The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-08
SEVENTY-FIVE CENT GAS
IN SIGHT FOR CONSUMERS.
SAYS WASHINGTON PUBLIC
Debate in House Yesterday Shows Citizens Will Not Be
Subjected to Discrimination When Congress
Forces Reduction in Price

In every quarter today the opinion
was expressed that the long expected
end OF dollar gas is in sight. as a re-
suit OF the fight for cheaper gas made
by The Washington Times and the
adoption, yesterday, OF the Wilson
amendment prohibiting a price in ex-
cess OF IS cents a thousand feet 10 the
District government.
While the private citizens are not
privileged 10 enjoy this reduced price
az the present time. II is realized on
an SIDES that they viii do 50 al an early
date. II VIII be manifeStly impOsSib ible
Tor Congress 10 countenance q discrinni-
nation in the price Of gas sold in the
District OF Columbia and that Is what
viii happen unless the ordinary con
surner receives gas at the reduced price.
How Amendment Was Received.
What the House said when Repre resen-
tauve Wilson offered his .'75-cent amend
n5ent' 10 the District bill is as follows.
Mr- Wilson OF uunois-Then. Nh
Chairman. I offer the following amend
ment. which I send to the desk and ask
10 have read.
The clerk read as follows:
After the word dollars on page 90
" Provided. That no part OF this sum
50 appropriated shall be expended for
gas at greater price thar - cents per
thousand cubic feet
EIr Gardner Of Aichigln- Mr.. Chair
man. I make a point OF order, or rather
1 viii reserve the point Of order.
Mr.. Wilson OF IIinOis-I have authori-
ties here. IL Che gentleman desires 10
discuss the point Of order.
Mr. Gardner OF Michigan simply
want to hear the gentleman's reasons
for Offering the amendment
Mr. Wilson OF IninOis-AIr. Chairman,
have been looking into this question
of gas a little Of late. and IL seems to
me that the people N the District Of
Columbia and the people outside. who
pay a pSrt of this appropriation TO con-
duct the business, here, pay entirely too
much for gas. There are many cities
in this country where the gas is sold
at q much less rate than II Is in the
District of Columbia Take the city OF
NTFIvvauIcee There they pay only 90
cents. In Cincinnati they pay only 30
cents a thousand cubic feet, and in
cleveland &C cents a thousand cubic feet,
and in St Louis so cents a thousand
NJ NJ smith of A1ichigan-what is the
cs1,5Iepower Of gas in those different
NJ Wilson of Illinois-I dc not know:
but the population is about the same
tI1e r,eoDle in this city and the people
Of the nation generally, VINO pay half
the expenses Of this Government, should
nav any more than the people in these
other cities
NJ smith Of Michigan-Does the
Gentleman take the position that II coes
not make any difference what the can
dlepower is. so far as the price Is con-
cerned2
Profit at 20 Cents.
Mr.. Wilson Of IIiuois-No; I DO not
take that position. I understand from
authorities in the Census Bureau OF this
Government that gas can be made and
sold at a profit OF 40 cents per thousand
cubic feet; and if that is so. see no
reason why the people should pay 81 a
thousand cubic feet for gas in this city.
I know that in the city Of Chicago gas
is much cheaper than It is here. and in
many other cities. I have = large list
Of cities where the gas is sold AZ much
less than n dollar per thJusa.d cubic
feet. It seems to me that The psople
in this city are paying -nOrc than t2ey
ought to paE and It seems % me L IL
the duty of Svery meTlhesVT Congress