Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-16
REDUCE PRICE OF GAS
Recommendation Made by the
Commissioners Today.
FORWARDED TO CONGRESS
Seventy Five Cents if That Will Az
ford Profit.
FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT
Lowest Price Possible Without In
justice to the Supplying Company
Outline Of Hearing.
FORWARDED TO CONGRESS
FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT

The Commissioners today report
ed to the District committee of the
House on the Madden 75-cent gas
bill. They stated that, after much
consideration, they firmly believe the
price of gas in the District can be
reduced, and should be reduced, and
they are in favor of making it Is
cents if that will afford a fair return
to the company. They also recon-
mended that Congress require the
companies manufacturing gas in the
District to make annual reports
upon their receipts and expenditures.
The report submitted by the Com
missioners is as follows:
THE Commissioners of the District Of
Columbia have the honor to make the fol-
lowing report upon House bill 230lS
of the present session. entitled "A bill
fixing the price of gas in the District Of
Columbia" which was referred to them at
your instance on the 4th instant, for their
examination and report
Public Hearing Given.
''The bill was received by the Commits
sioners January I, and on January 10 they
held public hearing upon it, after notify
ing the Board of Trade. the Business Men S
Association, the Jobbers and Shippers AS
ISOLATION, the various citizens associations.
the Washington Gasight Company and the
Georgetown Gaslight Company that such
a hearing would be held on that day. The
organizations Of citizens were generally
represented on that occasion. and the gen.
eral expression was in favor of reduction
in the price of gas to 70 cents. provided
that price would afford fair profit to the
gaslight companies.
Most of those who spoke stated that until
the elements of cost in the manufacture
and distribution of gas in the District OF
Columbia were ascertained authOritativey
and accurately, they would not be ready
to express an opinion.
The president of the Georgetown Gas
Light Company, who was present, stated
in response to a direct question from the
Commissioners that he had nothing to say
1t may be stated, however that the George
town Gas Light Company has notified its
customers that there will be reduction in
price of its gas from February | next OF
% cents per thousand feet. or from 81 % to
81 net per lnOuSdnu Ieet.
THE representatives of the Washington
Gas Light Company at the hearing made
certain general statements as to the re-
ceipts and expenditures. the stock and in
debtedness, and the cost of making gas on
the part of their company, and aRrom sed
a detailed statement, which the Commits
sioners received on yesterday ard copy of
which is herewith transmitted.
What Commissioners Believe.
THE Commissioners, after due consdera-
ton, believe that the price of gas in the
District of Columbia should be decreased to
the lowest possible point consistent with a
fair profit to the gas light companies. They
are in favor of making that price IS cents,
If that will afford a fair return. This they
understand to be the position generally
taken by the community. as expressed at
the public hearing which they gave, by cor
respondents and through the press.
But the Commissioners are not able to
advise your committee as to what is a fair
price for gas in the District of Columbia,
since neither they nor any one in the serv-
ice of the District of Columbia has tech
meal knowledge on the subject. nor have
the Commissioners authority or means for
making an investigation by disinterested
experts SO as to inform themselves as to
the elements of cost in an entirely satSfac-
tory manner. Such inquiries have been
made heretofore by committees of Congress.
1.-The Commissioners strongly recommend
that Congress require the companies manu-
featuring gas in the District of Columbia
to make annually a sworn detailed report
of their receipts and expenditures and
also the specific elements of cost in the
manufacture and distribution of gas. and
that it take such other steps as may be
necessary to enable Congress to determine
what is the fair price for gas in the Dis
trict of Columbia -