The Washington herald., 1909-02-27

The people Of Washington won a de-
eislve victory over the gas monopoly last
night. when the House Of Representatives
ADOPTED the conference report on the
District of Columbia appropriation bll
containing q clause repeating the act OF
1896. which allowed the gas companies 70
increase their capital stock almost az
viii.
This section Of the bill was not included
in the measure as it passed either House
Of Congress. but was inserted when the
bill rss sent TO conference.
The member. Of both Houses are highly
pleased with this action. as It viii prevent
the unfair increase 50 mUch desired b.
tn washington Gasight Company. which
question is now pending IN the Supreme
Court.
House Haze Passed Bill.
TIE House passed d bin repealing this
act on the first District day in the House
this session. bat the measure has been
tied up IN the Senate ever since. and most
o. the members cid not believe the cues
ton could be settled this year. The same
provision was reported in the gas blu
introduced two weeks ago by Senator Gai-
Iinger. but there IS 50 much opposition
10 that measure that no one believed It
would pass.
The same provision Was also Included
( in the blanket gas oII introduced IN ths
House by Repres sDtasive SIMS Of Ten
I nessee. but Jhis MEASURE has never been
given the stamp of approval by the f5ouse
Z Committee on the District ~ C0luubia.
( Now that thls section of the IS law
. 'aas been repealed there 3 10 danger of
the companies raising their capital stock
above the legitimate lrgres. v-hien ihe-
und9s5tcdly could have done If the se-
( peaHng clause had not been included il
! the District appropriation blT-
Provides seTen Directors.
! TIE bill also amends the charter - The
/ Washington Gaslisht Company SO as 10
/ increase the number Of members of the
board Of directors from i've 70 seven
/ The measure provides that al con-
( panies manufacturing CT selling CaS OF
I electricity in the District Of Columbia
/ keep an open SCI OF books which may az
any time be inspected bY the pu5lic-
/ These are also new provisions. put iu ~
] the conferees, and not considered by
| either the whole Senate OF House. Tl@
/ clause that the company keep an open set
( of books was provided IN one Cf the gas
! bills introduced in the House but 10 ac-
! tIon was ever taken CT that measure
Price of Gas.
| No expenditure shall be made uude- the
appropriations for fuel gas and electric
( light by the government OF the District
at a price exceeding $ cents a thousand
/ cubic feet OF gas. or ~ cents Elowatt
! hour for electric curre1t-
This provision shah not apply 70 light
ing streets. avenues. alleys. or highways.
the price for this having been limited iR
| another section OF the biu.
! As passed by the Senate, the House bilI
was increased about g. eco. The changes
made by the conferees reduced the bill.
as amended by the Senate. SLg06o TIE
] changes made by the couferees are i'm
! portant in many respects. and a great
many OF them may be regarded as en-
( tirely new legislation
Regulates Estimates.
4 section is added prohibiting the Com
missioners from making estimates more
than twice as large as the District reve-
nues for the year n which the estimates
are asked
Last year the Commissioners sent est
mates 10 Congress exceeding twice the
revenues BY more than S4-ooo0oo. and the
members Of the Appropriations Committee
were unable &c make a large number OF
the allowances in view Of the incoming
revenues.
The Representative decided % hold
| the amount down TO twice the revenues.
/ because 10 the revenues is added a sim
liar amount By I1S szsited States govern
ment
The Commissioners are also forbidden
to publish the amount Of the estimates
4 before they are given 70 Congress. This
action was deemed neceSSar- because
lCOngressmen say that the Commissioners
have been in the habit Of publishing their
estimates before members of the Ap-
preparation committees knew what they
contained.
Vagraney Defined.
| Another new section added to the bHl
was that defining vagrancy and vagran1s
IN the District Of Columbia L asserts
that vagrants are all idle persons. who.
not having visible means Of support. live
without lawful employment. or persons
wandering about visiting tipping shops
OF other places Of I'll fame.
Migrants are ssIsO idle persons who
! sleep in grcggeries. outhouses. sheds.
Or barns. and are not able 10 give q
good account OF themselves. Persons
wandering about and begging are also
Included in this el1ss. as are all persons
leading an immoral, idle. or profigats
life. who have no property to support
them. and who are able OF body 70 work.
Continued on Page ?, Column 8.