New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-17
CITY CLUB GAS MEETING.
Colonel Monroe Says Murphy and
McCarren Stand Together for Once.

Colonel Robert Grer Monroe spoke on The Re
cent Lighting Contracts the City Club last
night He advocated the requirement of electrical
suhways as the first step toward municipal owner
ship of lighting plants He laid stress on the fact
that the bill submitted to the legislature providing
for municipal ownership largely defeated by
Senator McCarren and the votes under his control
He denounced the execution of the recent light
Ing contracts in October, and declared that, not
withsanding the enmity between Mr.. Murphy of
Tammany Hail. and the leader of autonomy in
Brooklyn both stood shoulder to shoulder
on the practical political question of municipal
ownership.
At the end of Colonel Monroe's address the ques-
ton discussed. Sydney B. Lowell. of Brook
Ign, denounced the movement which would put the
gas plants under the control of the city. He
ated considerable laughter when he said. Il have
no earthly connection with the gas company except
a stockhoder.'
E. r. L. Gould, ex-Cty Chamberlain, said that
Baltimore putting in its subways. and
renting them to private companies
"New-York City erred" he said "In giving its
streets to private corporations believe that Colo
mel Monroe has struck the keynote of the stua-
ton when he says purchase the subways.'
Frederick w. Hendricks said that he made an in
vestigaton of the water supply systems of the
world. and found that in every instance even in
monarchcal forms of government, the supply was
furnished by the municipality at price far below
that which could be furnished by any private cor
pOration.
Colonel Monroe said, in part:
The nominal capital of tho Consolidated Gas Com
pany on November II, 1854, was $S901S,Oco The ag
gregale nominal capital of all the companies which
entered into the consolidation was on the same day
$l70OO0oo No capital of any kind was contributed
TO the Consolidated company except that which was
transferred to 1t by the several consutqenL com
returned to the shareholders of these several COM
TO one Of the constituent companies-the. New,
4ork Gas Light Company-was allotted $t;5oo toc OF
holders had paid into this company was $4,000 but
during the fifty of its existence previous TO
form of dividends $15.276, O7S-that is had received
an average annual return Of 40 per cent.
These great earnings before consohda ton may pc
New-York Gas Light Company. which was granted
III SS ana EXPIRED IN 800 was an Ue wish fS
that investment as part Of the Consolidated Gas
n 1895 there were number Of INDEPENDENT com,
Eanbattan The aggregate CAPITAL of all these
companies-stock and bonds-was abou: $2G00GO
S9 ny 5eG ct @ M 0f Sock Ti'a ana so
900 go of bonds Most of the bonds pay per cent
The stock has been exchanged for stock issued by
the Consolidated Gas Company, which pays per
cent per annum-about two shares Of Edison for
share Of Consolidated
Between 8500Oe) and 100000 above the cost Of
producing and delivering the electric current is the
Sea- byt thi dT61l Up @ f 81 e tbs
yearly taxes contributed by the company for the
Had the water supply been in private hands
financed OF, parallel lines and methods followed
the citizens of New-Yorz would last YEAR nave ex,
pended for their water between S5O65655 and $50
did pay
After reheersing his own efforts as Commissioner
OF Water Supply, Gas and Electricity to get
cheaper rates for city lighting in the Low admin
istraton, COlone. Monroe wen. on:
When NJ. Lacombe's report was finished laid
the entire matter before the Board of Estimate
of the opinion that tbs city should have a munich
pal electric lighting plant for lighting its streets
was submitted to the legislature. Its defeat was
AR taaaseiy brought about By Senator McCarren and
was 9hen referred TO committee consisting of
Board Of Aldermen. That committee reported that
To be af r9T a7 eG M b each district seemed
therein; that the prices for electric lighting in the
bids for lighting should be rejected that the com
Panies should hle their claims with the Controller,
VINO was willing TO pay at once 50 per cent of all
bills the balance to be adjudicated by trial in
court. This report was approved by the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment.
Of the minor ones a5cefted the Offer Of f the OF CON-
r |l one g3 @og 90 per Gf4t p4ymeh Oyer
If its bills were not paid within ten days lights
from the court and that temporary order stands
to-day The company has never been willing to
bring the matter to a hearing.
Regarding the contracts entered into recently
with the lighting trust by Commissioner Oakley
and the payment Of the disputed back bills. Mr..
Monroe said:
As far as public opinion can be learned from the
tracts. The Responsibility for their execution
seems TO be divided. The most important man in
approval is Mr.; Murphy. the leader of Tammany
Hall The leader of autonomy in Brooklyn has
not yet come to the front. but think
safely surmise that the rival leaders of the Demo
cratic party of greater New-York, while bitterly
practical politics stand shoulder to shoulder
NJ Oakley heeyes that while the contracts are
the city is compelled accept its terms The
lighting combination is powerful but the combine
becomes most dangerous 20 the public when II in
elT nd cit city 4ftioi ais, and STATE legislators
tle e!ectrlcai sub~&Es. Ihls can be done without
further legislation From every point of view this
will pay an incom. far beyond the fnteres;
charges on the bonds necessary for its purchase
parent by The opposition which will arise TO its
purchase. The next the city should take is the
fort to that authority from the Leg ,lutUre
II II needs further powe-. a municipal! cleo
the city could not operate such a plant as eco
nomically as the same plant coulG be operated by
10 or 10 per cent, and we dealing with over
GniFseS OF IRON o. TO 100 per cen Ths city VIII
tour times the value Of ii plant Nor wouli such
terests which at present provide our supply Tha
lighting combination which exists 10 .da is con-
trary to both the letter and the spirii of the law
lighting receved--bear in mind that these are pub
dealing in necessity The position Of the last
administration should be steadfastIY adhered to !
That position when fair price for an articIs
cannot be reached or indicated by actual /
competition the sum the city is to paw should be
settled after investigation into the cost of produc
company feeling aggrieved being able TO ''recove-
c os S" "' " may De reasonably entitled to re
A further step which might be taken is Il Iegis- !
want to know aud have right to know the whole !
story from BEGINNING to end and it seems TO me
wish to say in closing what I have said many |