The Washington times., 1907-11-07
Investigate Conditions.


Before introducing any resolution In
the House" he said tais afternoon, Il
shall consult with men who are familiar
with the situation both IN and out Of
Congress. / am convinced that gas can
be provided for the people of Washing
ton at a cheaper rate than Is now the
case, and thar this can be done with
reasonable rate of profit to the pro
ducer Of gas.
''T do not intend 20 crltleise the future
action Of the courts IN regard To the
petition OF the company now before the
courts for an increase Of its capital
stock II may be that there - ground
In the companys charter for suca a.
Increase. on that I am not now pre-
pared 10 speak. I do say. however that
sorne wears ago, when the Washington
/ Gas Light Company sought 20 have its
I capitsI stock increased by act Of Con
rress. Bfr. Cowher6 Of Missouri and y,
( fo,,rflt the proposition that was finally
defeated. We took the ground tncn
that take row that congress should
not Increase the stock because IN the
future such an act might operate as an
estoppel on any proposition tor Con
eress to lower the price Of gas
Favor to Bill Doubtful.
,.you see If Congress authorized the
! Increase. the company might say IN the
/ future that Congress could not anord
/ q, -heapen the value OF the stock ii had
authorized by lowering the price OF the
sas. I am convinced, therefore. that no
4 oroposltion to increase the capital stock
4 of the company would meet with a
favorable reception in Congress.
Il have been contemplating fer some
time the advIsabuity OF introducing a
/ resolution IN the House calling on the
! Department OF Commerce and Labor for
an investigation Of, and report on. the
1 Dhvsical value OF the gas properties in
ffbe Districr and the cost of manufaC-
1 turing gas here. With this resolution,
/ / may couple further stipulation that
/ the same department report on the
physical value OF the properties OF the
street railway companies In the District
| However, have not decided on that as
/ yet I may introduce the two sep
/ arately."
Mr. Sims then stated his regret that
the gas companies and the street rail-
[ way companies always as a rule refuse
to make any concessions 10 the public
| unless they are forced TO IL
Must Use Force.
.eThe only way to get anything out
Of them" he said, sis to force Il out. I
have had talks with representatives OF
| the gas companies in which I pointed
out that It would be greatly to the g
vantage of the gas producer II the de-
( mands, the reasonable demands of the
| people were met in a spirit OF fairness
and willingness to give everyone p
proper show. But this spirit has net
been shown. They are waiting, as they
| have waited in the past, for Congress
to force them 10 do the things they
should do.
my proposition to have the Depart-
ment OF Commerce and Labor make the
investigation that will throw reliable
light on the situation regarding public
utility corporations IN the District seems
to me to be desirable and practical HE.
In the first place, that department has
at its command means OF inquiry and
| experts that would not be at the com
mand OF a special committee OF Congress
| unless a great expense were incurred
| Moreover, tie department is skilled IN
such inquiries, and this investigation
could be made without additional cost
| to the Government
Want Cheaper Gas.
The time has come for the peoDIe
of Washington to have cheaper gas if
it can be secured with justice to the
gas producer. OF this I am satisfied,
and the investigation by the Depart
/ ment of Commerce and Labor would
settle the matter in unquestionable
form"
Mr.. Sims is anxious not to assume the
position OF interfering with the fight
that was started by Representative
| Madden Of Chicago In the last Con-
gress for cheaper gas and stricter regu-
| lation Of the public utility corporations
| in the District. For this reason IL may
be that q conference vii be held be
| tween Mr.. Sims and Mr. Maiden when
| the latter reaches Washington. which
may sesult in the two combining their
| plans and energies in the matter
| MIR. Madden is a Republican and be-
ing a member Of the party in power, he
| is rega aded by Mr.. Sims as the maIi
/ WS0 car. do a great deal toward secur-
ing iron Congress every con sfdera ton
for 8 question which is of such vital
interest," to the people OF the District.
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