The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-31
The Times Article Showing
Intimacy With Gas Trust
PleaSeS Public.
CITIZENS ARE FREE
WITH COMPLIMENTS
Civic Workers Hope Result Will
Be Relief From High Prices
Charged by Monopoly.

Representative Sam Smiths self-dis-
closure has amazed the whole city OF
Washington. II has also aroused great
interest elsewhere, particularly In tRe
sixth Michigan Congressional district.
No incident Affecting a member Of
Congress in recent years has excited
more comment.
From the moment the first edition OF
yesterdays Times appeared on the street
the telephone rang almost necessarily
in The Times editorial rooms. The calls
came from every class OF readers.
From citizens who have given The
Times support in its long fight for
proper control OF the Gas Monopoly.
From officials of citizens associations
who had been asked by the Post 10 join
in movement for a change IN the form
OF District government.
From clerks IN tbs departments who
simply wanted 10 inquire how IN the
world SO cautious a man as Sammy
smith" ever exposed hi1lself 50 far
From high officials OF the Government !
who said they simply could not believe |
their own eyes,
Householders Glad.
From great numbers Of householders |
who have been paying toll TO the Wash |
ington Gas Light Company and who |
saw in the disclosure Of this partner |
snip between the chairman OF the /
House Committee on the District of /
Columbia and the mouthpiece of the 4
Monopoly new hope OF reasonable /
prices, honest service, and good quail /
ity
the general estimate OF the publication 1
OF Mr. Smiths letter.
hereafter said Official who is /
ID daily touch with the MhIJe House. |
there can be no doubling the reason /
why the gas bills were uot reported. /
Heretofore me LnIng was simply non
understandable Like The Ilmess 1 !
had come 10 think Smith just weak /
Now / realiZe-and 1 owe my better IN !
formation 10 The Ttmes-Jnat ne was /
simply protecting his own associate
II would have been q calamity X /
such a man could have kept sucn a /
partnership from The people who must 4
elect him. said the president of one Of /
tine largest citizens associations IN the
district.
Have Right to Know.
I'VE nave a right to know-we people |
here In the District. Mr. Smith is the
chairman OF our House Of Delegates.
And ] have hope that when Congress
recOnYenes Mr.. cannon VIII see Llls alb
sOlute lmpOssiDlltty OF continuing suCh
man In our Washington ClJy council.
But II seems 70 me those PEOPLE cut IN |
Michigan have even DeLtor right to
know. he is their rEpresent tatiys and
when he sells out 10 me Gas Company
for money or support in his district or
contributions TO ms campaign fund or |
the support OF other mOnOpOly y-managed
members Of Congress, ne sells out every
man who votes Tor him, too /
Not few business men. some OF them
directors % trust companies and banks,
came directly 70 The Times of,Ice 10
congratulate the editors. They seemed !
10 feel that at last they had the fight
in tangible form.
We know now where we stand, q" said
one, director OF two OF the largest
nuacial Institutions IN the Capital. we
can get grip on something. This Is
certainly a hot one for the Hon Samuel
", Smith and the Washington Post"
Widely Discussed.
II the street cars. on The corners, at
mems clubs. at last nights political
gaJhel ings, Mr.. Smiths partnership
with the organ Of the Gas Company was
invariably discussed
Three phrases in the Smith letter 10 {
the Post impressed everybody. They &.
were;
ter" |!
Let the good work 90 on"
Il am trying to keep them busy" Z
The first by everyone is taken as in
dicating that Tor some time back 1t
has been Mr. Smiths custom to act as
agent for the interests that control the
Post. There Is, OF course speculation
whether or not Mr.. Smith supplied the
representative OF the Gas Company
with similarly confidential information
while serving in the Capitol at tie
head Of the House Committee on the
District OF Columbia. But no one Ques-
Continued on Fourth PaReA