The Washington herald., 1909-02-03

u tbs House Committee on the District
of Columbia wants money 70 continue the
investigation Of the dangers OF carbon
monoxide contained IN the Illuminating
gas sold in washington, al II has TO Go
Is ask Congress for 81 allowance and It
VIII be granted.
This statement vas made yesterday BY
more than q dozen members OF Congress.
who scoff a the statements OF the Com
nissioners, the corporation counsel, and
the members OF the District Committee.
that the investigation cannot be contn-
ued because there is no money with which
10 pay ths witnesses
Chairman Smith, Of the District Com
nlttee. viii bring the matter 10 ths at
tention OF the members at the meeting
tomorrow morning, and 4 they want the
Investigation continued, he win present
a resolution 10 the House asking for ths
appropriation. Mr.. Smith believes the
money viii be allowed
should Have Requested Money.
II was further said by members OF Con-
gress that 4 the Commissioners had stat
ed officially several weeks ago that they
wanted 10 continue II. all they had 10 do
was 10 make the request OF the District
Committee. and a resolution could hs.ve
been adopted by the House
Members OF Congress put but little
weight to the statements that the inves-
tigati0n was allowed 70 lay because there
vas no money Idle folly" lame ex-
cuse." and similar terms were used by
them yesterday in discussing the situa-
ton
since the appearance Of several men,
paid by gas companies, before the District
Committee q number OF The members
have been inclined to the belief that fur
ther testimony was necessary CT the
evils Of the deadly poison TO warrant
action By Congress II was said by mem
hers OF the committee that the Commis-
sioners, who drafted the bill defining the
quality OF gas 70 be manufactured and
sold in Washington, should send other
experts before the committee to offset
the statements OF the gas company en-
plcyes.
The Commissioners theq said they
would put the matter "squarely up TO the
House committee that they had no
money for such an investigation. The
members Of Congress yesterday held this
excuse st naught. and declared the money
could be obtained II II was desired
II Is highly probable that Mr.. Bemis.
the Cleveland, Ohio, expert who appeared
before the committee last year, VIII be
called 10 Washington Several other ex-
perts have signihed their willingness TO
come, and II Is thought that with a
very small appropriation, services Of
enough men 70 show that carbon monox-
ide should be excluded from the iIlumi-
mating product can be obtained.
Officials Nay Testify.
II Is now believed that Surgeon General
Rlxsy and other officials OF the army and
navy VIII be called before the committee
TO tell what they know OF the deadly
effects Of carbon moIoxids.
A member Of Congress who is not a
member Of the District COMMITTEES yes
terday said that Il Chairman Smith did
not present resolution asking for the
money for the investigation. ne would see
that such g measure was presented.
I think it would be better for the
members Of the committee 10 act, but Il
they DO not viii try to bring about some
action
The statements Of Dr.. Wiley. Of the
Bureau OF Chemistry. and Dr.. HAYWARD
and DR.. Skinner, his assistants. ars
Weighing heavily on the minds OF the
friends OF Washington IN Congress, and
they DO not believe that the gas com
pany's witness should be allowed to block
the legislation TO insure a safe iIluminat-
ing product IN Washington.
FavOrs Continuing Inquiry.
Representative Sims. OF the District
Committee. is highly IN favor OF contin-
uing the investigation until the other
members OF the committee are satisfied
that g remedy IS needed TO take away the
danger TO the consumers Of the Washing
ton GaslIght Company. He said yesterday
that he would support the resolution
calling for an appropriation 10 pay the
witnesses. and that he believed other
members OF the committee would also
favor such action.
Several members OF the District Com
rittee were asked about the Investigation
yesterday. and not one OF them thought
the matter should be allowed to drop al
this time
Even II there is no legislation 70 90
through this session Of Congress" said
one Of them. the committee should
know lust what dangers overhang the
people Of Washington at the hands OF q