New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
MUDDLE OVER GAS BILLS.
CITY WANTS LOWER RATES
Bromr Company Nay Suspend
Unless Claims Are Net.

The Bronx Gas and Electric Company, the
/ lighting bill of which against the city
amounts to about S5O0.0OO. through its
! counsel, ex-Justice Edward W. Hatch, has
! asked the city to pay its bill, asserting
! that unless it does there is doubt about
the ability Of the company to continue in bust
ness Ex-Justice Hatch is second member of
the firm of Parker, Hatch & Sheehan counsel
to the Ryan interests. and ex-Justice Parker is
counsel to Mayor McCIeIlon in the election con-
test action brought by Congressman Hearst
The appeal to settle the company's claim was
made first to Controller Grout. who turned the
matter over to the Corporation Counsel Mr..
Hatch's request was refused, the Law Depart
ment taking the stand that any payment at this
time might irreparably injure the citys chances
Of compelling the companies to lower their rates.
It was denied yesterday that ex-Justice
Parker, head of the firm Of Parker, Hatch &
Sheehan had anything to do with the affairs of
the applicant company. When he was asked
yesterday about his firms connection with the
case, he said that he never had any connection
with the Bronx company, but that Mr.. Hatch
appeared for it in his individual capacity and
not member of the firm. Controller Grout
said yesterday:
Judge Hatch representing the Bronx COM
pany, told me yesterday that his client
greatly in need of the amount of its bill against
terms suggested by Commissioner Monroe three
years ago That for the city to pay 60 per
cent Of the face of the bill, and let the courts
take their time about deciding on the merit OF
the ctys contention that it was paying an ex-
orbitant price for its lighting. 1 refused to as
sent to this proposition and turned Mr.. Hatch
over to the Law Department.
When Judge Hatch called at the Law Depart
ment, the suggestion informally made to
him that 1t might be a good time for the Bronx
company to sell its plant to the city, which is
preparing to build plant Of Its for street
lighting and public buildings. The Law De-
partIuent has yet heard nothing in reply to
the suggestion.
The New York and Queens Electric Light and
Power Company also wants the city to pay its
half million dollar lighting bill. asserting that
it is seriously embarrassed by the refusal Of the
city to pay. Charles F. Mathewson, counsel for
the company, said yesterday:
The Queens company is entirely distinct from
the Consolidated Gas Company 1t does not own
any stock of the Consolidated company, and the
Consolidated company does not any of the
stock of the Queens company. The company
needs its money, and its request for the city to
pay was entirely natural and proper.
Another development Of the controversy be-
tween the city and the lighting companies over
back bills is that the Brooklyn Union Gas Com
pany will try to compel the city to pay 81 %
thousand for all the gas used since 1902, instead
Of 30 cents a thousand feet. It was said yester-
day that the city. in its defence to the complaint
OF the company, alleges that there is no contract
binding the city to pay 30 cents a thousand feet
for gas. The company says, in effect, that if
there is 90-cent contract, then the price
should be the same as under the old contract,
which was 81 % thousand feet This move was
a surprise to the Corporation Counseps office.
The contention will be combated when the case
comes up for trial this month, the law depart
rnent taking the ground that 90 cents is an ex-
ccssive price and that certainly nothing above
that figure is reasonable.
The lighting bills now amount TO ABOUT so.VOO.-
ono or S9OO0OOO There is no immediate pros
pect of a settlement.