The Washington herald., 1907-11-05
GAS COMPANIES SUED
District Charges Failure to
Comply with Law.
CANDLE POWER IS TOO LOW
Counsel Begins Action
to Recover $500 for Alleged ViO-
IatiOn of Acts OF COnSress-Tests
Taken by Inspector Claimed to
show Both Companies CuIpabIe.

as, upon behalf of the District OF Column
bia, yesterday instituted suits against
the Washington Gaslight Company and
the Georgetown Gaslight Company to re-
cover from these two companies the sum
of $3.50 for alleged violations Of the act
of Congress relating to the quality and
purity of gas furnished TO residents of
the District. The suit against the Wash
ingtOn company is for $500 and that
against the Georgetown concern for s., 900.
The companies are charged with violat-
ing an act of Congress of June 3. 1886,
and an amendatory act of March 80, 1905
By the first named act. Congress re-
Quired the companies to furnish gas with
an Illuminating power of twenty-five
candles. and by the last named act. this
requirement was reduced to twenty-five
candles.
Corporation Counsel Thomas charges
the two companies with failing to fur
nish 10 consumers in the District gas Of
the required candle power. On tests
taken by the District Inspector Of gas and
meters. the Washington Gaslight Com
pany is charged with violating the law
On twenty-siX days. from July TO the first
part OF October. the amount OF candle
power furnished consumers being from
21.65 to 2l.S2 The Georgetown Gaslight
Company. according to the declaration
filed, violated the law twenty-nlne times.
in the period named, their average being
from 2O96 to 2l.S9 candles.
Law I'm the Case.
The law under which the two suits
against the companies named are filed
was passed by Congress June 5, 1886. and
the standard Of twenty-five candles fixed
therein was afterward reduced TO twenty
two candles. as stated above. The fun
text of the law detailing the method OF
fixing the standard rs as follows:
That from and after June 30. 1896. the
Illuminating power OF the gas furnished
by any gaslight company, person, or per-
sons In the District Of Columbia shall be
equal 20 25 candles by the Bunsen
photOmeter. using the Bray slit union
burner No. Z, consuming FIVE cubic feet
Of gas per hour. and such gas shall not
contain more than twenty grains Of sui
phur in any form In 100 cubic feet. not
more than five grains of ammonia in any
Of the impurity known as 'sulphuretted
hydrogen. said impurity 10 be determined
by passing the gas through glass vessel
containing strips OF bibulous paper moist
ened with d solution of the acetate OF
lead. and II any discoloration Of the test
paper is found to have taken place this
Is TO be held conclusive as to the pres
ence Of sulphUretted hydrogen in the gas
The Penalty Prescrfhsd
When the Illuminating gas supplied by
any company, person. or persons in the
District Of Columbia, shall at any time
be of less Illuminating power or Of less
purity than according to the standard just
hereinbefore given. il shall be so reported
by the inspector Of gas and meters to
the company. person. or persons supply
ing the same, who shal6 be subject TO a
penalty Of 800 to be recovered before the
proper tribunal and paid into the treasury
of the District of Columbia aforesaid for
each and every day during which such
violation shall continue"
The declaration filed also accuses the
companies Of violating the law with re-
gard to the purity of the gas furnished
/ as required by the act of Congress.