The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-01


cations I have made. ] have 10 look up
franchises in connection with my inves-
legations
hr. MOORE-Let me quote from sec
ton . of the Same act. incorporating this
Washington GasIght Company.
sec. @ And be it further enacted. That
nothing in this act shall be construed TO pre-
vent any person or persons. nor any incOrpo-
rated company. hereafter 10 Doe created by Con
gress for that purpose, from engaging in
and pursuing the business specified in ths
seventh section of this act, and that it shall
be lawful for Congress at any time hereafter,
10 alter. amend, or repeal this act
Having quoted this section to you. let
me ask YOU If YOU know Of any cor
from any section Of this Union who de-
sire to enter into competition and es-
tabHSh business ca the line Of business
referred to by Ri. Sims IN his cues
tions2
Mr. FORsTALL-I do not.
Advises Against Competition.
Mr. MOORE-You do not know any
body who wants to come here and 80 ia
business on those lines in competition IN
the gas business?
Mr.. FORST ALL would not advise
any gas company TO come in here TO
furnish coal gas exclusively in Wash
ington in competition with a company
furnishing q mixture
MIR. MOORE-The facts are, obtained
from the report Of the engineer depart
DsrtTnent for 1907, that there were IN
the District 50.332 brick buildings ana
y 268 frame buildings, housing the entlfe
population Of this District, OuouhB
these figures to you, then, the Lacts are
that the Washington Gaslght Company
Is furnishing service TO all these people
ina all these buildingsE
Mr. FORSTALL-NO-
Mr. RE-Substantidlly2
Nr. FORSTALI<-Nos ] do not thlnk
rYobably the Washington Gasllgnt com
Danv is furnishing service 20 more Juan
two-thirds Of the buildings IN this Terri
tory. 4t---
are getting is being furnished by the
NJ ashiugtOn Gaslight Company!
AFR FORSTALIr-Ies whatever ser
y zee they are getting is being 1uFnlsneu
bv the Washington Gaslight company
Mr.. MOORE-TheTefOTe the public Is
Getting the benefit and the convenience
If whatever service the company - CIV
ing, and paying for IL 20 D.o,.
Mr.. THOMAS-iiidL IS east Oh NUN
Sir. MOORE-The point / am getting
at Is this. YOU and other witnesses nave
said that there has been an expenditure
here of 100000 Of capital Tor the puI-
use Of establishing these WORKS, I'D
oTFer that the public might have this
service; is that correct?
Mr.. FORSTALL-No; I do not know
what the expenditure has been here.
Public Gets Service.
Mr.. MOORE-Assuming that an ex~
pznditure Of 100000 capital has been
made. the public is getting the service
and whatever benefit that expenditure
conveys 20 them2
Mr.. FORSTALL4-Yes, sir.
Mr.. MOORE-The purpose Of tnis bill
EefOre as as you understand 1t Is 10
urohibit the manufacture OF carbon
Iuonoxide in the District of Columbia,
which, according TO your judgment,
would practically put out OF business
the Washington GasllghI company Win
the enormous expenditure OF tapita' tie''
Mr. FOPSTALI.-I do not know what
the purpose of the bill Is. The effect
of its passage would lie 10 stop the
MT. MOORE WIN strike out the
word "DurDose'F and usa the word 'eI-
feet" because fl suits my purpose. The
erect OF IL would be that II would
been put IN this business by the gas
IIr. FORSTALL-Yes YOU would de-
stroy that part Of it that is put T.. INTO no
yesterday. the street mains would serve
as well for either kind Of gas
Purpose to Save Lives.
Mr.. MOORE-The purpose Of tee Dill
then apparently IS 10 save the lives that
have been lost through accident or sui
lfde by reason Of the inhalation OF car
bon mouoxide. You understand tnat to
be the purpose Of it!
AfF FoRSTALL~-GeS.
SIr. MOORE-You have given rs nS-
Ures indicating that ~ certain laise
cities, and notably IN Cnlcaso, the per
Crntage OF loss per one hundred thous'
and OF population was about SO or :.
mr.. FORSTALL-Yes in Chicago Tor
one period Of years IL was "a
AIR. MOORE-Do you regard thaI per
centage OF loss as greater or less JAau
/ the percentage Of loss through the use
OF electricity, for Instance
Mr. FORSTArT-I should think that
it was Drobabls less, though 5oI a. l nave
Mr.. MOORE-Take the losses from
( the third rail- to specify.
Mir FDRSTALI-Of course &he deaths
from electricity Increase all the ume
on account of the increase or FoItaSs
ar which electricity is distributed
throughout the cities.
Mr. WOORF-Take the third rail- OF
z the overhead wire .---..-
/ ETr FORSTALI-ALy own impression
I fz fhaF fbe deaths from electric shocks
/ are fulIv as many as the deaths from
! sas asphy&iatiOu-
Trollevs Kill More Than Gas.
/ Mr. RfOORE-Taka the trolley and
/ me railroad service: how would the
number of casualties compare there2
Mr.. FORSTALL-In New York city
re deaths from trolley are almost
d..uble the deaths from asphyxiauOg,
whether from smoke or fires or gas
/ agDhvxiatiou. asphyxiatiOn from all
{ causes.
/ Mn NOTWITHSTANDING that your
/ statement and the statements OF the
/ other gentlemen who have appeared
/ here are true, that the passage Of this
bfU would mean the destruction Of this
/ business. will you tell me whether as
/ the result OF your inquiries you nave
/ heard that because death has occurred
! from the use OF electricity or the use
J ~ The trolley or railroads anyone has
/ introduced a measure 10 stop railroads
I or the trolley or 10 prevent the use OF
/ electricity
/ AIR. TORSTALL-N0, sir
/ Mr.. MOORE-That is all.
Concerned Only About Gas
/ BIr sIMS-I feel VIII have 20 ask q
/ question, 81 view OF the line OF investi
/ cation / 90 not understand that This
/ bill raises the question as TO whether
( one sort OF public service Is more dan,
/ berous than an entirely different charac.
/ ter OF public service: but the question
( here is whether gas made exclusively oil
. coal or gas made partly of water shall