The Washington herald., 1909-02-01


reguiations7
Mr. ForstaIl-Tes: there Is no general
law against t. Now. the question Of
agitation against the use Of water gas
has been pretty well taken care Of by
: MT. Barker, because there has been no
! particular agitation; that Is, no inpor-
tant agitation that ever came near leg
, islation in any State. except Massaehu-
sets. and at the present time there are
, no restrictions in any state or city of
: the United States Of which I am aware.
nor are there any IN any other countries.
except as obtains IN France.
Mr. MOOre-I do not want 10 break in
. on you there. excepting TO ask this ques-
, ton. because II is appropriate a. this
time This bin, II r. 26S9S. regulating
the quantity OF carbon nOnoxI6e Ia gas
in the District OF Columbia, prohibits any
corporation, existing or Otherwise. or 10
exist, from manufacturing. making. sell
ing, or supplying any gas FOR heating or
Illuminating purposes IN the District Of
Columbia which shall contain an excess
Of 10 per cent OF carbon moaOxfde -
you know Of any State IN the Union that
has any such restriction as that2
Mr. Forstall-Yes. and no. I think there
is still a law on the statute books OF New
Jersey which prohibits-I viii Est at IL
IN another way. This law is a Law en-
titled An act 70 permit the formation OF
gas companies" and Il provides the zen
eral law under which gas companies can
be formed. with the stipulation that such
companies shall furnish a gas which shall
not contain more than a certain amount
Of sulphur per hundred cubic feet. ana
6 certain amount Of ammonia, nor a GER
tain amount Of carbon mcnoxide OF 10 Der
/ cent Of hydrogen II Is absolutely I'M
possible TO make q gas OF that kind.
Mr.. Taylor-Even coal gas2
| Mr. FOTstaIl-Even that has over 90
per cent Of hydrogen, and at the lowest.
I > per cent Of carbon nlonoxide. That law
does not affect any OF the companies in
New Jersey They We're Incorporated
| there before the general law was passed
or after II was passed. by act OF the
/ legislature. That law was passed
know b. a statement OF one OF the men
who had st passed 90 prevent the forrna-
! ton Of gas companies n New Jersey
under the general law.
Mr.. TayiOT-In other words. TO compel
them 10 come IN and form under special
charter?
them 20 come in and form under special
charter
Mr.. MOore-They do manufacture gas
notwithstanding that law you have re-
ferred 10. which does not come within
the limitations here2
Mr. FOrstail-An the gas IS outside Of
that law
Mr.. TaylOr-Manufae;ursd under special
charter?
Mr.. Forstail-Yes You cannot make =
gas that can comply with that law. OF It
was not intended
Mr.. Moore-Comply with the New Jer-
sey law, or with this law2
M Forstau-With the New Jersey Ian,
am not certain that Il IS stfl on The
statute books. but I think il IS. I do 4
not remember seeing that Il was repeaI- I
ed Il was passed quite a number OF 4
years ago I think Il was IN 1916 that II 4
was passed I DO not know hat II has 4
ever been repealed With that exception
there is no law that pretesds 20 restric..
and the passage OF that biH 20 wbicl,
you referred. Mr.. Moore. would put tie
District OF Columbia IN a position entire
iy different from that OF any other com
munity IN the United States.
Mr. MOOre-DO you agree with 8Ir. Nc
nhenny that the passage OF this law
would practically put the Washington
ness cut OF business?
Mr.. Forstall-If you vera 10 mass Thar
law and make Il go into force immediate
". why, yes; they could only supply
about one-hfth OF their present business.
1Ir. Moore-That. of course. vgouI5 A.
feet ever consumer OF gas IN the city b
OF Washington
Mr.. ForstslI-Unless they considered II
thar they had authority 10 circumscribe
the district around the gas works and J
supply that district and 1T the rest OF
the District OF Columbia 90 without gas. {
II they tried 20 supply the whole Dis I
tTict. nobody would get gas enough.
Mr. Sims-DOes that bfu read 10 take {
effect on passage?
Mr.. Taylor-It does not say at ali. S
Mr. Sims-Then Il would take effect I
from. its approval without amendment. I
Mr. Moore-The point I had in mind
was. that here IS a concern that has in {
rested very large amount of money: c
he money comes from stockholders in Z
various sections OF the country-I have @
20 doubt some may be widows and or q
1hans, for al We know-who invested in o
rood faith. They have established this T
enterprise, giving a service TO the people o
" Washington. The people Of Washing ?
on have a right 10 complain II that .
Iervice Is not efficient here. This bill.
Is these witnesses view 81 would stop q
he business OF that company and neces-
itate some action upon the part OF the L
suzens OF the District Of Columbia TO
btain other service. X would create q c
'rest deal OF confusion. II the statement
4 these gentlemen Is true. the passage q
Z the bill would put the company out a
z business.
Mr. Tayior-And according to Mr. Nc Ic,
lheHuy's statement. It would take thres
ears TO get II IN shape TO manufacture u
be other kind OF gas. "
Mr. FoTstRll-I may state that Mr. Nc s.
lhennys estimate Of the cost OF estab-
shing q coal gas plant is very moderate. CT
do not think he could Go Il for s5,Go0.0O0 is
: 5000. COO b,
Mr.. Moore-Have you any knowledge OF O;
he cause OF agitation in this particular OF
lstance? is
Mr.. Forstall-Only what 7 have gath Al
red from the printed copies OF the pro
eedings az these hearings, the opinion sc
the district attorney, and message
rom the President. p'
Mr.. MooTe-You have stated. aad so IN
ave most Of the other gentlemen. that
be manufacture OF carbon monoxide OF
general, OF what you czIl csrburetted 50
ster gas; that It IS general. not only in IS
lis country, but IN foreign countries, so IA
ar as they have adopted Hlurninants
lere, and that there Is no legislation,
Icept in the one single instance which Pc
ou have explained-that Of New jersey "a
hitting the manufacture as proposed BY :
lis bill. That is, 7 understand, what =.
1u have stated substantially? .
Mr.. Forstall-Tes, sir =
Mr. Moore-The basis OF this bill seems - -
be, so Far as I have been able 20 az
ltheT, that one man in Washington =,
st his life by reason OF his inhalation -.
what is known as carbon monoxlde2
Air. Forstall-There were three -
Mr.. Taylor-Oae man since then-a man %
fha TrfIta-z ETo&aF