The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-29
GAS TRUST FIGHT
ON IN NEW JERSEY
AS IN WASHINGTON
Newark Paper Takes Up
Fight Like Wash
ington Times.
People of State !ndig-
nant and Will Demand
Better Legislation.

washington's fight for relief from
exactions Of its Gas Monopoly mas been
the direct occasion Of the inauguration
OF a like fight in New Jerse y, which
promises shortly TO bring relief 10 the
lOng-suffering people Of that State.
Newspapers and public men IN New
Jersey, struck by the expose which
The Washington Times has made In
recent months concerning the cost OF
producing gas, and the unreasonable
ness of the price charged ia this city,
have taken up the matter there, ana
are getting in sight Of results.
VIII Demand Relief.
Herman B. Walker, Washington cor
respondent for the Newark, n J., Even
ing News, said today that "a direct eT-
feet Of The Times fight against the nigh
charges and poor service OF the local
gas monopoly is a demand by the peo-
pie Of New Jersey for relief from slnHl-
lar oppression and eXtOrtion on the par'
OF the utility companies that control
gas in the cities of that State, and
that public Indignation viii compel the
New Jersey Legislature TO grant rem
ediaI legislation for the regulation OF
purattOns-
New Jerseys revolt against the COM
bjnation of political and financial in
terests that has dominated its party
politics. controlled its legislation, and
protected the high-handed methods, ez-
tcrtions. and stock watering swindies,
began two or three years ago said
Mr. Walker but is only now begin
ming 10 take the form OF a speclnc de
msud for reduction OF rates ana better
meut of services
The Times has been making against the
excuses of the Washington gas mo-
nopoIy, and its expose Of facts concern
INK the cost and prices OF gas. ina
the people IN nearly every section OF
our State are demanding regulation or
utility corporations that viii give Ihein
better service al lower charges.
MacVicar Exposed Conditions.
ut is due to John MacVicar, who
organized The Times campaign against
poor gas and high prices here, that tie
ras consumers in a large section Of
New Jersey have learned they are pay
ing from 81 10 $50 a thousand feet for
roke gas the distributing company buys
Al the rate Of I9 cents thousand
Since the News gave publicity 10 this
tact and brought out some Of the other
astounding features or The Times eN-
Dosition OF the cost and selling price
~ gas in other cities in this country
and England. there has been Such pup
&c indignation throughout the state
that even those politicians and ieglsld'
tors who have heretofore unqIeStlon-
pblv obeyed the orders Of corpora lions
ana bosses bv thrOTtlng utility legs
.ation are now sitting up ana taxing
notice. A bill providing for sucn feSG
tatiOn OF utility corporations as VII
force a reduction In the price OF 90
IN most of the cities of New Jersey VII
De passed before the end OF the pres
sut session at Trenton.
Difficult to Handle.
"It is more difficult TO deal with the
Eas situation in New Jersey than II
the Distric. Of Columbia, because here
the trolley. electric. and gas monopo
lies are stlu separate corporate en-
titles. even though they may be con
troIIed by the same interests to larg5
extent. IN New Jersey our utilities
have practically all been merged nm
der one corporate ownership and man
aremont There are. L believe only
NO fndeuendenL gas companies IN Jil'
State one CT these Is at 4tlanJ'
City where the price of gas is the 10"
PSI i'm the State-90 cents a thOusan'
feet Senator John Kean's gas com
many supplies three or four towns am
cities. and charges It's consumers $40
per thousand feet, net. OJhefWlse tLl
gas electric light and power an
trolley companies I'm the state ar
merged into the Public Service corpora
lion Of New Jersey. Ihis corporation
is controlled by an alliance OF inter
asts Tn which those of the United Ca
Improvement Company Of Philadelphl
and the Prudential Insurance COnpail
oF Newark are dominant. Former sen
Rtor John F. Dryden Is president
the Prudential.
Who Runs Company.
The president of the public servic
corporation was the former attorne
general of the State. One OF the direct
urs is former Senator James Smith, II
the Democratic boss Of the State. INT
a year or two ago it was difficult I
ind an influential political leader @
boss in New Jersey who vas not eithe
a. director or paid emlloye OF this col
poration, or one of its underlying con
panies. You may imagine the enc.
of this situation upon legislation an
corporation regulation. There was
such thing as the latter.
Although the gas and electric Hgi
and power companies mad becn merge
several times already. and were badl
o,vercapltaIized, they were still able
nav big dividends on their last install
uents of water the pubic servo
merger was openly ana DfaZenly PR
posed and carried through Tor tn
avowed purpose of using the big proh
OF the gas and electric companies
pay interest and dividends on the MOI
innated trolley securities.
Fight Difficult.
IN the face Of such conditions. VI
may realize how like cropping for
match in the dark has been any figl
10 defeat this powerful combinatio
and secure consideration of public RICH
and public interests. Governor Fo
wrote a splendid message demandiI
regulation Of utilities. Improvement
service, and reduction OF rates. but a
first bill passed by the Legislature Oh
wear. which received the executive a
prevail without hesitation, is a law lega
lzing further watering Of the bonds
utility corporations. Under the old la
such bonds could be sold a 50 cents
the dollar The new law. which Z
governor has sanctioned, permits utii
bonds 10 be sold at 20 cents on the dC
lar. In other words, 1t vaEiates ju
29lz per cent more Imitation than d
the old law. FOR OF course TIE bon