The Washington times., 1907-12-11
PETWORTH JOINS
WAR ON MONOPOLY
FOR CHEAPER GAS
Col. MacVicar Says Stand
of the Commissioners
Should Be Sup
ported.
Tells How New York
City Is Compelled to
Pay High Price.

Public opinion must be depended
upon 10 win this fight against the gas
companies. Cooperation Of the citizens
associations viii do much toward inn
pressing upon Congress the justice Of
giving 10 the residents OF the District
OF Columbia a better regulated supply
Of gas at a price in some degree based
on cost Of it's production"
In the above words Col. John Mac
Vicar, secretary OF the League Of Am
erican municipalities, and the repre-
sentative Of The Times, outlined the
campaign against the gas companies at
a meeting of the PetworJh Citizens
Association in the home OF d. J. Par
tello, 44ll Eighth street. last night. At
the conclusion Of his address, D. J.
Partello J. L. Painter. and II S. Selden
were appointed a committee to draft
resolutions indorsing the efforts Of the
Commissioners and the citizens to OBJ
tain better and cheaper gas.
Support Commissioners
The Commissioners" said Colonel
MacVicar have. after giving careful
consideration 70 the arguments Of the
counsel for the gas companies, determ-
ined TO stand pat on their original in
tention TO ask Congress TO suspend the
law under which the corporations are
endeavoring to increase their capital
stock They have shown that they
are thoroughly IN sympathy with the
efforts Of the people to prevent fur
ther watering OF the stocks Of that
monopoly, and are not to DO dlssuaded
from the proper course. IN this they
deserve tho unqualified support Of as
sociations such as yours.
If the evils Of the gas system oil
the District are ever TO be cured now
is the time to apply the remedy. ri
the gas companies are successful in
adding to their capitalization the
chances OF ever obtaining a reduction
IN price viii be greatly lessened.
L have brought to my attention ev-
cry day complaints Of citizens who say
that notwithstanding there has been
reduction in the price of gas from
$l--5 % 81. there has been no reduction
il the bills. Therefore the question
Of pressure and quality is equally as
Important as that Of the price.
Pay for Gas Never Used.
In my opinion. many gas meters. by
reason OF the excessive pressure. are
registering gas from which tho con-
sumner derives no benefit, yet for which
he is required 90 pay"
Colcnel MacViCar cited the case nf the
Consolidated Gas Company OF New York
as parallel case 10 the conditions pre-
vaiiins in the District.
The people Of the State Of New York
as represented I'm the senate and assem-
bly," re said. appointed a committee
10 investigate the business of nanurac-
turing selling and distributing gas in
NeW York city. The chairman OF this
committee was Frederick L Stevens =,
wealthy and experienced business mar.
VINO IS himself manufacturer Of Rae
The counsel was Charles Z. Huebc,
nov governor of New Yorl:
New York Lost Cheap Gas.
This committee found that the con-
pan can manufacture. sell. and dis
tribute gas At . cents thousand and
earn n reasonable profit on its invest
ment. The Legislature thereupon AL
lowed margin Of safety and fixed the
rate at so cents
The company brushed aside the, State
judiciary, went into the United States
circuit court and pleaded that the peorla
oi New York were about 10 take IFS
property without due process Of law
Federal judge straightway issued
an order restraining the people OF New,
York from enforcing their own Iau,s
against one OF tneir own creatures and
the whole Issue. both of law and Of
TACT. was then referred TO a master ~,
chancery. After long delays. the -ef
cree sustained the CORPORATION boIJi,o-
that IN addition 70 its right To earn 80
Sonapie dividends on the original invest
HiehJ and on the present value of inc
pHESical property IL has also the right
70 earn dividends on the market ,-,Iu..
OF the franchises which the people gave
ll 10 enable II To perform public ser-
zee or, 10 put II in another form. after
tne people have created a nonoDOIy
theN must let ii enjoy all the fruits OF
the monopoly.
Look to Congress for Relief.
Therefore, without wishing IN dis
parage the judiciary, it is to Congress
rather than TO the courts that We must
Iok for relief in the present instance"
At the conclusion Of his address
Colorel MacVicar was given a rising
vote of thanks by the association.
The secretary, d. J. Particle. was di-
rected to inquire OF the Board OF F,du-
cation as to why the building on Shep-
herd street, which is to provide quarters
for the primary grades Of the Petworto
school. is not ready for occupancy.
Inc committee On the erection of the
town hall reported progress.