The Washington herald., 1907-01-06
FAIR PLAY FOR GAS COMPANY.
Movement for Cheaper Rate Deeply
DepIOred by Citizen.

Editor The Washington Herald:
Why 90 you persist in exposing the
most intimate and sacred affairs Of the
gas company? Not content with writing
editorials which ia general question the
motives and vanities Of this philanthropic
institution. you apparently take pleasure
in ferreting out and publishing for review
by ;he common people its most private
concerns and accounts. In your issue Of
Friday YOU become positively indicate
and Obtrusive when you suggest that
there should be a difference in the con-
sumption OF gas during a night of seven
hours and forty-three minutes" and Il
night OF fourteen hours and one min
ute Certainly there must be one house
holder connected with your paper who is
familiar with the unwritten law OF the
gas company. that the presence Of the
gas is the basis for the amount charged,
and not the consumption.
The gas company can't be held resp0n-
sible for the difference in length Of a
June night and night in December. Il
may control Congressman and Senators.
but the mUtability of the seasons is Il
circumstance over which il has no con-
troll and by the same token il is re-
lieved Of any liability for The Inconsistency
of humanity. If "a man leaves his house
in charge of a caretaker for several
months this winter. II is no fault Of the
gas company; the gas is there, and should
be consumed; and SO. under the merciful
law Of averages. a bill is rendered for
the amount used last winter. when the
maR was at home and had house full
of company.
OF course. some men have been guilty
Of the same impertiuence as yourself and
have asked how can this thing be; but,
after tentative inquiries at the office OF
the company, they have come away
abashcd at their own effrontery and igno-
rance and ashamed in their turpitude
Like yourself, others, too. have. in a sub
conscious, dreamy way, wondered ut the
quashing of the several attempts 10 Sc
cure for the residents of Washington d
lower gas rate; others. too, have been
rude enough to inquire the reason for con-
tinuinE the high price of this necessity.
when IL is patent 20 all that the improved
machinery in use and the sale of by-
products should reduce the cost of pro-
ducton; others, too, with that want OF
tact and vulgar inquisitiveness which you
have shown, have permitted themselves
in unguarded moments to obtrude the
most pertinent inquiries upon the gener-
Gus and benevolent impulses of the
guardians Of this light that so shines that
all men may see its good works But.
thank God, that there are those left who
see only good where good is meant, and
who are still content with the crumbs
that fall from the gas mans table
Why will YOU not, Mr. Editor cease
-
guided altruists who support the delusion
that they are entitled to a fair return
for their money, and join the few that
abide in content under the paternalism of
the American corporation wherever It
elects to flourish? Take heed before it is
too late; take heed lest you fall into the
habit of inquiry and further affront the
sensibilities of this father of light by
pointing out that every householder who
wants light must first present the com
pany with from SO TO SIS, and that in so
doing they furnish the capital for a
private corporation TO conduct its bust
ness; that the rights-Of-way for the pipe
lines are a gift from the community. and
that its privileges of franchise under the
laws of the community make it account
able for just and fair conduct of its
stewardship. As I say. YOU would bet
ter beware that you fail not into the
error of pointing ont these faIacies TO
the common pe0ple-delicious terminology
that common peOple"-for if you dc you
viii sink into the slough of socialism
and ''UnconsuCutiOnality."
Stick 20 platituoes and generalization.
Cease this delving into musty records.
whore facts lie moldering and the eyes
of truth are stopped with dust
POWELL I. MANNING
Is Iowa Circle, Washington, Jan. 1, 1907.