The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-30

fcer in Massachusetts. doing your duty,
as / understand IT.
Mr.. BARKER-And 7 hope 10 make
myself clear 70 the committee.
Mr.. SIMS-You know when an expert
is giving testimony 10 noneXpert, it is
a little difficult 10 make it clear. In
other words, we do not understand IT.
/ and consequently our questions may
! seem tedious to YOU. AS 1ar as / am
/ concerned they may be, but 1 simply
/ want 10 get at the Facts. II Ihere IS no
/ practical benefit TO the people in the
way of saving life and health In using
| coal Gas exclusively, ] see no argument
/ for passing the bill before Us, but II
/ health and life are involved, as far as
| am concerned, If il puts gas up 10
/ $50 a thousand / am not measuring
/ the expense of the as with the results
/ MIR, BARKER-Our duty has called US
| to investigate this subject from praC-
/ ucal standpoint. and that investigation
/ has been made with d Lul knowledge or
! The nature and effect ot carbon mouoA-
Ide and its appearance in the two gases.
/ and as I stated before we nave been
! unable 10 see how the fatalities when
/ have actually occurred, where they nave
/ occurred IN the territory occupied by
| water gas. would have been appreClably
| less numerous If coal gas had been
/ used Do ] make that clearE
| Mr.. SIMS-4eS, / eaten YOU state
/ ment about 1T. IT seems 10 m- to be
/ based upOn the idea that the exposures
usually, or at least those you have IN
/ vestigated, have been for a sufhcient
length of time 10 have caused death Dy
/ the use of coal gas exclusively.
/ Mr. BARKER-HeS-
Mr. SIMS-But there is no general
/ rule TO govern that IS tneref is not
! that all a matter OF aCclSenL!
The Suicides Eliminated
Mr.. Except where they are
suicidal
Mr.. sIAIs-We are eliminating that.
Mr.. BARKER-The great bulk OF
them are suicidal
Mr.. SIMS DO not see any use Of
considering that for a moment, be-
cause a suicide could use something
Mir TAYIDR-As 1 understand. tho
witness is simply differentldung be-
tween suicide ana accident
Mr.. SIMS did not know he had eN-
amiued suicide with reference TO WnlCu
was the most poisonous. or course.
either one would be poisonous IN JhaI
Mr.. BARKER-ExCept that IT was in
/ cluded in the entire study, that IS all
We did not attempt TO examine II be
1 cause it was suicidal But aside from
I that the experience usually is Ehat the
Gas begins 10 come into the room where
the person is some time In TIE evening"
| when ne is going TO bed, and tuat IL
continues TO come int the room uIlJll
some time in the morning or -ne next
day, before there is any alarm given or
before his absence OCCASIONS any inquiry
/ for him. What IS the usual experience
and undoE those conditions the Iatah-
/ ties and raCOyeries seem 10 be ABOUT as
regular. without much regard - which
gas is used.
A Higher uluminant-
Mr. SINIS-And the argument in favor
. of the using of the water gas. or per-
, hitting its use. as a mixed gas, has
been upon the idea that in practice Il
causes no more fatal or dangerous re
suits, and that 10 Is cheaper and Of
| higher illuminating power
? Mr.. BARKER-Yes, sir.
. Mr. MURPHY-Chedpe to mdnufaC
Mr. sIMs-Cheaper to manufacture
Z / that Is what / mean. II would lake n'
/ difference. would ii. as an economic
? / proposition, TO a manufacturing com
S pany. as TO whether they used coal o.
water gas, providing they were allowe'
/ to have the same percentage or earn
T / iugs upon the investment
s Mr. BARKER-Well. IL does not OcCu
70 to me that II would.
Z Mr.. SIMS-If there was an aTbltrar.
< price fixed for both gases or any ga
r used then / could see why a COMPANY
;, would desire TO make the cheapest gas
& / but il the price OF gas IS fixed upon tn
3 cost OF manufacture to the company
- and the investment therefor, then /
I would not make any difference 70 tn
= company whether they made coal %
!, water gas exclusively, IT they got IN
Z same per cent of earnings upon the In
o Mir BARKER-No; they could prob
], ably continue in that attitude for an
70 length of time.
s Mr.. SIMS-We are assured here b.
e / gentlemen who know WHEREOF the
sneak from the standpoint or the com
q Dauy that water gas was not auOpte
4 here from economic reasons. but on &C
II count OF the candlepower required the
IS have to use oil to such an extent tina
< / the gas company Das no Deheul ltoi
ia the manufacture OF water gas.
n Nr BARKER can understand tina
p Mr. SIMS-Theu they would have n
interest In IL, except changing Nthel
/ plant SO as 10 manufacture toai 80
! exclusively
Mr.. BANKER can understand Yer
g / well the necessity for the use or waite
10 | gas TO obtain nigh and satisract0T
~ caudlepOWer, satisfactory gas or
g / high CandlepOWeT.
> Mr.. MURPHY-DO YOU mean 1t cannc
- be obtained with coal gas
Mr.. BAKERY es, sir j DO NJ
% think that as satisfactory gas OF mig
- candlepOwer can be obtained with Goa
Mr. MURPHY-The ordinary candle
y Uower used i'm Illuminating, say 2
" candlepower. IS, %. or =: 49,. --,,, -
y Mr.. BARKER-No, sir: that Will nd
ID be made IN the coal gas works, In a
exclusively coal gas works, as salts
70 factory gas. It never has been, 10 M
"A knowledge.
~ Mr.. SIHS-WhiCh is a better gas
use Tor heating purposes. water or e.
clusiyely coal gas2
"a Mr. BARKER-Well, strictly spCa
~ inc. I think that theoretically the co
b.. cas- has a tride higher heating power
= Mr.. Speaking alone for myse
- and this being the Capital City. and :
a. / are trying 10 keep d IN condition TO
20 beautifuI and so forth, I thought
AZ was TO the Interest Of the people he
- to use gas for heating purposes
% / much as possible, 10 get rid Of q
a. ashes and ciuders that come ont of q
~ use OF coal or other fuel and If e
a. + can be made that can be used for hea
80 ing purposes, cooking ranges gas hea
O. | ers aud things OF that Sort II seer
"a to me as # we ought to encourage
-, i'm this city especially rather than Z
taTd it.
ce Little Used for Heating
a. Mr.. BARKER Presumed that g
er was probably used in this city no
largely for cooking purposes but We
little for heating purposes
W. Mr.. SIAS-They have small gas hee
Dr ers in bathrooms ano small rooms, al
he the like Of that nos
NJ. BARKER-Yes. out II is really
gr4g1g use.