New-York tribune., 1905-01-18
KEEP WATCH ON ALBANY
AdUice of Mr. OdelPs Friend-Er-
Governor Studying Gas Situation.

S;eventy-five cent gas was the talk of the town
Yesterday When Ex-Governor Odell reached
the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday the hrst
thing he was asked about was the alleged prom
ise that he had made to the Merchants Asso-
citation that there would be 75 cent gas bill
passed this winter at Albany.
81 am not authority for the statement" said
Mr. Odell, good naturedly. Naturally, am
taking a good deal of interest in proposed legis-
lation bearing the lighting situation in this
city. AS chairman of the State Committee
am interested in everything that would rebound
to the credit of the Republican organization
in the State and city. Doubtless the legislators
at Albany will take up the subject of cheaper
lighting for the people of this city. At present
l cannot furnish any valuable information con-
cerning the matter"
The State chairman reached town at 11:30.
and went back to Newburg the o'clock
train He will be in town again tomorrow.
In the of his stay here yesterday he
saw President Hapin. of the county committee.
and after their interview Mr.. Halpin went
to Albany. Several of the district leaders called
the State chairman. and some of those who
did not see Mr.. Oden called him up on the
telephone One of Ex-Governor Odelrs most
intimate political friends had this to say:
Not only will there be a 70 cent gas bill.
but there will be a bill scaling down electric
at Albany this winter mean business, and they
are going to pass laws that will make the
voters of this city see the utility of voting the
Republican ticket next fall. The price of gas
comes right home to the consumer. The pOliti-
cal organization that stands by the people to
the extent of reducing the price of gas % per
cent confidently count on the support Of
the voters The Republican party has for years
allowed Tammany pretty near full swing in
this city, the result being that certain giant
corporations running the city. Ex-Governor
Odel is against letting this state of things con-
tinue Keep your eye Albany
Controller Grout says that Illuminating gas
can be produced for less than 70 cents thou
sand feet and leave a profit to the companies
Il am heartily in favor of 75-cent gas" said
the CONTROLLER yesterday. II know that gas
be made and sold at 70 cents at profit.
because the Brooklyn Union Gas Company has
demonstratedsit That company is charging %
cents more for every dollars worth of gas than
is warranted. The Brooklyn Union Gas Com
pany was organized in about 1894. by COM
bning seven companies. The organizers issued
S15O0OOOO in bonds to pay for the plants and
franchises of the seven companies and this
sum more than covered the entire appraised
value of the companies that went into the COM
binaton. Then the Union company issued $15.-
100000 in stock This was water When first
issued that stock sold at -. 1t now sells for
200 and the earnings of the company pay 10
per cent this $15,OOO0O0 of watered stock.
On every dollars worth of gas paid for by the
consumer 20 cents goes TO pay dividends on
watered stock. There Is not the slightest doubt
that gas can be manufactured at a handsome
profit at less than 70 cents a thousand feet
Colonel Gel Burgess, of No. 156 East One
hundred -seventeenth-st says that Con-
troller CIRCUITS lighting inquiry is unfair He
says that the right of testifying is denied to
Taxpayers and intimates that the figures ad-
duced from experts are not trustworthy.
Mr. Burgess is merely trying to get the
lighting peoples arguments before the people"
said the Controller. when asked about Mr.. Bur
gessS criticism.