New-York tribune., 1906-06-03

The gas people on the contrary. say that IL Is
no more honest than the other meter. but that
it makes one more economical OF gas, because II
is constantly reminding one how much has been
used There is something in the latter theory.
Here is a typical conversation in the Yonkers
home above mentioned;
Youngest Hopeful (shriny)-Papa. The gas
Interval filed with wild search for quar-
ter. while the house grows dark rapidly, Ike
a twilight scene In theatre. Papa at last fnds
a lone one in his trousers pocket, plunges down
the cellar stairs and inserts it in the meter)
Mamma Yonkers Gas Papa and the gas cone
up)-Seems to me that last quarter was ussd
up quickly. put IL in at O'Clock last night AMI
no cooking was done after that Who's been
wasting gas? CGazes around on family severe
ly0 Ethel, did you leave it burning in the parlOr
when YOU came upstairs last night?
Ethel (guiltiy)-I-guess I did.
Youngest HOpeful-TOm fell asleep and left
1t burning in his room I saw ii burning this
morning.
Mamma Yonkers-we must really be more
careful (Goes around the house turning down
superfiuOus lights. and goes out and lectures the
cook on the necessity of being saving with the
gas Stove0
Now. it is obvious that reminder like this.
coming every day or so, is more effective than
the bill that comes only once a month.
The bulk Of the quarter meters though are
in the tenements where the poor live. and they
yield. it is said, on an average a quarter a
week for each family Here. too teey perform
their mission of preaching economy. II the wtfs
puts quaNer in the meter on Saturday and
knows from experience that that generally sup
plies gas for a week. and on this particular
week the gas gives out on Thursday she per-
ceives that something is wrong or that she has
been wastefuL quarters worth OF gas a week
is not much but in these cases the family does
not cook with It. Now that "hot plates" the
little two-burner gas stoves more generally
used by the families OF worlxmen. being such
convenience for the when he wants to get
hasty early breakfast before he goes to work,
more gas will be burned on the East Side. But
1t is hard for an individual to get slot meter
put In The gas people say they prefer them.
because the system OF paying for the gas IN ad-
vance by the quarters worth saves them the ex-
pense Of indexers. the men who go around and
read the meters. and relieves them OF a lot OF
bill making; but, all the same thay viii seldom
put in slot meters unless a number are wanted
In one building or street
IL a quarter slot meter seems rather small
potatoes. how would a penny one seem? Those
are what they have in London II is said that
when the company collectors go AROUND to
gather up the pennies they have to be met here
and there by cabs. because the bags OF conner
are 100 heavy for them to carry. Occasionally,
toward collecting tine there is a regular famine
Of pennies in the city. Reminded me-" said an
American who visited there. "of the famine Of
IO cent pieces in this country once when the TOW
dime savings banks were so popular with tha
kids"
The London company charges 10 can4z q
thousand feet extra for gas to those who hava
the penny meters. to pay for the expense OF in
stalling the meters and so on But as the reg
ular rates for gas are lower there than in Nauv
York the LOndOners on the whole have I++Io -.
complain of that score -