The Washington times., 1908-04-08
Seventy foe Gent Gas NoqU in Sight for the Dstictof Columbia


fixes the price. Neither the Government
10 use any gas.
But if you use the gas, and the law
IlNes the price OF Zne gas, you are COM
PEELED 70 pay tbs price until the law
IS changed, or a suit would lie for
breach Of contract, would # not2
MI Mann-J>et us have the suit. then
Mr.. wilson Of IllinOis-Win the gen
( tieman yield for a question:
Mr.. Gardner OF Nichigan-I viii yield
TO the gentleman.
Mr. Wilson Of ulinois-DOes not the
statute that the gentleman is reading
from provide the maximum amount
that the gas company shall charge.
and any sums under that amount, or
course, would be acceptable2
Mr.. Gardner OF Michigan viii read
II again; II is as plain as language can
make #:
After the Ist Of July. 1896. the Wash
ingtOn Gas Light Company OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia shall furnish TO the
United States Government and 10 the
District or Columbia gas az the
rate"
Not more. nor less
at the rate Of s. per thousand cubic
| feet"
Mr.. Wilson Of Ilhrois-They viii fur
nish gas at that rat out there is moth
ing in the law 10 prohibit or prevent
| them from selling II TO the people IN
the District Of Columbia for less than
81 per thousand feet.
Mr. Gardner Of Michigan-It is not
permissive-it is mandatory. II says
shall
Mr.. Wilson OF IHinois-Mandatory
| that the gas company shall: not charge
more than 81 per thousand, but that
( is not mandatory on the gas company
that So shall not sell gas cheaper or
OFFER IL for less than dollar a thou
sand.
Mr.. Gardner of Nichigan-The gentle
man does not do himself justice when
I he says that the law says that they
shall not charge more II does not say
that they shall not charge more, and II
/ does not say that L-sy shall not charge
less. II SAYS they shall furnish II at
/ 81 per thousand cubic feet.
Mr.. Perkins, would like to put
question which I think states the legal
status. The company has the right 70
charge s. per thousand feet TO the Gov
eminent On the other hand. the Gov
/ eminent has the right, as any indiVid-
Ual has. 20 say 10 the company. i VIII
take your gas II you VIII furnish u at
- cents per thousand The company
can do one OF two things-it can re-
fuse 20 furnish the gas on the offer
made 20 pay - cents and no more. but
II Il furnishes the gas. Il can only col
| seCt 70 cents. Its remedy Is. II &c Is not
willing 10 sell gas at that price, 70 say,
[ we viii furnish no gas and the Gov
nish IT, ANY man has a right 10 say,
! Il will give You so much for your COM
modify" and If you do not want 70 sell
| IL al that price you can refuse 20 sell It.
Ask Nothing Else.
I NJ. Gardner Of lIIchigan-We contend
for nothing else. The Law fixes the price.
| Congress fixes the price al 81 per thou
sand feet. There is No qualification
Now. we can take the gas at that price
or not. as we see 1T
NIr. Perkins-SUppose vou say that we
I viii take IL at 20 cents. and pay no more
/ The company must furnish the gas at
/ that price or furnish none
AIr. Gardner OF Nfichigan-Ve do not
need the amendment in order 10 do that
Mr.. Keifer-I want 10 inquire whether
| there is any existing contract between
| the District Of Columbia or the school
! authorities and the gas company re
/ QuirIng the gas 20 be furnished b. the
! company
/ mr.. Gardner OF Michigan do not so
| understand IL. As mas been explained
/ earlier IN the debate uDon this question.
( the District pays for gas for school
| purposes for what Il uses as registered
! BY the meters
: Sir. Keifer-That is al right: but is
] there a cor tract which requires the
! company 10 furnish gas under the law
| MIR. Gatdu r. OF AiiChigan-NOt for
| school purpO ies, but there Is for street
] purposes.
| Mr.. KeIfer-Is not that all there is OF
! the question: IF the school authorities
/ do use the gas without a contract, they
/ must pay by law 81
/ N-. Gardner, OF NiichiEan-There IS no
/ question about 81 In my mind. It is
! absolutely fixed by the statute
/ NJ. kaifer-Tne school authorities
might make a contract, II they could.
| Sir. Maun-ZVhat law is It that the
j gentleman from Michigan refers to2
Mr.. Gardner, OF AlichiSaE-The act OF
! JCly I. 1901.
/ Mr.. Mann-Tha- IS an act amenda-
l tory?
! Mr.. Gardner. OF AIichigau-It IS an
| act relating to the sale OF gas in the
| District OF Columbia"
| MIR. Nann-ThaJ is an act amendatory
/ Of the gas charter. a requirement on
| tie gas company in an amendment 70
! their charter
Right Not Changed
Mr.. Gardner. o. Michigan-That does
not change the right TO change that
/ rate. If we fix the rate a. a dollar a
| thousand.
Mr.. Mann-It changes the relationship
/ Of the law very decidedly.
/ AZ Ca~-rDo- Of RFfrhfc-D Tt cave