The Washington times., 1909-02-25
HARD JOLT IS GIVEN
THE SENATE GAS BILL
Chamber Of Commerce Committee VIE Report Against
Measure--Company' Lawyers Weaken at the
Hearing and Experience Shock.

The Chamber OF Commerce tonight
win vote against the passage Of the
Senate amendment TO II. r 1885 rcgU-
latinE the sale or gas in the District.
II il adopts the report OF its Commit
tee on Public Utilities.
The seventeen members OF the com
mjttce yesterday unanimously voted
against recommending the passage OF
the bin, after hearing its provisions
thoroughly discussed by Attorney Colds
borough for the gas company and j.
G. " oliver, Allen ID. Albert, and
number or others. who spoke against
IL Mr. WeUiveT led the night for the
opposition and the decision Of the com
mittee was reached at the conclusion
of a DEBATE in which he engaged with
Attorney GOldsbOToUgh.
Favor House Bill.
Committeeman Ernest II. Daniel Of
fered the resolution adopted, which was
10 the effect that the committee or iaw
and legislation OF the Cham Der 81 Com
favorable 10 the pasSa &c of the Sas
legislation pending in the Senate The
resolution also contained a clause favor
able 20 the passage Of House bill 1919.
with q carbon nlonoNide amendment. as
follows.
BE il euacted 10y the Senate and
House of Representatives OF the United
States. in Congress assembled.
y
person. CoFarmership, association OF
corporation engaged in the manufacture
OF gas for fuel or illumination In the
District of Columbia shall sell or other
wise dispose OF the same to any person.
firm, cOparJnership. association, or cor
pOratiOu in the District Of Columbia for
4 price exceeding s. cents per thousand
cubic feet, such gas TO be Of not less
than 20-CandlepoweT measure by the
test established by existing law, and
shall not. on and after September I,
1910, contain more than 10 per centum
OF carbon mOnOXide gas"
Following the adoption OF the report,
Jackson II. Ralston. Charles ". barr,
and James \ TOomey were appointed
A special committee to present IL 20
the law and legislation committee,
when IL meets this afternoon. AS the
public utilities committee is a sub
committee of that on law and legisla-
ton, the resolutions adopted VIII have
10 be formally approved at the full
committee meeting this afternoon. be
fore the members Of the chamber final
y vote on the propositions tonight
Decision Unanimous.
The fact that the public utilities COM
mittee contains a large number OF the
members Of the committee on law and
legislation and that unanimous de-
CisiOn, uufayOraDle 10 the passage OF
the SenaTe amendment was reached,
makes Il .alTly certain that the original
report viii be the one 10 90 before the
members Of the chamber tonight
President Guide has called q fun meet
ing o. the members TO consider the gas
legislation and il is expected that the
largest attendance in the history OF the
organization will be present.
Attorney GOldsbOTOUgh opened the
hearing before the committee yesterday,
but before he had proceeded far was
put under A rigid crOSs-eNamination by
Mr.. Welliver, which continued during
the greater part Of the hearing. The
controversy was CenteTed principa lly
upon the plan Of capitalization Of the
Gas Company, and whether. under the
proposed measure. bOndholders would
be allowed TO exchange their holdings
for stock. Attorney C5oldsborough ad-
mitted that no list OF the holders Of
certificates in the company was on file
or could be secured.
Explains Capitalization.
Mr.. Goldsborough explained to the
committee the plan Of capitalizing the
+ Washington company at total Of
100000, under the new measure
Il supposed suggested Mr.. Welliver
that Mr.. GOldsbOrough would concede
that this bill contemplates total stock
issue Of 81, 6oo.O COO"
"Oh. no. nothing OF the kind replied
Mir. GOldsbOroUEh- 1t clearly fixed the
limit at ten millions. 90
y cannot agree 70 that. and will ask
gentlemen TO follow me in reading the