The Washington herald., 1907-01-08
HEARINGSON GASBILL
House District Committee to
Hold Public Sessions.
SENTIMENT FAvORs MEASURE
Senator la Toilette VIII Press
Amendment Requiring Annual Re-
ports by Gas COmpany-HearInE by
District Commissioner to BE Held
This Week-Citizens Give Approval.

The District Commissioners have decided
TO have a public hearing Thursday or Fri
day this week or the Madden gas bill
Chairman Babcock yesterday agreed
that there should be "a hearing by the
/ District Committee Of the House.
Senator La Toilette mas prepared an
amendment 10 the District appropriation
bill, providing for complete annual reports
by the gas company.
A majority of the House District Com
mittee said yesterday that they were in
favor OF the Madden bill
Senator GaIlnger said: "If75-cent gas IS
right you viii get st."
Representative Madden returned from
his holiday vacation in Chicago yesterday
and at once took Up his fiEht fer cheaper
gas and better railway facilities for Wash
ington. He had "A conference vita Com
missioner MacfarIaud and urged that
report be made by the District CoIlnis-
sioners 10 the House District Committee
as soon as practicable on the bin intro
duced by him 20 reduce the price Of gas
/ from 81 TO - cents per 1890 cubic feet.
Commissioner Macfarland assured Mr.
i
sirous Of taking Up the measure as soon
as they could possibly do so. and hoped
/ 10 De done with the inquest into the Terra
Gotta disaster by tomorrow at the latest.
when they would at once consider the gas
and railway bills He also said that the
/ Commissioners would probably make an
announcement calling on all who were
/ interested in reducing the price Of gas to
attend hearing Thursday or Friday az
the District Building and give reasons
why the reduction should be made The
Commissioners are expected TO send their
views to the District Committee Of the
House Saturday
Support for Mndden Bill.
Mr.. Madden also had "a conference with
! Chairman BabcOck. Of the House District
/ Committee. and urged that there should
be a hearing before the full committee on
the subject Of gas and railway transfers.
He said Jhat the hearing before the Com
IInissioners was seemingly an unnecessary
procedure, and that the people Of Wash
ingtOn would doubtless prefer to go direct
Iy 10 Congress, and through the commit
tee provided for consideration Of their
affairs state their side Of such an i'm
pOTtant local question as the supply and
cost Of gas. In the present case the
! necessarily insufficient notice would prob
ably result in an unsatisfactory hearing
although from the large numbers of let
ters he had received from citizens of the
District Mr. Madden said he had no
doubt that the claims Of the people would
not be neglected. Mr. Babcock agreed
that It would be well TO have a public
hearing before the committee. and as soon
as the reply Of the Commissioners has
been received the date will be selected and
announced. II is believed that the Com
uissioners will recommend the passage
of the Madden bin, or If not that particu-
lar measure, one substantially similar
During the day Representative Madden
took occasion to talk with the members
of the District Committee and acqualnt
them Of the feeling Of the consumers of
gas in Washington on the subject of a
reduction of price. He was assured by
practically a majority Of the members of
the committee that in their opinion the
price proposed was such as to afford a
good profit, and that they would favor the
reduction. Senator Gallinger, in an in
terview, said that the Senate Committee
on District Affairs would, as always, give
full consideration to any proposition COM
ing from the House for a reduction OF the
price And if it is right he added.
| you will get it.
Annual Reports by Company.
Senator La Toilette will introduce in the
Senate to-day an amendment to be offer
ed to the District appropriation bill, when
it shall come up before that body. requir-
ing the gas company to make annual re
ports of its business. The amendment
is as follow:
Provided, That the Washington Gas
light Company. through its president or
secretary shall make "a full report 20
Congress annually on the first of July.
stating in detail the gross receipts and ex-
lpenditures. the cost Of materials used in
making gas. the amount of gas used and
consumed. the dividends declared the
salaries paid officers, directors. agents.
and employees. the extensions and i'm
prOvements made. the amount of surplus
and Of cash on hand the amount of stock
certificates issued at any time. and how
the surplus funds of the company are in
vested"
I think" said Senator La Toilette,
that is an entirely just and reasonable