The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-08
Declares Delay Will Give
Company Chance to
Water Stock.
SENATE IS DILATORY,
is HIS COMPLAINT
Insists That Delay Means Capital
Never Will Get Relief.
Makes Speech.

Calling the attention OF the House TO
the fact that the time for adjournment
was drawing near and that the gas
bill already passed by the House was
stil lying dormant IN the Senate com
mIttee room, Representative Sims Of
Tennessee today urged the House 10
consider at once the bill he introduced
last Saturday as a compromise bill on
all gas legislation and which. lie says,
viii remedy the evils now existing
Mr.. Sims intimated that the dilatory
action OF the Senate so far Indicated
that It considered the gas question as
one that should be settled once tor all.
and said he saw no chance for -egisla-
ton obtaining cheaper and better gas
for washington unless the House
passed at once a blanket bill to which
the Senate could agree without amend
ment before March f.
Wants House to Do II.
Mr.. Sims purpose. as indicated. is to
discharge the District Comm ttee from
further consideration OF the gas ques-
tion and 10 have the House Immediately
consider the legislation. He called the
attention of the House 10 the fact that
the gas companies now had an appeal
before the United states Supreme Court
that they might be allowed 10 increase
their stock under section 8, act Of 1896.
that the Senate had. as yet. refused
TO acquiesce in the repeal by the House
OF this section. and thar, ia event the
-
eide In favor Of the gas companies be-
fore the convenIng Of the next Con-
gress, that the stock imitation could take
place and cheaper gas for Washington
would be forever lost
Ia brief, the Sims compromise bill pro-
vides for gas at 90 cents. which shall
not contain more than 10 per cent OF
carbon mOnOZide; that the gas company
may be allowed 20 Increase is capital
stock 10 the actual value Of its plant.
but that good viii and franchise must
not be included In the valuation, that
the dividends shall MT be more than G
per cent unless gas shall have been sold
for less than 80 cents, and that every
gas company must keep a credit book
70 be approved blythe Interstate Com
merce Commission, similar to that pre-
scribed by the public service commits
sion Of the stats OF New York.
Bill Now Up.
There is a gas bill now before the
District Committee providing that there
shall not be more than ten per cent car
bon mon0xide in the gas furnished the
District and so far as expenses are con
cerned. We have been authorized to sum
mon expert witnesses and continue the
hearing. If we do continue they will
run throughout the session and no gas
bill of any kind viii be passed. IL is
evident that The gentlemen at the other
side OF the capitol consider the gas
question as one. and they contemplate
one bill TO contain e. the corrective
features, In view Of the hour Of near
adjournment fl will pay 20 have such
legislation.
We have now two bills In the Sen
ate, one reducing the price or gas. tae|
other repeating section g. Neither has.
been taken up This gas company has.
before the United States Supreme Court
It's appeal 20 be allowed 10 capitalize lIn- .
der section g.
1t is possible that the courts viii psee
upon this appeal In September or Oc-
toDer
Courts May act.
III the District Court OF ApneaIs rs
overruled, the gas companies would at
once issue additional capital stock and
Continued on Eleventh Page