The Washington herald., 1906-12-27

Il IS. perhaps. sufficient 10 observe that
in other jurisdictions these items have
materially operated To enhance the price
Of gas 10 the plain citizen
Use of Water Gas Here.
Comparing the cost Of gas in Wash
ington as in Philadelphia. the commit
tee found that gas could be manufactur-
I'd as cheaply here as there, especially
taking into account the increased use OF
vater-gas IN Washington. as shown by
the constantly increasing bills for OF.
The committee refrained from compar-
ing the cost OF gas in Washington with
other cities because it found that IN most
cities the gas manufacture was in the
hands OF private individuals who pos
sess monop0Ees. with the privilege OF
charging whatever the traffic viii bear.
The selling price in those cities, there
fore. becomes not measure OF the cost
If production plus a reasonable profit,
but an evidence Of the highest point 10
which cupidity may be carried These
remarks. however, did not apply 70 sCch
cities as Wheeling. ". Va, BeletOntalhe'
Ohio. and a number Of others where gas
is sold prohtably. even below the Pnila-
delphia Price on these facts the com
mittee declared:
1t is apparent from the data already
given that 81 per thousand would, in
Washington. be an exorbitant price for
gas"
Municipal Ownership Favored.
In conclusion the committee said:
If we would arrive az wise conclu-
sion. we must not ignore the teachings
of experience. We learn from Shaw's
Municipal Government in Great Britain
~. 2D0) that it is the universal testimony
in Great Britain that municipal gas en-
terprises are a brilliant success. They
have steadily reduced the selling price
and largely increased the consumption
Tbeir. MANAGEMENT has been as efficient
and economical as that Of the private
companies. They have been able, while
selling gas at a low price, to pay ex-
/ penses and interest, accumulate sinking
funds. enlarge the plants, and make
good all current depreciations. and still
pay large net profits into the municipal
/ treasury The price In the large towns
| is generally from 80 cents TO IS cents per
| thousand cubic feet So in America We
| find that the lowest prices for gas are to
[ De found where the municipality supplies
| the fnuminant. Between two towns, pre-
senting otherwise similar conditions. but
/ one with municipal ownership and the
| other with private ownership. municipal
gass is sold from 20 to 40 per cent less
money.
Your committee would say that even if
/ the District of Columbia were to become
the owner of the plant Of the Washington
/ Gaslight Company at its own valuation,
/ say S40CO.OO0: was compelled 10 borrow
/ that amount at per cent (Which il could
/ dol. the interest charged would be but
$4,000, as against $4,000 this year, paid
/ I'm dividends or interest on bogus indebted
ness to the company's stockholders SAY
| ing nothing Of eXtensiOnsJ, and thus
public saving of $4,000 would have been
made within twelve months past. Al
/ though the average annual saving might
/ be less, yet it would always be enormous. ~
/ Prominent citizens VINO are in favor Of
government ownership Of the gas plant
/ If they cannot get Congress to set the price
down 10 n reasonable rate. point to the
evil influence that a corporation shown to
/ be as increasingly wealthy as the Wash
inEton Gaslight Company IS, is a menace
/ to the District The investigation Of 1895,
/ by the Board Of Trade, discovered a son
/ of a prominent Senator in high-salaTed
position with the gas company, and il is
pointed out as significant that among the
assets Of a United States Senator lately
| deceased was found some $4,000 worth
/ Of Washington Gaslight stock.
Juggling with CandiepOwer.
| Another curious and unpleasant feature
/ is the lack of straightforwardness in some
of the legislation connected with the al
| fairs of the Washington Gaslight Com
pany. The matter of changing the candle
power Of the Guys gas is instanced. The
act which was passed as a result Of the
| investigation by the Board of Trade in
1896 provided THAT on and after the Sd
day Of June, 1896, the Illuminating power
OF the gas furnished by any gas light
company. person, or persons in the Dis
trict of Columbia shall be equal TO
twenty-six candles by the Bunsen photo
meter using the Bray slit union burner
No. 7, consuming five cubic feet Of gas
per hour; and such gas shall not contain
more than five grains Of sulphur in any