Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-07
FOR LOWER GAS RATES
MR.. MADDEN HOPES TO SEE HIS
BILL PASSED.
Many Members Of the House Inter
ested in the Proposition-Re-
quest for Hearings.

Representative Madden of Illinois, au-
thor OF the bill for 75-cent gas for the Dis
trict of Columbia. today made formal re-
quest of Chairman Babcock of the House
District committee that the latter fix an
early date for hearings on the measure.
The gas bill was sent to the Commissioners
last Friday, but no report has yet been re-
ceived 1t is thought at the District head
quarters that there may be some delay in
getting report on the measure, owing to
the fact that the Commissioners are very
busy just now with the inquiry into the
causes of the recent Terra Gotta disaster.
Cost of Manufacture.
Mr.. Madden said he had been devoting a
great deal of time in the holiday recess to
obtaining scientific data and practical in
formation concerning the manufacture of
gas, the cost of the various materials which
enter into its composition and the cost of
the finished product, distributed. lie was
more than ever convinced. he told 4 Star
reporter, that gas could be manufactured
for approximately 81 cents thousand
cubic feet. Such information as he has OBJ
tanned will be put in form for use and sub
mitted to the members of the House Dis
trict committee.
The bill will have it's hearings, of course,
before subcommittee of the District COM
mittee, and these bearings will probably
cover considerable time. Mr.. Madden is
convinced that under proper conditions the
gas bill can be reported and passed at
the present SESSION of Congress, and he in
tends to do his best to see that that much
is accomplished. 1t is understood that Mr..
Madden will have the support of the re-
publican leaders of the House in his eff
fort to secure 15-cent gas for the District.
Would Have Appraisal.
Representative Smith of Iowa, discussing
the gas question today, said he would like
to see the House pass a res )luton provid-
ing for the creation OF board of expert
engineers to be appointed by the President,
charged with the duty of ppraising the
Valus of the gas plant and properties In
the District of Columbia, exclusive of fran
chise. Once this was done-that is the ex-
act money value of the gas company S
holding ascertained and set forth-it would
be easy for Congress to fix an equitable
price for gas. 1t would then be necessary
only to determine the actual figure at
which gas can be manufactured and dis
tributed. The interest on the known in
vestment could then be fixed and the gas
price adjusted accC dinghy.
Some members of the House are heart
and soul with Mr.. Madden, and others
take Mr.. Smiths view and still others
have original ideas of their own. But an
unusual number of representatives are
manifesting interest In the proposition,
and one result of the agitation will UNI
doubtedly be that hereafter an annual re-
port to Congress of the operations OF the
gas company for the preceding calendar
year will be provided for. Many repre-
sentatives were not aware until Mr.. Mad
denis bill caused them to look into the
subject that the Washington Gas Com
pany was not now required to make any
report of any kind 10 anybody. Some
members Of the House even sent down to
the document room for copies of the latest
annual report of the gas company. These
members are now the most earnest In the
declaration that an unreporting company
should not be permitted to do business
anywhere-that is, company which Is
nothing but a public service corporation.