The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-31

Continuance OF the fight for purer and
cheaper gas in Washington, 60 Ear as the
District government is concerned. again
I centers about the old and pressing cry,
There is nc money available for this
purpose
The small sum set apart for the judi
cial expenses Of the District Is tie only
appropriation % carry forward offensive
and defensive tactics IN she interest OF
the people OF the Capital. as opposed 20
the resources OF the Washington Gasiight
Company.
The situation IS made poignant by the
| fact that doubt exists over the adeGuate
representation OF the District interests at
the gas hearings now being held by the
House District Committee. Hesitation
f. expressed over an action Of vital I'M
portance 10 the success Of the gas fight.
and simply because the District cannot
afford the expenditures involved
Makes Frank Statement.
Corporation Counsel Thomas frankly
says that Il the Commissioners desire
him TO continue as the representative Of
the District interests al the gas hearings
Il win compel him 20 throw over ali the
other duties Of bis once. and also. per-
haps. involve the District In expenditures
which It IS not prepared to assume
On behalf Of the District, three ez-
perts were named yesterday by the cor
poration counsel AT the request OF the
House committee. who VIII presumably
/ be called at the proper time. The date OF
the hearing IN question has not been set
Nor Is IL assured that two Of the ez-
Derts. +. ". Bemis, Of Cleveland Ohio.
WIKI. appeared at the former gas hearing.
and Dr.. Alton B. Adams. Of Worcester,
Mass. win be called
Both are high-priced men. and Il Is not
/ certain the District can afford them. y
number Of other experts 81 national au-
thority might he called IN the event Of
J persistent opposition 70 the District pro-
I gramme but il IS out Of the question -
/ the present time.
! The House Committee on the District
/ OF Columbia Is in "a receptive mood, %
/ according 10 the statement OF one 81 its
members Il is willing 10 hear whatever
/ testimony may be offered. It places upon
the District government the responsibility
OF conducting an elaborate fight for Iegis-
Iation which Is desired when il has pro-
vided no funds for that purpose nor in
| terested itself IN seeing that the District
interests are properly represented
The gas bills which were drawn up
/ in the Office Of the corporation counsel -
/ says Mr.. Thomas. at the request Of the
4 Commissioners, was done without any
/ preliminary research or investigation by
| either tho Commissioners or myself. nor
vas It. SO far as ] know, contemplated
/ that we should make any.
Fight Before Congress.
Whether this should have been done
or not is entirely apart from the question
Of whether we had the money with which
10 do H. The fact remains that had il
been done We should now be in a far
I better position TO make our. fight before
1 Congress. Our plan OF campaign would
have been prepared. and We would be
able 20 meet the experts Of the Wash
! fngtcn Gasligbt Company point by point -
Investigation OF the question Of rates
1 and capitalization, which the gaslight
/ company has thrust into the hearings,
might have been made beforehand with
1 the needed appropriation.
! The fact was boldly stated yesterday, %
I continued Mr. Thomas. by one Of the
/ experts called by the Eas corporation
/ that the installation OF apparatus Tor The
manufacture OF pure coal gas would mean
4 an expenditure Of S7.o0o.000. This state
ment may or may not be true. As the
J case stands now we have no means OF
( Tefutlng it"
An inquiry into other points brought
up at the hearing is essential AZ this
/ time The quality Of coal gas furnished
/ by the Georgetown Gas Company is one
% them. The fact tlat coal gas has been
I attacked by the experts Of the gaslight
/ company. in comparison with the mixed
! coal and water gas, would make timely al
/ investigation Of the two qualities OF gas
1 furnished the people Of Washington and
Georgetown.
II the Georgetown coal gas is deficient
relatively speaking. in the matter Of can
/ dlepower. and IL IL smokes. owing 10 the
! large quantity Of oil IN L. the people OF
I the Capital are entitled 10 the informa-
ton.
The Price OF CoaI Gas.
Another inquiry ia an entirely different
groove. and one involving more elaborate
/ preparation, would be the question Of
why the Georgetown Gas Company can
furnish coal gas at 81 a thousand feet.
having the legal right to charge SIS,
when the Washington Gaslight Company.
a much larger corporation. cannot supply
/ coal gas with q mixture OF 10 per cent
carbon monoxide at the same rate
| The corporation counsel is COntemplat-
ing the preparation Of chart showing
the relative percentage Of deaths due TO
gas in washington and Georgetown. This
would develop an interesting contrast, IL
is believed.
In the meantime the extreme danger
from the manufacture OF water gas IS
one matter upon which the District is
I prepared to insist. Il has the highest
authority behind it on that point
There Is, however, one expert who viii
be called. Prof. Charles Z. Monroe, chem
I ist, Of this city. His name, with the two
others already mentioned. was suggested
/ to the Commissioners yesterday by the
! corporation counsel. with the recommen-
/ dalton that II be furnished :he House
committee. which viii call him at the
I proper time.
Decide Upon Gettysburg Memorial.
/ Special tn The Washington Herald.