The Washington herald., 1906-12-30

If the washington Gaslight Company
intends voluntarily to reduce the price Of
gas TO consumers, following the step OF
the Georgetown GasIght Company, Il IS
not yet ready 10 make the announcement
Many people are OF the opinion that It
does not intend To make such a reduc-
zion. This opinion is growing. The prest-
dent Of the company yesterday declined
to discuss the subject. A mere mention
of gas seemed 20 disturb him. He would
not say a word about H.
The suggestion is made though not
from any authoritative quarter, that
rather than permit "a thorough overhaul
ing of its affairs and the laying bare of
transactions which might prompt Con
gress 10 annuI its charter, the company
may finally offer to furnish gas at 80
cents per thousand feet, or even at so
cents, if the worst should come.
Another suggestion heard yesterday,
also unauthoritative. was that Chairman
Babcock Of the House District Commit
tee. having brought about a p per cent
reduction at Georgetown. would insist
upon a corresponding cut Immediately in
Washington. and failing to secure it, he
would be found earnestly championiug
the Madden bill when Congress recon
venes. II he intends TO take this course,
however. no is keeping it TO himself
President Decide Gives Onense.
A member Of the sas-house lobby yes
terday afternoon displayed "a very bitter
feeling against W. Riley Decide, president
OF the Georgetown GasIght Company. be
cause that gentleman. in his statement
regarding the reduction his company vol
UNFAIRLY made. had happened TO mention
the increased cost of the manufacture
and distribution Of gas at Georgetown as
compared with Washington. OF course,
Mr.. Decide simply reiterated what has
been said time and again to Congress. in
explanation Of the higher rate heretofore
charged the people of Georgetown, but
any reference 10 this now IS regarded
at the gas house as most untimcly.
The fact that Mr. Decides statement is so
deeply resented would really seem TO indi-
cate that the Washington Gaslignt Com
pany. after all has no thought of follow
Ing the example of the Georgetown Gas
light Company, and that public eXpecta-
ton on this point is wholly unwarranted.
Gas Goes I'D Despite Reductions.
The commonest remark among people
who discuss the gas question nowadays
is that Notwithstanding the reduction
few years ago. gas bills have remained
just as high. and many consumers insist
that they are now higher than they ever
were. for precisely the same amount of
service.
one gentleman. q Senator, stated thar
his bills had not only been higher than
they We're. since the reduction, but bill
had been presented to- him for "a period
of four months when his house was closed
and his family were at their summer
home He said that after closing his
house he had paid the bill for the cur
rent month and when he returned ne
took another house. No one had occupied
the empty house AZ any time yet the bill
for the regular amount consumed in the
winter months was presented 20 him. He
refused to pay it, and told the collector
20 take the matter 10 the courts If he
wanted TO- Nothing more has been
heard of the matter.
Manipulation of Figures.
Mr.. W. J. Norris, Of Izl4 L street north
west IS one OF the clLZeHS OF tne us
trict of Columbia who believes that We
should have had 75-cent gas "a long time
ago. He says: 4 am afraid that there is
little utility in going TO the records and
getting the figures as to the cost Of manu-
featuring gas and basing arguments for
cheaper gas on that basis The figures
are confusing They are made by eX-
perts and they require experts 10 inter
pref them; 10 the average laymau they
mean nothing II there is any chance
that figures show adverse results. or re-
suits that the corporate interests deem
best to keep from the public why then
books containing them may be shipped
away and burned.
"As a matter of fact, every citizen Of
the District Of Columbia knows that gas