Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-19
LOCAL LEGISLATION
Measures Favorably Acted on by the
House Committee.
WATER MAIN ASSESSMENT BILL
Authority to the Gas Company to
Issue Further Stock.
A NJ f Y d NJ + n Z NJ A ID E

SeNGfdI lOCal DiliS ueIDdffulHS attShtiOH
The Commissioners bill to amend the
water main assessment act was first con-
sidered and "a favorable report was ordered
on the measure. The bill provides as fol
lows:
Water Main Assessments.
That hereafter whenever water main
or mains shall be laid in the District Of
Columbia the water main assessment or
tax therefor authorized by law shall be
assessed within thirty days after such
water main or mains shall have been laid,
and the owner owners affected by this
assessment tax shall be notified that
the same has been assessed, by notice
which shall be served upon the owner of
the lot or parcel of land to be assessed II
he or she be a resident of the District or
Columbia and his or her residence known.
If the owner be nonresident, or his or
her residence unknown, the notice shall be
served on his OF her agent or tenant. The
service of such notice where the owner or
his or her agent or tenant resides in the
District of Columbia shall be either per-
sonal by leaving the same with some
person of suitable age at the residence or
place of business of such owner, agent or
tenant, and return of such service, stat
Ing the manner thereof. shall be made in
writing and filed in the Office of the Com
miSsionerS of the District of Columbia.
IF there be no agent or tenant known to
said Commissioners notice of such assess
ment snail De gwen by the Of1lctf ueSlS-
mated by the Commissioners to perform
that duty under authority vested in them
by an act entitled An act TO authorize the
reassessment of water main taxes in the
District of Columbia, and for other pur-
poses approved July S. 1898, by advertise
ment once a week for two successive weeks
in some newspaper published in said Dis
trict Water main assessments or taxes
shall be payable in three equal INSTALL
ments. the first of which shall be payable
without interest within thirty days from
the date of such service or the last pub
licatl0n Of the notice, as the case may be:
the second within one year. and the third
within two years from the date of The serv-
ice or of the last publication of the notice;
and interest at the rate Of six per centum
per annum shall be charged on all accounts
which shall remain unpaid at the expira-
tiop of thirty days from the date of such
service or the last publication of the no.
tce. In the publication of the notice each
several piece of property shall be described
In separate paragraph. The cost of pub
lication Of the notice herein provided for
shall be added to the amount OF said as
sessnlent and collected in the same manner
that said assessment is collected That all
laws or parts of laws inconsistent here
with are repealed"
Workhouse Force Increased.
Mr.. Otey called up the bill to increase the
force of the workhouse and almshouse, and
it was favorably reported. follows: Six
overseers, at $500. per annlm, and five
watchmen, at 1866 per annum, the watch
men to be furnished with board at an esti-
mated cost of $50 per annum.
Issue of Gas Stock.
The committee then took up the bin au-
thorzing the further issue of stock by the
Washington Gaslight Company and a COM
bination of the gas and electric companies.
Mr.. r. H. Goldsborough. director of the
gas company, appeared before the commit
tee to explain the bill.
He said the first section of the bill gives
power to the company to increase It's plant
as to keep pace with the growing de-
niands of the city. The extension of mains,
etc, is to be made under the direction ot
the Commissioners.
Passing to the second section of the BILL
he said that the Washington Gas Company
is required after July next to furnish gas
at 81 per thousand feet, and the George
town Company at 81 % per thousand This
bill permits the two companies to unite
by authorizing the Washington Gas Com
pany to purchase the Georgetown company
and sell gas at uniform price.
Mr.. Goldsborough said that no negotia-
tions are pending for the consolidation OF
the gas and electric light companies. 1t
was believed that the Illuminating business
of the city should be. in the hands of one
strong company, which is under the direc-
ton of Congress.
Mr.. Babcock called attention to the fact
that the Commissioners did not approve
Ine- cOfSOllu3IlOn OF lne tIcCLrlc ISnC ana
gas companies.
Mr.. Simms asked if the consolda ton
would not prevent competition between gas
and electricity.
No Real Competition.
Mr.. Goidsborough said there was no real
competition between gas and electricity,
as Congress fixed the cost of both. He
said that the increase in the use of gas
was for heating and fuel. Electricity was
used for large projects of illumination.
II would be possible, under combination,
to lay electric cables and gas mains in the
same trench, and he thought an ideal sys-
tenn would be developed in this city. How
ever, the gas companies were not strenuous
for the authorization to combine.
Coming to the third section of the bill.
authorizing an issue of stock, Mr.. Cowherd
thought that the provision might prevent
Congress in the future from reducing the
price Of gas.
'If you permit the company" said Mr..
Cowherd. ito issue stock at price based
upon net earnings, and the stock goes into
the hands OF innocent purchasers. 1t might
be contended that no further reduction Of
gas could be made"
Mr.. Babcock said he could not see where
the price Of gas could be affected. The new
stock does not go into the market, but mus.
first be offered to the stockholders.
Mr.. Cowherd thought the issue Of stock
should be based upon something else than
net earnings.
Mr.. Goldsborough said that if the COM
pany desired to water" the stock it could
be done under the present law, but the COM
pany has no such intention. Mr.. Goldsbor-
ough contended that the actual earning
power of the company. extending over a
series of years, must establish the value of
the stock. In fact, there is no other rule
whereby the value can be ascertained.
Cost of Light Not Affected.
Ex-senator Faulkner said that the bill
does not affect the cost of light. The law
requires the company to furnish gas at -er
July 1 at 81 per 1000. He would say
frankly that this reduction will cost the
conpony loss of $4,000 during the next
year and their hope is that the increased
consumption will ultimately make up the
loss.
He said that 1t may be desirable for the
electric light corporations in the city to
dispose Of a portion of their property. and
II may be advisable to have bidder for
these holdings, which will be furnished by
such combination as this bill authorizes.
Mr.. Faulkner said that not a dollar of new
stock can be issued except when based
upon the earning capacity of the company.
The committee then went into executive
session ana ordered q favorable report on