The Washington times., 1908-04-08

lumbia Committee. through a subc0m-
mittee. is now investigating the entire
question. their action being predicated
on bill that has been introduced 10
reduce the price of gas to 20 cents. Now,
IL seems 20 me, to put this on TINS ap-
propriation bill when there IS 10 De a
hearing granted 10 citizens or VAN
ingtOn IS an unfortunate thing 1 an
lust as much In favor as any or I'M
gentlemen from Illinois of reducing the
price Of Sas.
Mr. Wilson OF Illinois-Does not The
gentleman think that If this amendme,nt
was adopted by The House, it would be
a great benefit to him in the hearings!
MIR. Olcott-I think If this amendment
was adopted by the House there Woulu
not he much use Tor our having any
further hearings. / think lndI hhSHt uo
a considerable injustice.
MIR. Maun-Does the gentleman IN
derstand what the amendment Isl
Mr. OIcott-The amendment is a pro-
vision. as I understand It. that no more
Than Is cents shall be paid TOT gas
Mr Manu- thought the gentleman
was mistaken. The provision IS that n
the schools the Government Shdii mo-
nav more than q cents Tor It's ga. II
does not affect the general proposliloh.
AIR OIcOtt-Then, n it comes TO that
question. I am absolutely opposed 20
the Government Of the United SIAtes
getting their gas cheaper than the clu-
IONS Of the city OF Washington
the urlce 20 the citizens?
Mr. Olcott-I do not want the Govern
ment to have its price reduced II the
Drice to the citizen is not reduced.
Nfr NTaun.rhe gentleman is not will
Ing 10 take part If he does not get all
Of &c at OnceE
Mr.. Olcott-I am unwilling TO have
this matter come up in this way when
IT is being orderly and eXpeditiously
treated "a the Committee on the DlSJrlct
OF Columbia
think that when the Government gives
tho gas company the use OF the streets,
the title of which is in the Government,
the Government might properly exact
gas at n lower rate than the citizens
who do not furnish the streets2
Mr. OIcott-No. I am not willing TO
saw that because the people Of the
country own the streets.
Mr. Nann-The gentleman does not
believe. then. in a tax upon public util-
Mr. Olcott-Ycs; do.
Tax Goes to Government.
Mr.. AIann-The tax always goes to
the Government. and not 70 the citizen.
NIr. Olcott-That is not the point at
all
Mr.. Mann-That Is the exact PROPOSE
ton here. What is the difference be
tween the paying OF = tax OF money
for the use Of the streets and paying
a tax IN the reduction OF the charge
to the Government for the use Of the
street?
Mr.. Olcott-NIr. Chairman, that is
quite n different proposition. 7 have no
hesitation IN saying that believe there
will be a reduction in the price Of gas
made necessary by an act Of Congress
in this Congress.
The Chairman-The gentleman from
New York has the floor
Mr.. OlCOtt-NIr. Chairman. I arn will
ing to yield TO any gentleman: I have
nothing further TO say on the sub
ject.
Mr.. johnson OF South CaroIina-Wiu
the gentleman allow me 70 ask him a
question before he sits down:
Mr.. OIcott-CertainIy.
Mr.. Johnson OF South CARDINAL un-
derstand the gentleman to say that
the gas question is being investigated
in an orderly and proper wav in the
District COMMITTEES or some other com
mittee. Can the gentleman inform the
House when we Will probably have an
opportunity 10 pass upon a bill in an
orderly way2
Mr.. Olcctt-My own personal belief
Is, although I cannot say exactly what
the committee will do, that the fourth
Monday Of April viii see a gas bill on
the calendar. That is the best we
can do. We could get IT earlier II
We did not have so much to do.
Mr.. Mann-That viii 20 along as
rapidly into enactment as universal
transfer has gone.
Mr.. OicOtt-I have nothing TO do with
That That is a matter more with the
Senate than the House
Mr.. Madden move to strike out the
last word.
1t has been stated that the govern
ment OF the District has a contract with
the gas company for the gas IL uses. Tie
fact IS that the government has no con-
tract for any given price for any gas
that Is consumed in the schools of the
District The government, unfortunate
", has q contract under which IL is
obliged TO pay for the gas II consumes
in the street lamps at a price far IN ex-
cess or what is believed TO be an equit-
able price. The District Subcommittee
on Appropriations last year in the con-
sideratiOn OF this question fixed the
maximum price that could be paid for
gas for street lighting purposes at %
cents a thou sand. Prior 10 that time the
District paid 81 a thousand for all gas
It consumed in the street lamps All
Of the lamps that were lighted by gas
were OF tho Open-hame burner character.
except thlrty-siE lamps. Those thirty
six lamps at the time this price was
fixed had what is known as 'fncandes-
cent nantes attached TO them. For
incandescent mantle lamps a price OF
S22.40 a year, or something like that. was
paid When the committee inquired why
all the lamps were not inCandescent
mantle lamps. fl WAS stated that the
gas company Of the District did not
own the lncandeScent mantle, that Il
could not buy II. and that the District
Commissioners were obliged TO contract
with an outside company that controlled
the incandesCent mantle A contract
was let to this company to furnish the
gas, and this company bought the gas
from the gas company and furnished Il
to the District of Columbia.
It was stated to the District Com
missiOners that the mantle could be
bought by anybody. but they denied the
statement. However, a contract was au-
thorized to be let for open-flame burners
at 70 cents a thousand That price was
modified when IL went to the Senate.
I do not remember the exact price which
the two houses agreed upon for gas
street lighting, but it was less than d
dollar. When the Appropriations Com