New-York tribune., 1905-02-25
GASL0BBY WINS A BATTLE
cHEAPER LIGHT IN PERIL.
Vigorous Campaign By Republicans
LikeIg to Saue The Day.
rsr 1ELE5RApE 20 TIE TRIBUNE.I ]

.rbs-v Feb 24.-Ehe gas lobby has won its
= bsttle with The legislature. and the cause
= ,heaper gas for New-York City has been
= .v ir,-Derilled Just how or when or where
=. coordination was made that secured the
..a.t IS stiu doubtful. brt one thing is GER
- and that is ,hac within the last forty
=. 5o,--s. ~epresentatives Of the third house
-. bser able 70 check II not entirely destroy,
!. homes of cheaper gas. There has been IN
- -+ivi-y In lobby circles iur Albany. There
-. hen other activities III New-York City
re victory Of the lobby is, however. not yet
- r-- in waging its battle it has conducted
.,s-e-,afic campaign; il has reached out into
-,-+o,s communities OF legislators; IL has
,ss for assistance TO corporate interests
= o,,a- the state. and these influences have
- srsrrsG ar the capital city High as the
- NJ gas is in New-York City. il is higher
= --sl cities and the gas companies Of these
-..iss have taken alarm At the proposed reduc-
- a.. tte Metropolis. II gas now costing 81
= vaz-Yo-k City drops TO 20 or so cents the
-, in upstate cities. where the price runs
- 81 % 70 s. uniformly. VIII. OF course, be
s.-f,Bs menace 10 every gas corporation in the
c+s-s and The result is obvious.
Tzrs T. happened that the gas lobby not rep
-.ss--,-g q single corporation but the combined
gss interests Of the whole State, went 10 work
Iss- week with q power that was astonishing.
rsFirg advantage # an apparent difference be-
-,-aa7 Reuab-icau leaders. they used this as a
,,oak 70 defeat any action on gas. When the
miscellaneous Corporattors Committee OF the
Senate net last Wedne-<}-y Senator Malby.
,ri+bout previous warning. announced there
-or,,5 he an executive session directly after the
hearing or the Fitzgerald bill thus hoping 10
head Of any opportunity for the lobby TO an
-,cfnare the move. But the committee tumbled
~
ror reported. The next day the bill was fur
1ber he'd Up. this time by direct action
TIE session Of that committee was amusing
one member. himself a receiver for gas COM
rsuv which charges 81 30 q thousand fer gas.
urged thar the bill applying TO New-York City
alone should be so amended as 10 apply TO the
s.ats and thus apply TO his own company, an
unexampled case Of public spirit, but it should
be remer bared that this amendment would de-
lsy The bill FOR few days. Senator McCar-
reu's representative had other earnest desires
for perlecrluE The bill and he urged delay The
necessary votes 10 hold up were in the commit
;ee and The bill was killed for the time.
T1e present victory Of the lobby, however
nay lead 10 q campaign more vigorous than
had ever been apprehended. One Republican
sade- said here tonight that the fight for
gve- zas Tor Nevv-York City was & fight that
ne prospect was that next week would see
,orpIete change IN the situation. That the
obby should delay q measure was to be ex-
5ected, but that il should block and perma-
le-rIy de1eaf The bin was not likely 70 be en-
iure5. Leaders who we're inclined TO be more
Q, less detected yesterday have found reason
-o-dzy for believing that despite the lobby a
gZs measure VIII be passed
Already there IS an investigation being quietly
,0-duCte6 10 decide how the lobby Went 70
york. what legislators i reached, and what
Tugosit-Ju was made. few years ago. in the
rs1 term 0e Governor Odeu, the lobby went 10
work 10 beat the measure increasing the excise
AK and q few days before the bill came to a
o-e had enough votes pledged 70 defeat II.
3U- tWeuty-fOur hours before the time for vot-
lg came q long file Of legislators went one by
NJ 70 the Executive Chamber and listened 10
brief recital Of essential facts which included
- quoting Of certain figures that had hitherto
oidly for the increase and the lobby retired
iscon6ted
4 repetition Of this incident is not as i'm
robable IS has been assumed by many who
ave taken advantage Of Governor Higgins's /
olicy Of non-interference in legislative meas /
res 70 make their own terms with the legis- /
z-ors. As was pointed out in The Tribune to- /
av the Republican leaders are determined 10 |
81 every means 10 secure the passa ge Of a |
lessure, reducing the price Of gas IN New-YorI |
IL 20 y eIghLy-ceTt basis which, II is con- |
ended was shown by the figures submitted by |
ns attorneys representing the gas company TO /
2 fair price Before the lobby succeeds in 1
efeating the measure the legislature is likely |
@ see a long and determined fight, and ex- |
fleets II The lobbys activity Of the present
7eeE