The Washington times., 1907-12-08
The Gas MOnOpOly'S Plea to Be Conceded
Everything in Controversy

District Commissioners to change their minds and urge
Congress to suspend the gas initiation act is delicious 1t
stkngy illustrates the splendid seassurance OF the Gas
Monopoly
Mr. Perry affects grief at the nconsiderate course Of
Commissioners They told the Gas Monopoly they
intended the suspension of the socwaerng sec
ton they Just asked it, Now be sure wasn't that an
outrage? It's pretty pass we're coming to in this town.
when Gas Trust can't get little advance information
about the Governments plans
Mr. Perry sorrowfuly said: % 1t not until they
IT in the press on Saturday night that they (the Gas Mo
nopoy) learned action the Commissioners proposed to
take" Well if the Commissioners going to be so IN
considerae that Mr.. Perry and his clients will do well
hereafter to read the newspapers. If they will read The
Times prayerfuy and considerably, for spell, they will
acquire valuable information about how this community
CARDS the Gas Monopoly.
Mr.. Perry asks the Commissioners to withdraw their
request suspension of the law under which the courts
are proceeding to value the gas properties, He thinks
judicial valuation is needed.
Not under that act, Mr.. Perry.
That act was passed for the express purpose Of giving
the Gas Monopoly all its wants. the privilege of watering
It's up the point where it viii have THE HIGHEST
CAPITALIZATION IN AMERICA IN A CITY OF
WASHINGTON'S SIZE.
And not under any procedure based inquiry by
Mr.. Auditor Payne, either.
This newspaper heretofore tried in feeble fashion
pay its respects to the Payne report That report Is
recklessness Of the public interest.
Here was an act Of five sections with which Mr. Payne
was dealing The first four sections concerned reducing
the price raising the quality of gas. The fifth related
to capitalization The price Of gas being reduced in
the interest of the people, not Of the Gas Monopoly Yet
what does Mr. Auditor Payne in his wisdom fnd2 He
finds
"a purpose which is consistent with all the provisions OF
the act of affordng protection to the public ind
vduals dealing with the stock of the corporaton
Four sections devoted reducing price and raising
quality gas yet Mr. Payne finds ga purpose consistent
with all the provisions of the act of aording protection
to''-the stockholders!
Mr. Perry attorney for the Gas Monopoly, would not
have dreamed of saying that He is lawyer and good
one wouldn't be willing, to win for his clients, TO
father so much consolidated ignorance and asninity.
And yet it under the findings Of this giant intellect
that the Commissioners are asked to have determination
made of the value Of the gas properties.
it any wonder the Commissioners, trustees of the
public interest, obiected2
Suppose the Commissioners submitted to the Perry
proposal what would resultl
Simply this that if this imitation enabling act is not
suspended repealed procedure will right ahead m
der under an that vicious when passed and has
been vastly by the Payne construction. The
Gas Monopoly Will get what wants. not because the courts
are to blame but the law outrage. The
aaton Will be authorized The $1OOOOOOO thereabout
Of water will be injected into the stock The
venient widows and orphans will get possession of it. Then
when there talk about reducing the price of gas the Gas
Monopoly Will laugh merriy at the jest point to the neces
sity that it earn 'far returns its capita'and Wash
ington will once more have been buncoed
No, Mr. Perry, the District Commissioners and the
people of Washington are going to rise to your bait
They going to surrender before the fight opens And
Congress is going to take their side
The Gas Monopoly, Mr.. Perry is going to be beaten
this time If it is wise it will drop all manipulation al
wirepung all the tactics which have heretofore served
its purposes and VIII take friendly advice 1t will:
First Withdraw the whole proceeding looking to IN
fation under act of june 1896.
Second Consent TO reneal of that act