Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-06

Representative Meyer of Louisiana here
asked Mr.. Goldsborough if these certifi-
Gates were not issued subsequent to the
companys attempt to increase it's capital
stock and that failing to secure this desired
legislation. secured the same result by the
issuance of the certificates Mr. GoIdsbor-
ough admitted that prior to the issuance
OF the certificates bill had been intro
duced to increase the capital stock of the
company to approximately the market val
ue of its plant.
Mr.. Sims went into the matter of the
certificates in considerable detail but with
out elfciting any new Information of any
great Importance.
Cost of Manufacture Of Gas.
Mr. Sims then suggested that the perth
nent inquiry for the committee to make
concerned the actual cost of the manufac-
ture of gas. and Mr.. Goldsborough said this
was his view.
Mr. Goldsborough then compared condi-
tons in Chicago and Washington to show
that Mr.. Madden's references to conditions
In the Windy City were not of value in de-
termining what the price of gas should be
In Washington. Chicago had a much denser
popula ton, and the gas company's mains
supplied fully twice as many consumers per
mile as in this city. Moreover, 1t was not
as expensive to lay mains there as here
thIcaSo was manufacturing city: there
was greater uniformity between day and
night and summer and winter loads
IN addition. 1T should not be forgotten
MI. Goldsborough said that Chicago man
fractures gas on an enormously larger
scale than in Washington, and that the
quality Is not SO good. The Chicago COM
Panles did not make their coal gas but
bought 1t from the coke-oven comma MES
with whom 1t was by-product and conse-
quentiy secured 1t at low rate. This gas
the companies enriched and distributed
=. representative Smith wanted to know If
II were true that no matter how the price
os gas was reduced the gas bills of
the consumers always remained approxi-
mately the same. and Mr.. Goldsborough re-
i p'iea ehat TINS might be due to the fact
mat as gas prices went down the consump-
ton or gas went up; that reduced prices
stimulated production and that when gas
was cheap more of 1t was used in the
household The fact that electric light had
educated the people to the desire for maxi
mum illumination might also in part be
accountable. But far as the pressure
was concerned, in Washington, it was low.
ana i IN tact' complaints had been often
made on that score by local consumers
Has your company any objection to
making an annual report to Congress-"
asked Mr. Sims
Not the slightest" returned Mr. Colds
borough.
Mr.. Sims then wanted to know why the
consumption of water by the Washington
Gas Light Company had increased from
4I.OO0.OOO gallons in 1900 to S0,000.O oO gal
Ions in 1905. and Mr.. GOldsborough replied
that fully 30 per cent more gas was being
manufactured now than five years ago. In
reply to other questions by Mr. Simms, Mr.
Goldsborough said that the total of the
salaries of general officers of the gas COM
panies were about $1,000. The president
received about $4,000, although he wasn't
very clear on this point At Mr. Smms'
request. Mr.. Goldsborough promised to file
detailed statement covering these points
He laid further. in answering Mr. Simms
that the company should be able to fur
nish proportionately cheaper gas as the
city grows and the number Of
Increase. He did not believe. either that
IL was necessary to maintain high candle
power The law now required %, but the
company furnished %.
As a matter of fact fifteen ca ndlepower
gas with mantel would give practically
the same amount of light. and the gas
could be made much more cheaply
Wilton j. Lambert. representing the
Brightwood Citizens Association and the
Business Mems Association urged the com
mittee to go slow. Having accurate in
gas and distributing it, he did not feel
qualified to either favor oppose the bill
He merely wanted Congress to legislate
with its eyes open and not to make any
mistakes.
W. ID. Fitzpatrick a clerk in the NAVY
Department. who said he lived in the north
east section OF the city. protested against
any reduction in the price of gas He and
his neighbors. with the exception of one
man. who wanted to get something for
nothing, We're agreed that the present price
was IedSoHdDie ana the quality or the gas
good.
Against Universal Transfers.
President Dunlap of the Capital Traction
Company then took the floor to oppose the
bill providing for universal transfers He
did not believe the measure was legal and
would hold water. He did not believe that
Congress had any right to compel his COM
pany to carry passengers for nothing.
MIR. Simms asked President Dunlap about
section 3 OF the street railway law of 1886
which MIR. Madden recently made the sub
tect of an inquiry addressed to the Com
missioners and which was supposed to
provide for the exchange of transfers be-
tween the Capital Traction Company, the
Capital Railway Company and the Metro
politan Railway Company. Mr.. Dunlap ex-
planned that the provision in question did
not provide for any such thing 1t provided
for transfers between the Metropolitan and
the Capital Railway Company and the
Capital Traction Company and the Capital
Railway Company. but not for transfers
between the Capital Traction Company and
the Metropolitan Railway Company or any
part of the systems of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company
Mr.. Dunlap said he had been astonished
and grieved to note that the District Com
mtssioners had said that this provision had
not been enforced because there was no
penalty attached to II to compel the COM
panies to obey It, Mr.. Dunlap announced
that he wanted to say publicly that this
very matter up before the Commission