The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-15
APPROVAL TN ABBYANCB
The ACCESSIBILITY of Passing House
Bill Is. $50 Questioned.
The Commissioners Fear the Wash
inSton GasIieht Measure Grants
PoratIon-The Opinions of tf,e Gen
eraI Public ON t!se Matter Sought.


The Commissioners have under consid-
GRAFTON House biI No. 1880 It was in
trcduced in the House by Representative
Pearre and relates 20 the Washington Gas
light Company. The Oil is one about
which the Commissioners have some
doubts. and they have determined to hold
the question of approval or nCn-appTOyal
open for lew days with view of q pos
sible hearing on the subject
The bill provides That the Washing
ton GasHgh1 Company be, and is here
b., authorized and directed from time to
time TO increase its manufacturing and
distributing plant and the capacity thereof
as the present and future needs and
growth OF the District OF Columbia may
render necessary; and for such purpose
said company under the supervision and
permit CT the Commissioners Of the Dis
tTict Of Columbia be, and il is hereby, au-
thorized and empowered TO construct and
maintain such additional reservoirs and
other works and Improvements and 10 lay
such additional mains and cOnduits in the
streets. roads, avenues, and alleys in the
District Of Columbia as may be necessary.
Provided, That the Commissioners OF
the District OF Columbia may require said
company 10 lay such mains or cOnduiIs IN
any graded street, highway. avenue, CT
alley II the District OF Columbia not al
ready provided Herewith as may be nee
essagg-
Tiie-bill further provides: That in Or
der 10 provide and furnish artificial light
20 all residents of the District OF C0lun-
b-a at Uniform rate. the Washington
GasilSlt Company, upon the assent OF a
majority IN value Of its stockholders, IS
her p 70 ont -E
chase. GWn- OF hold the whole or any part
Of tae capital stock OF any other iilumi-
mating company now doing business IN the
District Of Columbia: Or upon Ike as
sent to contract to purchase, purchase, or
lease the property, plant. distributing
plant. rights. ELECTS. and franchise Of any
sCCA other Illuminating company, and, so
purchasing Or leasing. 10 exercise in SAID
District all the rights, privileges, and
franchises OF such other company Al in
the event Of any such purchase Of stock.
contract, purchase OF property and fran
! chise CT lease The Washington Gaslight
Company IS hereby authorized 10 issue
and sell 50 much additional capital stock.
C ihe par value Of $1GG psT share. upon
terms ard conditions 10 b prescribed b. d
majority Of the then stockholders, as nay
be necessary to complete such purchase OF
sock contract purchase or property or
lease Provided. however. That
tha existing Liabilities OF such
ether company Or companies,
! and the rights OF the creditors
! thereof shall not Be aGect-5 thereby. and
/ provided further. That no action or pro
I ceeGing 20 which said other company may
! b a party shall thereby abste, but the
same may Be continued against such other
/ company unless the court IN which said
/ sctioa may Re pending shall order said
| Washington Gaslight Company 10 be sub
! stituted as party thereto
! The bill further provides That n or
der 70 enable tire Washington Gasiight
! Company 20 comply with the foregoing
: provision ana requirements OF this act.
! au7 to provide such additional capital as
I tie increase OF its business herein pro-
! Tided fer NAY require. and 20 change the
/ par value OF the present shares OF its cap
/ I-ci stock without increasing the same be
Eena The h.zitation Of It's actual value
the Washington Gasiight Company upon
/ the written consent Of q majority OF the
/ owners OF record OF the capital stock OF
/ said COMPANY CT by = resolution Of q ma
/ Jc-Ity o. the owners OF such capital stock
] represented At special meeting called
/ and held as prescribed by law. IS hereby
/ CulhOTiZed 10 issue stock Of the par value
/ CT S1CJ per share. a. such times and 10
! such amounts as n the judgment CT the
! board OF directors nay Le necessary
! Provided, That the new stock 50 IS
/ sued shall be allotted 10 The stockholders
Of said company upon such terms as 10 the
/ cancellation and surrender OF the old stock
| as the said resolution or written consent
| of the stockholders shall specifically set
| forth and provide The balance Of the
! stock issued under this authority. not al
/ letted. may be sold by the company for the
| purpose OF carrying out The provisions Of
/ this act: Provided further Thai the total
amount OF the stock CT the said COMPANY
herein authorized 10 be issued shall rot
| exceed its actual value, TO be IS, erl4iled
by its board OF directors BY caplta.iza-
/ ton upon a 4 per cent basis % the aver
age net earning OF the company for three
years next preceding the Issue or issues
of said stock"
Commissioner Ross IN speaking Of the
provisions CT the bill last night said that
il gave very large powers to the gas com
pany- Such powers might no. be abused
in any way. but he thought it was clear
that the bill gave the Gas Company al
most unlimited authority TO extend its
system Of works and mains. He said he
was not prepared to say that such au-
thOrity was greater than the company
ought to have, but he WAS of the impress
sion that II is matter IN which there
ought to be the greatest freedom Of ez-
preston OF opinion by the people Of the
District, whom it Will most effect.