New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-29
GAS TRUST ALL POWERFUL
City and State Officials Say Ne7c
Legislation Is Needed.

ar.us-s,r numerous con1nIaints which have come
70 him OF increase in the size OF gas
hills Mayor Mcclellan sent out yesterday a lOIi'la
letter declaring that he had power TO enforce
the observation q his instructions TO ire gas
COMPANIES he wanted 20 do all he could ne saic
and had directed Commissioner Oakley. OF the De-
partnent Of Water supply, Gas and Electricity 10
investigate the complaints. and make due tests as
10 the quality OF the gas furnished.
The authority TO inspect and regulate meters ana
the supply ard OF was vested IN the state
Inspector % Gas Meters. he said; therefore Win
out wanting reflect the power which had
taken this from the city authorities, the people
would have TO look the State for remedy.
Jastrow Alexander. State Inspector Of Gas Meters
however. says that he has absolutely no power 70
enforce the supplying OF gas up 10 the requisite
standard. II is this low grade Of gas which makes
al the trouble, as il requires much more Of Il TO
give any light. and il is forced through the pipes
at high pressure thus running the meters up
There is no official now State municipal he
declares. who has power 10 compel the gas COM
panies furnish gas Of the grade required by law
II the companies choose 10 disregard the 500 fine
which the charter empowers the city TO infict for
the third successive violation OF the standard.
The general complaint OF those who wrote 10 the
Mayor not much that the gas was bad
although some spoke Of that-but that their bills
had been increased out Of all proportion TO the
bills for the period Of last year. One
wrote:
Ny gas bt Tor December was 81 90 AGAINST g 10
home ten days last December and our house
closed Yet my bill IS than twice high.
This is nothing short Of robbery and the proper
officials ought 10 apprehend the thieves
Another wrote:
Why don't the city officials stop this outrageous
hoid-up by the gas companies? Our gas bill for
December 200 per cent larger than last year:
What do? II don't pay they VIII shut
70 the children. What is the difference between
the who says your money or your lie ana
the gas company, which says pay me twice as
much a. You owe or I'll shut off your gas ana
give you pneumonia?
Other letters ranged from polite requests TO the
expression OF sentiments which Herr Most might
have originated.
Commissioner Oakley declared that he would do
anything he could and would hold himself subject
10 the Mayors instructions. AS has been told IN
The Tribune however there is nothing In particular
he could do. The situation seems to be. according
10 all interested that legislation will be re-
quired before there is any with authority TO
compel the gas companies to give q dollars worth
OF burnable gas which gives some light, for a
dollar Mr. Alexander has no jurisdiction over the
quality Of the gas supplied Commissioner Oakley,
II his expert finds the gas Of some company below
the standard, writes 10 that company telling them
about It. He cannot infct any punishment until
two more violations have been found on that com
pany. Then the fine is miserably ineffective In
the mean time, the public must pay. or IL goes
without the gas.