Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-15
FOR INCREASE OF GAS PLANT
HOUSE BILL 1890 REFERRED TO
THE COMMISSIONERS.
ProvisiOns of the Measure In Interes,
of the Washington Cas-
light Company.

House bill 1890, relating to the Wash
ington Gasiight Company and for other
purposes, has been referred by the House
District committee to the Commissioners
for report thereon. The bill was intro
duced in the House the Sth instant by
Representative Pearre of Maryland, and
an abstract of it was published at the
time in The Star. Among other things. II
authorizes and directs the company to In
crease it's manufacturing and distributing
plant and the capacity thereof as the pres
ent and future needs and growth OF the
District may render necessary, and Tor this
purpose the company is authorized ana EN-
powered to construct and maintain the re-
uuired additions to It's plant, and TO lay
such additional mains and condults In the
streets, roads, avenues ana alieys III the
District of Columbia as may be necessary.
Provided, that the Commissioners OF the
District of Columbia may require said COM
pany to lay such mains or conduits In any
graded street, highway. avenue or alley AZ
the District of Columbia, not already pro.
yided Herewith, as may be necessary.
It is understood that the Commissioners
feel that the clause las may be necessary
in these three provisions of the Dill is not as
definite as it should be made, 1t oeing
doubtful 1t is suggested. as 10 whetne,
the company or the Commissioners shall
determine the necessity for increasing the
ccmpany's plant and laying additional
mains or conduits. Therefore, 1t Is expected
that the Commissioners Will recommend
such an amendment of the bill as Will make
them the judges of the necessity for such
extensions.
The second section of the bill provides
that, in order to provide and FURNISH arti-
fetal light to all residents OF tne pis't ,ha
at an uniform rate, the company, upon the
assent of a ma jority in value OF Its stock
holders, shall be authorized to contract for
purchase, own, or hold the whole or any
part Of the capital STOCK OF any otne.
Illuminating company now doing business
in the District, or, upon like assent, to con-
tract to purchase, purchase or lease the
property, plant. distributing plant. rights
effects and franchise OF any such other iiiu-
minating company, and. SO purchasing OF
leasing, to exercise here all the rights. priv
leges and franchises of such other com
pany or companies. In the event OF such
purchase, etc. 1t is proposed 10 au.hord ~
the company to issue and sell so much al
ditional capital stock, OF the par value ol
500 per share. upon terms ana condtlons
to be prescribed by a majority OF the then
stockholders as may be necessary, etc.
It is believed that 1t is the opinion OF the
Commissioners that the proposed bill II
enacted into law would authorize ana EN-
power the Washington Gaslight Company
to acquire every other company or cor
poration furnishing artificial light in the
District, and thereby secure monopoly OF
such business. OF course, 1t Is not known
whether such would be the purpose OF the
company, In the event oi ene passaSe VI liie
bill in it's present form. but that the meas
ure is susceptible Of such a construction Is
said to be the belief Of the Commissioners
and this question has naturally arisen In
their minds, Would such a step be in the
interests of the people of the District?
The bill Is now being considered by the
Commissioners, and 1t is understood that
as they will not be able to submit report
on it to Congress for several days. they will
be pleased to receive meantime such writ
ten expressions of opinion as the peop!e OF
the District may desire to submit to them
upon the proposed measure. that they may
be better Informed as to whether or not II
meets pubic approval.