The Washington herald., 1909-02-06


the senste Committee on the Affairs OF
the District Of Columbia, which has been
considering The question Of g% legisla-
tion. yesterday conferred with the fun
committee. and a BIZ VIII be reported to
the Senate IN few days
There is a unanirnity OF opinion in the
committee In favor Of legislation along
these lines: .
A reduction in the price OF gas to 30
cents per Loco cubic feet. and with this
as q basis q sliding scale as 70 rates for
the future on the plan now IN operation
in Boston.
A limit in the quantity OF carbon mo-
noxlde 10 10 or z per cent. which win
mean the manufacture and distribution
7 of coal gaspf twenty candle power 70 the
exclusion OF water gas
Company VIII Not Fight.
I The Washington Gaslight Company. IT
1 developed yesterday, VIII not antagonize
either the reduction IN the price Of gas
gas, but It Is asking authority 10 Increase
its capitalization under an appraisement
10 be made by the courts. Interstate
/ Commerce Commission. CT a special COM
mission appointed BY the President OF BY
/ the Commissioners Of the District Of
/ Columbia Il Is this question OF capital
/ ization that promises % prove q for
/ mldable obstruction 70 legislation
CORPORATION Counsel Thomas. represent
I ing the District government and General
/ Counsel Goldsborough, representing the
/ Washington Gaslight Company, appeared
/ before the Senate committee in executive
! session and made statements and an
I svre-e5 inquiries. ar Thomas, speaking
fof the Commissioners. emphasized the
3 desire for the passage Of the House bills
4 which reduce the price 0f gas 20 . cents
and repeal that section of the act Of 1856
under which the gsslight companies are
now endeavOring TO Increase their capital.
{ He did not profess 10 have definite in
/ formation as 20 the profits IN the manu-
4 fscture and distribution OF gas. but be-
/ lieved the rate fixed by the House was
/ a reasonable one. On the question OF
! capitalization he took the position that
It was contrary TO public policy 20 author
/ ize OF permit the Increase sought by the
/ company
Mr.. Coldsborough. speaking for the gas
/ light company, assured the COMMITTEES
/ that II would bow 10 the VIII OF Con-
/ gress IN any action taken
Cost OF Change.
Questioned as TO the probable cost OF
/ installing a coal gas plant equal - the
requirements Of Washington, he said he
! had not gone into this matter thoroughly
/ enough 10 give an accurate estimate. but
/ he believed such q plant could be in
! stalled at an outlay approximatins
/ g. .0o0,o 600. exclusive Of real estate.
It viii be recalled that the water gas
/ experts heard by the House committee
/ last week estimated this outlay a;
10000
Mr.. Goldsborough assured the commit
tee that the company would DO its best
10 comply with the provisions Of any law
/ Congress might enact He made It quite
clear that it was not resisting q reason
able reduction IN price nor increased
safety as 10 It's product. He discussed at
some length the matter Of capitalization
and viii hle 4 brief on this point .
/ Senator Burkett asked Mr.. GoidsboTough
/ the extent OF the improvements made by
the Washington Gaslight Company last
year. and he answered that S350Geo was
thus expended out OF the company's sur
/ plus and profits
Hearings Not Needed.
The committee decided that there was
no necessity for it TO give hearings 10
experts on either side Of the water-gss
question. The testimony taken By the
/ House committee IN printed form IS now
in the hands OF the committee. and most
Of The members said they had read it and
digested It thoroughly.
A member Of the committee spoke Of =
conversation with a prominent citizen
Of Washington. who held that the COM
munity was more vitally interested ir
safe gas than cheaper gas.
-Ie Senate committee, Il IS understood
does not as a body take an adverse view
os the proposed increase in capitalization
but this viii undoubtedly encounter strong
opposition in the House. and fear is ex-
pressed that II viii owing TO the shori
time vet remaining Of the session, en-
danger all gas legislation