The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-20
Effort Made to Sidetrack
Bill for Reduction of
Rate Until Too Late
for Action.
Public Demand May Be
Able to ThWart Friends
of Combine and Get
Consideration.

Why is the House Committee on the
District Of Columbia slow IN taking up
Legislation looking to a reduction in the
price of gas, when this question af-
Iects the public more generally than
any other before the committee?
There is a universal public demand
GoF lower gas rates.
There is no such demand for any
other legislation by the committee ex-
cept bill giving the street railways ae-
cess 10 the Union Station. The street
railway bill will be out Of the hands OF
the committee by today week.
in the natural course OF events, the
committee would take up next the gas
question.
But il has no intention OF following
this course OF action. It means 70 take
up after the street railway bill the
question OF prohibition, although the
prohibitiOnists have made no demonstra-
tiOns to Congress. and have not asked
1Or any public hearings at any specified
cate.
Key to the Delay.
The Times is able to furnish key
60 this prcbIematicaI delay. Opposi-
zion to consideration by the committee
OF the gas question has developed ex-
actly where il was eXpected-in the
ranks of the Gas Monopoly's friends
and paid supporters They are doing
everything possible TO stave OF the in
evitable day Of reckoning. They are
arguing at the Capitol against a bill
tor the reduction Of the price OF gas.
and even against measure for an. in
vestiEatiOn OF the actual cost of man
Ufacturing gas. Hence. the delay.
That this delay cannot be turned into
a permanent refusal by the committee
- take up the question seems certain 10
The Times. which has carefully inyes-
taated the matter. 1t is absolutely in
credible that a committee should long
Eyade such a responsibility. especially
when q good percentage Of the commit
tee is strongly il favor OF taking up
the matter.
Views of Committeeman.
Taylor OF Ohio, one OF the strongest
Republicans on the committee, is in
favor OF reducing the price.
Aiken of South Carolina said:
'If a corporation says it can make
gas at q Profit for 81, it is a safe bet
that it can be made at profit of IS
cents. am in favor of going into the
question thoroughly"
Murphy Of Wisconsin, successor to
BabcOck, who was chairman OF the
committee last Congress, said;
Il am for cheap gas If it can be had.
! would like to see the thing gone into
as soon as possible"
Sims Of Tennessee, who has long been
q champion of getting at the truth Of
the whole subject and giving the people
or washington 1leaper gas, IS as strong
as ever for TIE legislation
Madden OF Chicago. although not a
member Of the committee, Is man of
great influence in the House. AS the
Guthor Of the 75-cent gas bill. he has
looked into the question and sounded
the committee sentiment in regard to
1t He said:
Sentiment Is Growing.
Sentiment in the committee for TAX
ing up the gas question is growing at
Rn enormous rate. At the beginning
81 the session 1 was afraid that the op-
position in the quarter where il was
expected would succeed in making the
chances for gas legislation very slim,
but now all that has changed The
committee is a good one, and 1t will DO
something.
once let them get at it and it is a
foregOne conclusion that the price viii
be lowered can't understand the de-
lay. L is strange"
Samuel ". Smith, chairman OF the
committee, said.
LAS soon as We have disposed Of the
street railway bill we viii take up the
question of prohibition in the District.
That is the most pressing thing after
the street railway business After the
prohibition matter IS done with, do
not know whether we will take UP gas
or some other matter"
Two Vague and Uncertain.
From one or two members of the com
fnittee nothing has come on the sub
3ect except the widest uncertainty, in
direction and vagueness. A good ex-
ample Of this is Philip P. Campbell OF
Kansas. He knows nothing about the
matter. he says, and apparently wants
10 know nothing on the subject OF
gas which cannot possibly have any
interest for him except so far as his
desire 10 serve the public is concerned
he is as cautious as man between two
great dangers and as careful one
who walks a narrow path on the brink
Of a pTectpice.
But, on the whole the committee is
impressed with the popular demand foI
lower prices OF gas Its members
know Of the demands by citizens as
ECCiations and individual consumers OF
gas. They recognize that no harm car
be done by taking up the matter. Many
Of them would Ike TO see the people
Of the District required TO pay only q
reasonable price for gas.
IN view of this, it does not seem pos
sible that the delay which has obtained
in taking up the matter will continue
much longer. Although the desire Oi
few Of the members to run in prOhibi-
ton ahead of gas may alarm the pub
DC, IL is possible that the demand fol-
the gas legislation, both from the pub
bic and from members OF the committee
Eill change the program Of the over