New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-16
HEARING ON GAS BILL.
pRsISE FOR COMBUSTION.
Com panies' La1cyer Defends It
Snap" Meeting Called.

Albany Feb 1.-THE hearing before the
e.,a,e committee Miscellaneous Corpora
as to-day on the Page 50 cent gas bill
'-eo,,e,t out a defence Of the gas companies by
sorsror Cassidy and tributes by the gas law
- - the state Gas Commission. which must
80 heen gratifying 10 that much criticised
- No favorable action was taken on the
-, Instead it Vas amended slightly, and will
=, renriuted. Another hearing probably viii
=. held next Thursday. when it may possibly be
reported
,,sv render a report TO the price of gas in
n-ew-York City. The report, IL is expected
ufu recommend cheap gas. possibly nat rate
~ - cents. The gas companies will have an
o,ber handle for opposition to the 80 cent bill
hut the supporters of that measure in both
houses viii urge its passage entirely aside from
.bs commissions recommendations.
The hearing to-day was virtually a snap
@sfr II had been set for . p. m, but was
csned by Senator Goodseu Immediately after
adjournment OF the Senate AS a result Senator
PAGE was not there 10 defend his bill until
.-enss hurriedly sent for him, and several
o-hers who intended TO advocate the immediate
massage Of the bill were late. Cassidy, Cullen
wilcox, Coggeshau and Fitzgerald. of the COM
-,--ee who voted against the bill last year, were
there. however.
Aside from the defence of the commission
The hearing was largely plea for the gas COM
NAMES. plausgbly presented IN question form by
senator CASSIDY, with answers by W A
DeFord. representing the independence League
senator Cass.dy's fundamental question. asked or
NJ DeFord and Charles J. Mathewson, repre-
senttrc the Consolidated Gas Company. impair
tiaIy, was. In your opinion, which would De
r-eferable municipal ownership or rate fixing
~ the legislature
Municipal ownership" declared Mr.. DeFord-
Honest municipal ownership is unquaIhedly
best" Rate fixing" answered Mr.. Mathewson.
but the remedy should be applied with as
,ttle governmental interference as possible.
Nj Mathewson spoke first. He said that
while he held no brief for the State Gas Com
mission. he thought they had worked over the
gas situation ia New-York harder than any
similar body ever had worked. StiIl, they could
not fix price Of 50 cents. as no honest delibera-
tive body could.
The idea that the price OF gas should be fixed
IN accordance with the findings OF the Stevens
committee was based error, he went on
u lille that body had worked night and day, II
had not covered the ground adequately, because
Of the magnitude OF the work The gas COM
Qanles were paying s per cent dividends where
they We're not making that profit. For several
SENATOR CASSIDY EXAMINES.
Then Senator Cassidy began his maneuvres.
First he wanted TO know If the legislature could
fix the price Of q finished product equitabIy
without fixing the prices of the materials which
make that product Nj. Mathewson. not pass
ing on the justice Of the case. said that the
legislature had the right
Is IL not possible that where there is a prac-
teal monopoly Of the output of a necessity the
company controlling that output may enforce
whatever price il desires, even if that amounts
70 eEtoruon?' demanded Senator Cassidy
Yes, I suppose that might be true"
rs il not true that your company has a
monopoly Of The lighting facilities OF New
York"
Yes answered Mr.. Mathewson, in Manhat-
tan there is no competition save from electric
companies owned by the Consolidated Gas Com
pauy. But IN The last six months the sale of
gas has decreased"
And then came the test question-munlcipal
ownership. rate hxing-which was the cue
for the gas lawyer He took it, declaring fer
EeHuy for rate fixing. in reason" Nothing
more Eas been brought out which would justify
s,-oeHt gas he asserted. Again he acclaimed
against "c0udscaJion Of the property Of the
largest taxpayer in New-York City"
But Senator Stevens. who had been following
the argument carefully, interposed a few ques-
lions. 1Ir Mathewson was forced TO admit that
Sine the reduction IL the price Of electricity the
sales had increased greatly
IF The price Of gas had been reduced at the
same time" said Senator Stevens. the con-
sumption Of gas undoubtedly would have been
increased ia the same ratio. and the profits been
much larger"
OPPOSED TO COMMISSION
". A. De Ford declared that the Independ-
ence League was opposed 10 any commission.
The committee should report the bill and let the
legs.arur. pass H.
II TINS ciamor is baseless accusation
asa-As- fHe gas companies n said. Il agree
mat no set-respertiug body should YIELD But
JOINT COMMITTEE Of The Senate and Assembly
mas repore5 that such a monopoly does exist
ana suca eNto~rions have been practised. 1t is
'na- similar camor was raised for an in
s"gallou of the methods by which the defeat
~ inns bill. Was obtained last year The Iegis-
'a1'e powers should not be conferred on any
--ii'lssion, FOR as soon as popular sentiment
-'ss become quiet such commissions fall under
INTRO! % oorporations."
Why not wait ill the commission reports?"
eshec Senator CASSIDY
because the attorneys for the lighting trust
ss5,tsa-I lne1 would test in the courts the con-
-t--loia--fE II any order issued by the COM
MISSION u is The bounden duty Of the legis-
Gl-,s 10 give relief 10 New-York in this stua-
a - ne end = The hearing Senator Page asked
Ua. me tl be- reported
- ms week. retOrted Senator GoodseIl
--t. nope you won't be offended az any
I2A may take" said Senator Page who. If the
- Is TOO great. intends ask have The
III 0'''-l'ies discharged from consideration Of the
CANALS WILL NOT OPEN APRIL IS.