Evening star., 1909-02-26
NOT TO ACT HASTILY
Chamber of Commerce Con-
siders Gas Legislation.
| TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER
Committee Receives Instructions to
Report in Fall.
DISCUSSION GROWS GENERAL
Suggestion That House Bill Be
Adopted With Certain Changes.
Views Of Speakers.
DISCUSSION GROWS GENERAL

Members of the Chamber Of Commerce
at a special meeting last evening decided
not to take hasty action SO far as placing
themselves or record as favorins or op-
posing any phase of the pending gas leg
islaton was concerned For several days
the law and legislation committee and
subcommittee were busy discussing the bill
to fix the price of gas in the District of
Columbia which is now before the Senate
District committee A lengthy report was
prepared yesterday afternoon by the law
and legislation committee recommending
to the chamber that influence be brought
to bear to fix the price at s. cents
thousand feet as provided by the bill as
it passed the House The report also had
much to say on the proposed increase IN
Capitalization of the Washington Gas
Light Company.
After discussing the subject last even
ing and after many resolutions we're IN.
troduced c. w. Clagett of the law ana
legislation committee introduced resoiti-
ton. which met with practically uilaill-
nous favor. to send the question back TO
the committee. which should investigate
the gas situation thoroughly. hold hear
ings and employ a stenographer, ana
make a full report to the chamber early
in November.
Submits the Report.
Jackson H. Ralston read the report OF
the committee and moved that it be
adoped. The report contains, among
others. the following paragraphs:
'"The act passing the House provided
for a reduction of the price of gas to
81 cents per thousand. The Gallinser
amendment allows reduction to a price
not exceeding 9o cents thousand IN
ing the test at twenty-candle power. and
providing that after September l the gas
sold shall not contain more than 10 per
centum Of carbon monoxide gas The
more important part OF the bill LOOKS 10
an increase of the capital stock from
81, ,6O0.GCO as at present to an amount le1t
at east ambiguous under the language or
the bill but certainly not less than $40
100000 possibly S12.60o.OO0 or even up
ward, so far as the Washington Gas Light
Company is concerned. The bill also en-
powers either the Georgetown Gas Light
Company or the Washington Gas Light
COmpanyto purchase. own and utilize IN us
own business in the manufacture OF gas
coal lands wherever situate and any other
sources Of supply of raw materials uied
in manufacturing its products or its by
products.
1T was frankly admitted by the repre-
sentative of the gas company that should
the bill pass it is the design of the cor
porations affected to have their companies
recapitalize according to the value of
their property. including as property
the value of their franchises Innas-
much as the physical value of the
property is only estimated at about $4,000
U0O it is evident that the franchise value
which the company confidently expects to
ca apitalfze should the bill become. "A law,
will be not less than S6.oo0,O0O or SSCC0.-
COO and perhaps more. as against a par
value of stock at the present time of
Sc,HNO00.