New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-23
CHEAP GAS BY COMMISSION
PAGE SEES GOVERNOR.
The Senator Thinks Ne1o Board W;LL
Regulate Price Here.
1877 TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1puSr.l

Albany. May Gas mortgage taxation and
the repeal of the savings bank surplus tax were
discussed by Senator Page. who saw Governor
Higgins to-day. Senator Page told the Gov
ernor that he was satisfied that the signature of
the gas bill creating State commission would
afford means for reducing the price of gas in
New-York City. He argued in favor OF his
measure, defeated in the recent session i'm
posing a recording stamp tax instead of an
annual tax on mortgages. and he urged the
Governor TO ask the proposed special session TO
repeal the savings bank tax, which was de-
Sested by Senators Raines and Malby at the
last session after sharp fight
Governor Higgins told Senator Page that he
was not Yet sure that there would be an extra
session; that he was absolutely undecided as
10 when such a session would be called. If there
was TO be one, and, concerning the gas bills. de-
clareo that he had practically made up his mind
and merely desired to hear arguments against
them, not in favor of them. It is con1ectured
that Senator Pages Mortgage Tax bin will
hardly replace that now in the Governors
hands. although the Senator discussed his
measure in detail with ex-senator Cuthbert w
Pound, Governor Higgins's legal adviser
On the gas situation, Senator Page declared
that when the commission bill was signed, and
be hoped for an early signature, he would lay
before the commissioners as soon as they were
named the facts of the Stevens committee in
vestigation, and ask them on this evidence to
reduce the price OF gas in New-York City He
did not ask the Governor 10 include gas in the
cal Tor an extra session for he explained that
he believed that the commission was created to
do this. and that this was their nrovince hu+ -
they were met with legal impediments then the
next regular session could deal with the situa-
ton In discussing this. Senator Page said:
I believe that since the price bill was
oeieateo, the commission should be- given a
chance TO deal with the situation. 1t was Gre
ated expressly for that purpose and the reduc-
ton Of the price of gas in New-York CITY is
pscuLarly within its province Moreover as
soon as the commission is named I will see TO
II lhat II has the facts laid before it. The
law permits an application for relief to be made
on the petition Of one hundred consumers in
any city and guess can find the necessary
hundred I can then with the petition submit
70 the commission the results of the inyestiga-
ton by our committee of the legislature, and
then il viii be UP TO the gas CORPORATIONS TO
meet the case with their arguments
do not believe there exists any con-
sqtutional reason that viii prevent the COM
mission from acting in New-York City but If
there is, then the commission will develop It
and the next legislature can reopen the Ques-
ton. Other members of the Commission do not
agree with me in the matter of submitting
the question TO the special session. but believe
IN giving the commission a chance and hope to
see them act promptly.
I have read with interest letter written
by President Alexander c. Humphreys of
Stevens Institute declaring that the proposition
laid down in our bills with reference to pres
sure Of gas and fixing the limit at two and one
half inches is impossible and that the gas cor
porauons Of New-YoTk City, even if they
should pay an expert offer a salary Of
100000 for an expert who would do this could
not regulate the pressure IN the New-York sys-
TEN 10 this requirement. Well I want to say
first that we should have been glad to have
heard President Humphreys before our COM
mission and then point out that in the city OF
Washington, where the gas system is under
close federal supervision, the mean pressure
for recent year was III, the maximum 90
inches, and the Washington system is subject
10 as wide a range and serves points of as great
remoteness
There IS one thing more that haven't no.
uced in these large advertisements that the gas
company has been spreading about lately, and
that IS the fact that in Boston, the city used
by the gas attorneys as their stock example the
price Of gas has just been reduced to 90 cents
We shall not hear any more about the Boston
example, 1 guess.