Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-07
VOTES FOR CHEAP GAS
House Amends the District Ap-
preparation Bill.
AN Overwhelming VOTE
Fixes Rate to Be Paid by Municipal
Government.
CONSIDERED ENTERING WEDGE
Measure to Be Reported Soon Cow
CONSIDERED ENTERING WEDGE
Measure to Be Reported Soon Cow
ering the Matter of Price to
the General Consumer.

the General Consumer.
BY an Overwhelming vote the House to-
day in committee of the whole inserted
an amendment in the District appropria-
ton bill providing that the District gov
ernment shall not pay more than 10
cents thousand cubic feet for gas. This
is believed to be the entering wedge In
a general proposition for seventy-fve-
cent gas in the District. as Representa-
tive Olcott of .>ew York announced on
the floor that within the present month
the District committee would report
bill for cheaper gas in the National cap
ital Representative Madden of Illinois,
who introduced the original seventy-five-
cent gas bill last session. advocated the
amendment adopted today. which was
offered by his colleague, Representative
Wilson Of Illinois.
After the vote Mr. Madden told a Star
reporter that he was highly pleased with
the action Of the House and believed that
before the present session was ended 10
cent gas would be an accomplished fact
in the District of Columbia. Chairman
Smith of the House District committee.
Mr. Olcott and Representative Gardner of
Michigan in charge of the District ap
preparation bill. were three of the very few
members who voted against the wilson
amendment No record vote was taken on
the proposition, but there was no doubt
that sentiment was overwhelmingly in
favor of cheaper gas.
When the House of Representatives met
today at II 80 1t was still the legislative
day Of yesterday. The program for the
day was changed overnight, and instead
of considering bills under suspension of
the rule discussion of the District Of Co
lumbia appropriation bill was resumed.
This was not accomplished. however,
without a rollcall, and in connection with
1t the House was furnished with an anus
ing incident of which Speaker Cannon
was the central figure.
Mr.. Williams had demanded q division
on the proposition to take up the District
bill. which was carried 100 to 20. Both
Mr.. Payne, New York, and Mr.. Bartlett,
Georgia, were quickly on their feet, the
former asserting that Mr.. Williams was
resorting to dilatory tactics. and MIR.
Bartlett insisting that there was no
quorum.
Later Mr. Bartlett withdrew his point.
and over the protest of Mr.. Payne the
Speaker himself ordered yea and nay
vote. He refused to listen to any argu-
ment on the subject. and. slamming his
Ravel down with some manifestation of
displeasure, said: The chair himself
will make the point, taking notice that
ward he was observed to smile. and with
the tension thus relieved the members
broke into applause.
The feature Of the proceedings was an
attempt by Representative Wilson of IL
Iinois TO insert in the District bill pro-
vision that the District should not pay
more than 10 cents a thousand feet for
Its gas.
To Prohibit Child Labor.
When the provision for attendance Of
fcers under the heading public schools
was reached, Representative Peters of
Massachusetts offered his child labor bill
as an amendment, but on point of order
made by Representative Mann of Illinois
Chairman Dalzell ruled it out. Mr.. Peters.
not to be put down, however, made a
motion to strike out the last word, and
explained his amendment.
This amendment provides in sub
stance he said, that no children under
fourteen years OF age shall be employed
in factories or workshops in the District.
and that children between fourteen and
sixteen shall be employed only when a
certificate is filed. This certificate mus;
show that they can read and write, have
attended school and are physically able
TO perform the work for which they are
employed.
hc OI idDOr IN which children
under sixteen can work are restricted to
forty-e1ght per week, and no children are
allowed to labor between p.m and Z
am Provisions are also made for proper
inspection TO assure the carrying out OF
these regulations These provisions are
in general those now enforced in Massa-
chusetts."
Mr.. Peters mentioned that the President
the 18th of .last month called the atten-
tim of Congress to the child labor propo-
sitlon. and he thought model child labor
law should be passed for the District at
least. he then gave statistics to show the
enormous number Of children employed
and insisted that the United States was
far behind in child labor legislation
Congress should act In this matter"
he said. not alone for the sake of the
protection of the children OF the District
but also to support and aid Sy its ex-
ample an enlightened public sentiment
throughout the country. which is endeav-
oring in the various states to bring about
for our children the enactment of proper
legislation.
For Cheaper Gas.
Consideration of the bill then proceeded
smoothly until the provision for fuel.
gas and electric light and power was
reached. under the public school para
graph. Then Mr.. Wilson offered his
amendment for 75-cent gas for the Dis
ITlCl. lie insisted IHdt. according 10 the
census office report. gas could be made
and sold at a profit at 40 cents thou
sand feet. and he did not see why the
government of the District of Columbia
or the people of the District should be
forced to pay 81 a thousand feet. He
thought that Congress should seize the
opportunity now presented of reducing
the price in the District to I5 cents a
thousand feet.
Mr.. Wilson's amendment was supporte d
by Representatives Mann and Madden of
Illinois. the latter the author OF the orig
tnal a5-cent gas bill introduced at the
last session of Congress, and was op-
posed by Representative Olcott of New
York. who declared that the fourth Mon
day in April would a gas bill re-
ported from the House District commit
tee to the calendar.
A somewhat technical discussion of the
question then ensued. Representative
Madden contending that 81 was an un-
reasonable price for gas in the District,
and supported his contention by submit
ting long list of cities where cheaper
gas rates prevailed.
Representative Goulden of New York
introduced an amendment to the District
bill providing for the appointment of q
superintendent of school buildings and
sites. This was in line with a bill intro
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