The Washington times., 1908-11-22
Has Message Ready, But
Holds 1t Because of Gas
Trust Agitation.
PAPER TO GO WITH
REYNOLDS REPORT
Single-Headed Government Favor
ed by Roosevelt, But He Fears
TO Aid Monopoly.
By J. C. wELLIvER.

President Roosevelt has completed q
special message 10 Congress. which may
or may not be transmitted, declaring IN
favor Of the one-man government for
the District OF Columbia The fact that
such a message has been prepared. It is
stated, is by no means a guarantee that
the President win send it. Recently the
TACT has been brought forcibly to the
attention Of the President that to rec
ommend One-man government at this
I time would likely have the effect OF
preventing all chance for reform In the
a District at this time, and would almost
certainly enable the Gas Monopoly TO
gain time and win its fight for the
doubling OF its capitalization.
AS a result of these conditions. II is
now decidedly uncertain whether the
message VIII be sent TO Congress at all
II II Is sent it viii likely be delivered
7 late IN the session, in order that II shall
not be used, In earlier stages, as an ex-
cuse for falling 10 get action on the gas
legislation.
The agitation begun by the Washing
ron Post the newspaper organ Of the
Gas Monopoly. for one-man government
IL well known 10 be inspired by no
other motive than the desire TO drive
out Of power the present Commission
Srs. because they stepped in and started
the night TO prevent the gas companv
injecting the Potomac river into its 1
capitalization.
Not at All Usual.
1t was, indeed. utterly unbAar5-,s 4
that any authority IN the District Gov
ernment should assume to interfare 4
with plans Of the aiI-powerfuI gas in. 4
teresL With its drag In Ohio and IN I
Washington. its newspaper influence
IFS money, and fits social Dull. the Gas
monopoly was presumed to be impreg.
naole. There was never a doubht tbst /
Lhe neat little proposal to grind out /
SIX or eignt million dollars of new col
lateral for the gas insiders. would he /
indorsed by complaisznt District ad. /
minlstration.
But the vested right of the Gas mon.
opoly in control Of District adninistra-
uon went wrong for once, and there /
was tremendous surprise and lamenta.
ton The District Commissioners not
only opposed, but instructed their cor
poratiOn counsel TO employ bIs utmost
efforts to prevent the imitation scheme
succeeding In the hope OF beating the
Gas monopoly to it." the Commission
ers also asked Congress TO reduce the
price Of gas from 81 to 70 cents.
Gas Trust Gets Busy.
Immediately. the Gas interests set
about to punish the Commissioners.
They started the movement to Iegislate
the Commissioners out OF office in IA
vor OF new form Of government.
1t happens that, long before the Gas
monopoly and its newspaper had
thought Of this scheme, President
Roosevelt had also thought Of It. The /
President honestly believed the one-man
system preferable. He set a commits
sioner to work to investigate the whole
question. As a result, the commission
er, James Bronson Reynolds. something
more than year ago. placed IN the
hands Of the President a report strong
ly favoring the change to one-man ex-
ecutive.
Since that time Mr.. Reynolds has
taken up supplemental aspects OF the
matter with the President, reporting on
them from time to time The relations
between Mr.. Reynolds and some. at
least. Of the District Commissioners,
have not been Of the best, for obvious
reasons. It has been well known that
Mr.. Reynolds was diligently at work
to compile reasons why they should be
legislated out Of office, and the realiza-
ton of such a CHEEKY purpose was
calculated to promote amiable
relations.
Trust Sees a Chance.
The Washington Post and the Gas
learning that the President
was interested in One-man government.
and recognizing the opportunity to be-
muddle the situation In Congress while
at the same time appearing to have
the Presidents Endorsement, lost no
time starting a newspaper crusade for
the change.
Recently. people who understood all ,
the relations and purposes involved in
the whole matter, have explained them
In much detail to the President. II is
not yet possible to learn what will be
the outcome Of the affair. The Presi-
dent does not know that the Washing
ton Posts support OF the proposal for ,
change of government is insincere. dis
honest, and inspired by no better motive ,
han desire to have a paramount issue I
before the District Committees of Con- I
yress, on which they may waste their
ime without accomplishing anvthiug. s
while the gas imitation project wends i
is way to contamination and the svyaa &
s carefully pocketed. After that. the I
Post win have no concern except to | I
Use the District government again when l
IS Gas Monopoly wants something. and. c
a