The Washington times., 1908-02-12
The Gas Decision: A Battle Won, But the
War Is Yet On.

statement of exactly what meant by the Court of Appeals
decision the gas yesterday necessary 10 make clear that
while great victory has been for the people, is not final
The gas companies initiated increase their capitalization
claiming authority of law The District authorities opposed the
ground that the law did safeguard public interest became appa
2n that the proceeding permitted to be concluded would
suit in at least doubling the capitalization of the companies imposing
from 100000 to 100000 capital burden the industry,
which gas consumers pay dividends
Corporation Counsel Thomas attacked the law He has secured
from the Court of Appeals Judgment that unconstitutional and
writ of prohibition ordering the Supreme Court discontinue the pro
ceedngS preliminary to increase of capitalization
The companies they will appeal to the United States
Supreme Court As the decision in the Court of Appeals by
Vded court, it is plain that the case is far from safe,
For months The Times has urged that this law ought be repealed
vicious law. That today The final
yet sustain The security wipe the statute books
There will be doubt about this result if Congress read the
opinion of the court in which the dangerous character of this set
forth To repeal it. while appeal pending will involve reflection
the courts Oveeaous friends of the gas monopoly fond of
insisting 1t will merely be correction by Congress OF its mistake
of eleven years ago. The reflection viii be Joseph Babcock
forced the vicious law through Congress- not the courts which
havenow branded the law as bad and menacg public interest
There further excuse failure highest court in
this jurisdiction says the law null That court will be offended
the law repealed We undertake Congress United
States Supreme Court will take oTense with repeal
Whether shall finally be declared unconstitutional not the law
bad Anybody who will read the opinion of the Court Appeals
will be convinced of this.
Congressman Campbell Of Kansas especially urged to read that
opinion. He to need tC Teadf
The fight over tie peoples cause looks better than ever
before The District Commissioners Corporation Counsel Thomas and
the Court Of Appeals deserve earnest congratuation
To Mr. Thomas especially Who ngehaHdd has carried on the
legal battle and routed the great array gpced counsel for The
Gas Monopoly which at the BEGINNING tried sheer him out of court
due grateful acknowledgment He has able as faithful and as
faithful able and nothing better could be said He secured writ
of prohibition which has been issued only twice history of the
United States Supreme Court and by the courts CT the
District of Columbia He has every point in case in which
his very right to enter appearance at first seriously questioned
Mr. Thomas urges that the dangerous section of law be at once re-
peaed In this The Times joins most earnestly The Times fearful of
the outcome Of the court proceedings has from the start urged repeal
The Commissioners of The District have prepared public service
commission bill Other of the character have been pre-
pared and still others in process of preparation and will be laid
before Congress soon. Some such legislation should pass
should contain mandatory requirement that physical va1ua
ton of all public utility establishments forthwith made No more
pae valuations representing the inflated claims of the corporations
wanted. scientific careful valuation should be made
There should be ample power in the to do things
The business Of running to Congress should be stopped The commits
sion must have real power and plenty of it. before there can be good
public service here.
Legislation to reduce the price Of gas to Is cents should pass with
out delay There need to wait there every reason for PROMPT
action.
The laws Of Massachusetts, under which the sliding scale of earn
ngs and prices enforced should be made the regulations IS to
price of gas with Is established the starting point in price Ret
ter inspection guaranty against meter robbery assurance of legal quality
gas and compel the companies keep their plants p
Caly adequate to supply the counts dmand-a these things
must be provided in any fit gas legislation