alden Smith again object
ed to the provision Of the bill which au-
thorizes the Washington Gaslight Com
pany to issue stock on the basis of I per
cent Of its net earnings
Mr.. Pearre in view OF the great oppo-
sition TO the bill asked unanimous con
sent that the bill he laid aside.
Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts Mr. Hop
kins, I'D Mr.. GrOsyenor objected Both
Mr.. Hopkins and Mr.. Grosvenor wanted
the bin recommitted to the Committee
to be Mr.. Moody's desire to sQuareIy de-
feat the bill.
Mr.. Babcock threw himself into the
breach and said 10 bill had ever come be-
fore the House which was so thoroughly
misunderstood. He said no citizen had
appeared before the committee to oppose
the bill.
SIR. Hepburn opposed the bill. He said
that no bill had ever come before Con
gress to enlarge the privileges Of the gas
companies of the District which had NOT
aroused the opposition of the people of
this city. If, therefore, the people did
not oppose the pending bill. il was be
cause they did not know much about il
Mr. Moody interjected b. saying that the
District Commissioners were averse To
the stock jobbing" proposed in the bill.
MIR Babcoek said in view of the general
misunderstanding. he would move that
the bill recommitted. Mr.. Grout offer
ed 10 amend the motion % -.--I
with instructions to r.
yiding that after
of gas shall h
and after