The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-28
NOW
GETS DOLLAR GAS
coNTINUED FROM FIRsT De.

no one has been able to disturb this
view of the matter in all these years that
a difference has been continued in the
price Of gas to private consumers and TO
the District government and the United
States government
Besides local conditions, it is a fact
that IN ali the Investigations Of this sub
ject Of gas production by committees Of
Congress it has been the uniform testi-
mony that the larger the plant and con-
sumption the cheaper the cost of making
gas.
what Many People Think.
There are countless people in Washing
ton, people In all walks OF life. who,
strange to say, honestly believe that the
price Of gas. as regulated by Congress.
has no appreciable effect upon the size
Of their gas bills. Their bills are higher.
they say, under the present rate Of 81 per
thousand feet than under the old rate Of
Sl-25, and they have the figures 20 prove it.
The cost of gas 10 the consumer keeps
pace with the increased cost Of eggs and
butter and other household necessities. It
IS this unaccOuntable state Of affairs that
Is creating a widespread demand that the
Washington Gaslight Company be placed
under the supervision and control Of the
government. A United States Senator who
has given some study 10 the subject, be
lieves that the solution lies In the opera
FtiOn Of the gas company under the close
and direct supervision Of the War De
partment-with army officers detailed TO
pass upon the quality Of gas and regulate
the price Of the same. and 70 see that the
monopoly is conducted on a basis Of fair
ness both to the consumer and to
the capitalists who hold the stock 4
measure framed on these lines once passed
the Senate, but was held up in the House
by the faithful allies Of the gas house in
terests.
Why Lower Rates Are Opposed.
Already there is eloquent talk about
vested rights. the improperly of creating
antag0nism against public utility corpo-
rations. the hardship that viii be worked
upon innocent stockholders" If there
should be legislation at this time. and the
scant earnings allowed under the present
law. Especial emphasis is put upon the
alleged high price of coal and labor and
other things entering into the manufac-
ture Of gas Il is the same argument that
was advanced when the price of gas was
reduced from SIS to Sian argument 50
less was created in timid quarters lest the
gas company would be forced TO go out OF
business entirely and leave the capital OF
the nation in darkness.
Chairman BabcoCk. Of the House Com
mittee on District Affairs, put the argu-
ment in a nutshell in his interview in The
Herald yesterday when he said.
You've got 10 remember that things
have gone 10 in price in the last few
years-cOal and labor and oil and all the
ingredients for making gas. I understand
that there has been some improvement
also in the methods Of manufacture. The
question for US is whether the improved
methods Of making gas offset the rise in
the prices-then we can take action"
One Citizens Experience.
Figures showing the steadily increasing
cost Of gas to consumers are coming TO
The Herald daily from people who are ear
nestly Of the opinion that Congress should
take some action without delay 10 relieve
the present situation. A citizen Of the
Northwest section. who has occupied the
same house for ten years. had the same
equipment for burning gas, the same
haDits as 10 retiring and rising. produces
his gas bills for October during that
period. Here are the figures: