The Washington times., 1907-02-06
Company Attorney Re-
plies to Thursdays
Speech of RepreSen-
tatiVe Madden.
PreSidentOf Capital Trac-
ton Company Tells
of Transfers and
Dividends.

Opponents Of the pending bills 70
lower the price OF gas and 10 provide
"a stricter regulation OF the street car
corporations ia the District Of CoIum-
bia We're heard By the House District
Committee today and in the number
OF those who spoke against the imme-
diate enactment of such laws was
fair proportion of private citizens not
connected with the gas or street car
companies.
1T has been said, and said even by
a Commissioner Of the District" do
clared President Dunlop OF the Capital
Traction Company. that the reason
this company does not obey "a law that
there shah be free transfers between
this company and two other comIanies
is that there is no penalty attached TO
the law whereby II can be enforced
Il want 10 say To this committee.
right here in public that this company
viii obey any law PASSED by Congress
that's reasonable. You don't have 10
put anv penalty on IL for the Capital
Traction Company. And the Commits
sioner who made that statement has a
report al the District building show
ing that the wording Of that provisics.
Is such that under present conditions.
the free transfers are not required BY
the law"
r. H. GoIdsborough. attorney for the
Washington Gas Light Company, de-
clared that the present price or gas is
only such as viii give the company
fair return for its investment and said
the price should not be lowered.
The speakers against the bills were
questioned sharply By Representative
Sims of Tennessee throughout the hear
ing
Among the opponents Of the proposed
legislation who spoke We're former Dis
rTict Assessor DaTneiile, A. +. kinnan.
r. II Goldsborough. Wilton j. Lambert.
and President Dunlop, of the Capital
Traction Company.
At the end of the hearing. a young
man stepped forward and, without other
Introduction. said
Il want 10 say that l and all my
neighbOrs with whom 4 have talked
favor letting the gas company alone
We think the price OF gas Is all right.
and the quality of the gas is all right
l have lived in New York. and We get
better gas here than is given to the
people OF New York. Ny name Is Kill
patrick The committee can spend its
time just as wisely giving Us parks and
beauufying the city in other ways
Views Of Mr.. DaTneille.
Mr Dauene. the FIRST speaker. said
take one cent of the real necessities OF
life, such as butter and bread There
fore he claimed, the contentious OF
those favoring cheaper gas did not seem
worthy of much consideration.
This is a time he said. when labor
is nigh. when material is high. and il
seems unfair TO lower gas when the
company is put 10 this great expense in
such matters as laying gas mains.
Ter 9
lowering gas prices viii deprive the
District Of Columbia of $1,000 revenue
per annum.'
Questioned by Mr.. Sims Of Tennessee.
M Darneine said he was not an eX-
pert in the laying of gas mains.
Suggests Investigation.
A. F. Kinnan speaking for the people
OF Washington, urged thar no legisla-
ton on lowering gas prices shO0ld be
passed before Congress had invesugat-
ei the matter and found out whether
IL would be fair TO the company TO
lower the price. lie favored the Nor
rel resolution for a Congressional in
quiry inIo the situation.
h. II. GOldsbOrOugh. attorney for the
Washington Gas Light Company, ad-
dressed himself TO the argument made
bv Representative Madden last Thurs
dsy In favor of cheaper gas.
-NUaI the company wants, he said.
lis only d reasonable return for its
Investment and what the public is en-
titled 10 demand is that il gets what is
due To it, our situation ffJs this form
ula, a formula which Mr. Madden him
self outlined.
He argued that il is no discredit 10
the company that IL has been cOntin-
lOEsly prosperous and has declared
large dividends. lie thought. rather.
these facts were compliment To the
H.mn IL
who have, from time 10 time conduct
ed the companys affairs.
Question of Dividends.
THE company, ike an individual" "
said Mr. Goldsborough, has a perfect
right 10 enjoy the fruits of good man
agement and the growth OF the city
which il serves.
This company pays a taxation of
sI09 90"
How much of this is from the per
cent on the gross earnings ?" asked
Mr.. Sims,
About SS0.Ooo replied Mr.. Gold
THE remainder is the tax
the company pays on real estate"
Questioned By AR Sims regarding
the company's s $4,000 OF certificates
Of dividends. Mr.. Goidsborough said il
was practically a dividend.
Mr. Meyer asked II these certificates :
were not issued by the company in
place Of increasing the capital stock. /
as means OF ''circumventing7 the de-
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