The Washington herald., 1909-01-15
EXPECT NO OPPOSITION
Plan viii Allow Ten Per Cent
Water Product.
House District Committee Asks the
Board of Commissioners -ts For
ward BiIE-Represensatfve Jenkins
Introduces Measure Providing for
AequisitIon by District Governments
of All Gas and Electric Plants.

A biz defining the quality Of gas sold
in the District Of Columbia viii be intro
dnced IN Congress either this afternoon
or tomorrow.
In ali probability the measure wiz pro-
vide for gas not containing more than
10 per cent water gas, which produces
such large amount Of carbon monoxide.
and which IS held responsible for the
large number Of deaths among Washing
ton consumers.
The bin VIII be drafted by the corpora
ton counsel. at the request Of the Board
OF Commissioners. who are leading the
fight for safe gas IN the District It,
probably VIII be introduced by Chairman
Smith. OF the House District Committee.
Committee Asks for Bill.
The fight for safe gas in the District
was brought 70 q climax at the meetIns
Of the Committee on the District OF CO.
lumbia yesterday morning. when II vas
decided that the Commissioners and not
the committee should decide whether q
bin calling for 70 Per cent water gas. or
"A bin prohibiting water gas entirely
should be presented. a letter was writ
ten the Commissioners 70 this effect, and
in response the measure they approve
VIII be sent to Congress to-day
Following a conference with Dr.. wilsy.
of the Bureau OF Chemistry. Commis-
sloner NiacfsTland yesterday made public
The conclusions Of the chief chemist 7eIa-
tive TO the present emergency, and In
medis;ely sent them TO Chairman Smith
These suggestions. however. cid not
reach the chairman before the meeting
OF the District COMMITTEES.
We are Of the opinion that the amount
OF carbon unonoxide should be limited 70
10 per cent. says Dr.. Wiley. Ordinary
gas contains as an average about TO
per cent carbon monoxsde This amount
may rise TO nearly 10 Per cent If certain
Goals and methods Of distillstion are used.
Would Be Effective.
Hence We believe that q 70 per cent
limit would allow the gas company 10
use practically any coal and distHation
process they desired. and yet prevent
then from using any considerable amount
Of deadly water gas. which contains from
60 10 % Per cent carbon nonoxide
Tt is needless TO point out to you the
desirabnity OF limiting the amount oH
carbon monox'de in Illuminating gas. as
il Is well known 10 the general public
as well as % all ssnitarians that carbon
m3noxide IS the active poisonous principle
which IS responsible for practically all
deaths from gas used for Illuminating
puI poses.
Could Revoke Charter.
The corporation counsel has given
further study to the charter OF the WASH
iDgton Gaslight Company. and, IN his
opinion. the word nuisance can be msds
a sufficient ground for it's revocation os
the charter OF the gas company II II
continues to manufacture and sell a dan
gerous product Without further Iegisla-
ton, Congress may revoke this charter.
acting through the Attorney General, II
is said
The inspector Of gas and meters, E
G. Runyon. VIII make daily inspection
and analyses Of the gas, and upon his re-
ports depends the prospect Of further ac-
ton looking to the revocation OF the
charter. If the bills presented to Congress
are ineffective in insuring the safety OF
the consumers.
The Washington Gaslight Company has
not acknowledged the receipt OF the let
ter sent to It by the Commissioners last
Friday. This letter requested that the
company Immediately and voluntarily dis
continue the production and distribution
Of water gas.
Government Ownership
a bin authorizing the acquisition BY
the government of all plants OF electric
lighting companies and gaslight com
panies in the District Of Columbia by
purchase or condemnation was intro
duced in the House yesterday by Repre-
sentative jenkins. OF Wisconsin.
This is a step that some members Of
Congress believe viii insure pure gas II
other attempts fail.
II is provided that the President shall
appoint. with the consent Of the Senate.
one engineer officer Of the army and two
citizens OF the District 70 agree with the
owners OF the plants upon the price 70 Be
paid. The District Commissioners and
the three appointees already named shall
constitute a commission for the purchase
Of these plants The assistant 20 the
EngineeF- Commissioner IS to act as
executive officer Of the commission
Provision is also made for an accurate
map ofcthe properties involved. -Four OF
shall constitute a quorum. When tbs
has arrived az the conciu-
sion with the owners they shall submit
the offer to the President, and upon his
approval a contract for the purchase
S-H be entered into
If the commission Is unable TO reach
an agreement with the owners OF the
plant the properties shall be condemned
for public use, and steps shall be taken
to bring about this condemnation through
the District Supreme Court by the At