New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-24
by Telegraph 10 The Tribune.

by Telegraph The TribuneI
Albany. Feb. 23.-Eighty-cent gas for Man
haitian was decreed to-day, not by the legis-
lature. but by order Of the State Gas Com
mission, to take effect May /. 1906 The boards
deliberations over the question of cheaper gas
resulted In the issuing of orders against the
Consolidated. New-Amsterdam, Standard and
Mutual Gas companies. all of which serve Man
haitian The situation in The Bronx will be
treated in orders to be issued forthwith. The
conditions in Brooklyn being investigated.
Now that the much discussed question of
what price the commission would fix has been
settled the next move in the gas war depends
on the gas companies themselves. If they con-
test the action of the commission Governor
Higginss predictions will be fulfilled and there
will be no excuse for the further delay of the
SO-cent bills by the legislature If. on the other
hand. they remain quiet for time the oppo-
sition to the SO-cent bills will have fresh am
muniton for the campaign in the commissions
action The plea Of the opponents to legislative
action voiced by Assemblyman Merritt
while he urging the passage of the Agnew
bill. He spoke of the views of the Stevens COM
mittee in urging the creation OF the commission
TO regulate lighting questions and conditions.
When we passed the bill for the formation
of the committee" said he I'VE hoped that 1t
would do away with all such questions of spe-
cial legislation as this bill brings up"
Most Of the members of the Senate Com
mittee on Miscellaneous Corporations, where the
Page SO-cent bill reposes. will give their cordial
assent. The commission having ordered, why
should there be a special bill they will ask
They do not care to take up the question OF the
legality OF the commissions DEGREES
THE GOVERNOR GIVES HIS VIEWS,
IIi1
missions recommendations were not wholly un-
expected to him. While they were pleasing and
he had no doubt as to the validity of the order
and the legality of the commissions existence.
he reiterated his desire that there be passed an
S0-cent bill to make assurance doubly sure.
The commission had consulted him regarding
the figures on which it based its report, said
! the Governor.
| ION the figures. it appeared that the company
would make about per cent" said he That
appeared TO be fair return for the money In
| vested. l do not regard this order or the so
cent price con1scatory. The sales it is fair
| to assume. will be increased. which In a way
will lessen the cost of production. and when the
Astoria plant is completed the company will be
able to produce gas at much less cost.
Il have doubt to the legal authority of
the commission to make this order" went on
the Governor. in answer to question. THE
companies, of course. may test it in the courts.
and that's question which may have to be
settled If the legislature does not pass the so
cent gas bill My opinion on that subject has
not changed in the least from what 1 wrote in
my message. still think 1t is advisable to pass
the measure to make this price absolutely GER
tain"
THE COMMISSIONS ORDER.
The order recites that the commission having
considered the complaints OF Edward C. Keys
and a hundred other consumers of the Consoli-
dated company's gas. and r. H. and NJ. McGur-
rim and others. and having held hearings. in
vestigations and examinations of the methods
and plants. it is
That hat on and W,o after s NAY % @ the IN aS sS
Borough Of Manhattan, city of New.York. state Of
thousand he% C cubic feet; and it is further
That the gas uTnshed @ so6 and % Ssy NdW
York shall have Illuminating power of not less
burnng at the rate Of so gTsns of
hour tested at distance OF not less than one mile
ye cubic feet OF gas an hour as IS now PROVIDED
That the gas fu5nshea @ sold and nd @sy NdW
By Shall the not in sach
feet of such gas more than five grains OF ammonia
Ran n1f ofs tfaee Ia of a sGiphgretted hydrogen m
As the supplied to all Customers Of the Con, on
1
| same service mains gas supplied to the city of
! New York and the pressure of supplied
| is fixed by law at not less than one inch nor more
! than two and half inches in any service main in
said city at any distance from the place of manu-
factIre said law fixes the pressure Of gas at which
| ali customers and consumers OF the company must
| be furnished In said city.
COST OF GAS, 6075 CENTS A THOUSAND.
In announcing its decision. the commission
says referring TO the Consolidated Gas Com
pany:
| The cost OF manufacturing and distributing the
gas sold 10 consumers amounts TO s7920T7 40, or
so 10 cents per 1850 cubic feet. not including liked
| charges Of the company amounting 10 S9SbsSS a
This cost per 1Oo0 cubic feet includes not only the
actual repairs AID repa acements for the year end
| ed October 81 1895. but additional sum suf-
hcent 10 bring the expenditures for repars and re-
placements to the average expenditure by the com
| pany for twenty years for these Items
| The value Of the property or the Consolidated
| Gas Company actually employed In the manu-
factIre and distribution of October 81, 1905.
| did not exceed the sum of $30.oOOOvO.
| In allowing fair return upon the value of the
nronerty actually employed In tho gas making bust
| hazard of the business ana or the return allowed
| on similar Investments
| The commission thinks that per a
| sonable return upon the actual value OF the prop
| ertv owned by the company and used in the man
! ufacture and distribution of gas. 1t will be
capitalization of the company. but uT<n the
uai capital engaged II the manufacture and dis
| II was strenuously urged before the commission
| on behalf OF the company that the commission