The Washington herald., 1907-01-31
Congress and the Gas Company.

I uliLt Jul DtiiEE tfdJltt uAAiAAAEH vi A't q
tons, the Washington Gaslight Company,
strange to say, is required to make no
annual statement to Congress. Il has
been peculiarly favored-scandalousl
favored. To speak the truth-in this re-
spect Certain OF its good friends in the
Senate and House have contrived year
after year TO prevent its being put on the
same basis with other corporations en-
joying similarly valuable franchises. A
study Of the records discloses a good
many things in this connection that do
not look we'll in print.
It is said that the Washington Gaslight
Company has taken a hand In politics;
has been helpful 10 members in emer-
gencies; has carried on its payrolls rela-
tives and friends of congressman, in
other words, that some of its enormous
profits have gone TO pay campaign ex-
penses. Golfers Weekly but recently
made such a charge. If true, the money
so expended came out OF the pockets Of
the gas consumers in Washington. II
true, il accounts, also, in a measure, no
doubt. for the potency of this corpora
ton at the Capitol in years past II true,
il means. too. TO put the thing bluntly,
that there has been quid pro quo for
fayors received. We prefer to think that
so ugly report is not true.
Other cities pay less for gas than we do.
and undoubtedly dollar gas is too high.
The Washington Gaslight Company itself
has furnished ample evidence on this
,,os-- e~c. nh. e .,r,.rbt o.. vrof.r. ffc
stock a few years ago to the amount of
several millions. expecting naturally 20
pay reasonable dividends on the increased
capital: and second. only month ago,
when the rate at Georgetown was vOlun-
tarily reduced to dollar, i'm the face OF
the fact that the people across Rock
Creek had for years been paying % per
cent more for gas, on the theory ac-
cepted by Congress that the manufacture
and distribution cost more there than in
the city proper Then, again, the figures
themselves. as submitted to the Commits
sioners i'm the evasive and incomplete
statement made two weeks ago. show a
profit Of nearly 50 per cent Is that not
too much?"
The Washington Herald, by request
again gives herewith the personnel of tie
two committees OF Congress which viii
deal with this gas question:
SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
Jacob n. Gslliuger. 4 New Hampshire.
HEINZ C. HaHshroUgh. Of North Dakota
William Z. Dillingham;. ~ Vermont.
Nathan b. Scott. of West Virginia.
Robert J. Gamble. Of South Dakota
J. Frank Alice. Il Delaware.
Chester J. Long r. Kansas
Elmer J. BUrEett Of Nebraska
Thomas =. Martin. ~ Virginia
Fred T. Dubois. # Idaho
!. G.. s. Blackburn. q EmtIcsy.
William 7. Whytc. q Maryland.
HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Joseph ". BabC1ck of Wisconsin.
samuel W smith. q Michigan.
Amos J.. Aueu. II Maine.
Edward De Y. McUen. of PCausl wanna.
Campbell Slmp. # Virginia.
Philip T. Campbell, e Kansas.
William d. Wiley. q New jersey.
William 3. Greene IF Massachusetts.
Jacob 4 Beidlcr II Ohio.
4. Spencer blackburn. " North Carolina.
Edward L. Tsylor. IT,. Of Ohio.
!. Van yCcltCu O,cJtt. Gf New York.
Thetus " Sims. 4 Tennessee.
Adolph Meyer. II Louisiana.
Edward W p5u q North Carolina
Frank l. Mclean. q Mississippi
Dorsey W Shacklcford of Missouri
Marcus &. L. Kline of Pennsy lvauia
The House of Representatives, votel
overwhelmingly in 1901 for graduated
reduction in the price of gas; i'm fact. ID
directed the District Committee to re-
port "a bin along those lines which would
to-day DE giving Washington T5-ccnt gas
But the gas company was potent enough
to prevent such an enactment. more
potent. I'm fact. than the House of Rep.
resentatiyes itself. Whether IT be as
powerfully potent now as it was then
we shall wait and see.
Meanwhile Representative Madden may
De sure that he has the support Of nine
tcnths of this community in the mOvemen
he inaugurated for cheaper gas.
Chairman GalIinger and Chairman Bah
cock may likewise be quite sure that tn,
public is expecting them te cooperate, I'll
/ least 10 the extent of putting the Wash
/ ington Gaslight Company on the sam,
/ fooung-an honest publicity footing-witl
the other public service corporations
Anything short of this in the way Of Con
gressional action at this .ssiou win agar
/ be scandalOus in the extreme