Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31

h,on II you consider it worth while to
continue H.
Mr.. Taylor here assumed the chair.
Mr.. Sims-1 hope 1 may be pardoned for
saying that think the newspapers ara
doing exactly right to publish the testi
mony that is being given before this COM
mittee in full detail. and let the people
read Il.
Mr.. Murphy-Mr. Thomas In conversa-
ton moment ago. spoke TO me about
this and said that he thought the Com
sioners might need witnesses here. and
they had no authority to get them. and
1 suggested to him that II ne spoke to
the chairman OF the committee I had
no doubt they would be invited, IL they
wanted to come.
Mr.. Taylor-They were invited, spe-
cially.
Mr. Murphy-And then Mr. Thomas said
that he did not understand tina, they had
any business here except by sufferance
and IL did not strike me just that way.
Mr.. Tayior-Yeu will remember that
announced yesterday that any person
present could ask questions Of witnesses
at the proper time and place: that is.
We had made the ruling to let the man
appearing make his statement, and then
anybody present was eligible to ask Ques-
tons. Mr.. Goldsborough. I believe. asked
questions and other gentlemen whose
names l do not know asked questions.
and there is no reason why the corpora
ton counsel should not ask questions. II
Is eminently proper, and the chair would
say that the corporation counsel, repre-
senting the Commissioners or the Com
miSsionerS themselves. or anybody else
can come here and ask any proper ques-
tons
Mr.: Murphy-I do rot wish It to be
understood that was presuming To speak
for the committee in any respect.
Mr.. Taylor-Oh, no.
Mr.. Murphy-It was just In a casual
way that l spoke
,r,,-t-
ton nor persecution. 1t is an investiga-
ton. and We court information from any
source that is reliable.
Came by Invitation.
Mr.. Goldsborougll-I want to say, IL you
Will pardon me for doing SO, that I came
here by the invitation OF the Commits
sioners. and. of course, the corporation
being here by counsel was matter that
1 had no control of, but it is entirely
agreeable to me; and it is the attitude of
the corporation which l have the honor
to represent that they would be glad to
have all the light that can be furnished
on this subject, and such action by the
committee as they may think proper
after getting it.
Mr.. Taylor-As I understand you. the
question before lis was whether Mr..
Thomas should ask questions. should in
terrogate witnesses. Shall we proceed,
gentlemen!
Mr.. Sims-are you ready now to have
questions asked, Mr.. Forstall or have
you not finished your statement?
Mr.. Forstall-I have just about two
or three minutes more
Mr.. Taylor-Proceed then. For the
benefit of Mr.. Thomas l would say that
the question ne has raised is a proper
one. and we want you here. In fact, the
committee would consider it eminentIy
proper that you should be here as we'll as
any one representing the gas companies
and any private citizens who have oues-
tons to ask that are proper are at liber-
ty TO ask them at the proper time.
Mr.. Moore-You have never been denied
that privilege?
Mr.. Thomas-No, have not been denied
anything.
Instructions to inspectors.
Mr.. Forstall-On page fourteen OF the
printed report OF the hearing of January
c3 before this committee there are what
purport to be instructions TO inspectors
OF factories IN Great Britain and a quota
ton from an editorial comment from a
report OF the Chemical Board of Trade OF
London. / think it ought to be made
clear that both those and this comment
do not refer to the distribution by the
gas company of carbureted water gas
but refer to the production in factories Of
either blue water gas or producer gas.
which is produced in the factory and used
right on the premises. There is a great
deal OF that being done, both in this
country and in Europe, in manufacturing
communities, and these regulations were
gotten up to cover that particular ac-
tivity.
! want to make a correction to my
answer to the chairman's question yes
terday as to whether I was interested in
any gas company. I stated I was inter
ested In small gas company in Pennsyl-
yania. and 1 forgot that I also owned
some stock OF the Consolidated Gas. Elec-
trio Light and Power Company OF Balt1-
more. That is the extent OF my interest
In gas companies. That interest was SO
small. the amount of the stock was so
small. that / forgot all about it yesterday.
1 think that finishes UP what I had to
say, Mr.. Chairman.
Of the committee has any questions to
ask they should be asked before others
interrogate the witness.
Mr.. SimS-You are the chairman of the
committee. Have You anything to ask?
Mr.. Taylor-No. I have nothing to ask
Mr.. Sims-I would like to ask Mr.. For
stall several questions. You are person.
ally acquainted with the Washington Gas
Company's plant. are you, or not?
Mr.. Forstall-No, sir; was at one OF
1901. That is the only time I have been
to either of them.
Cost Of Coal Gas Exclusively.
Mr.. Sims-What do you think, from
your knowledge If you have sufficient
knowledge to have an opinion, it would
cost the company to change their plant SO
as to manufacture exclusively coal gas, or
gas containing not to exceed 10 per cent
Of carbon monoxideP
Mr.. Forstall-To manufacture exclu-
Sively coal gas?
Mr.. Sims-YeS.
Mr.. Forstall-From the statements that
have been made, to the effect that it
would be necessary to construct an en-
tirely new plant. that on the present loca-
ton Of the works there is not sufficient
ground to erect a coal gas plant-becauSe
the committee should understand that il
takes about three to four times as much
ground for a coal gas plant of a given
capacity AS it does for carbureted wa
ter gas plant of given capacity
Mr.. Sims-Iou do not state that of your
own personal knowledge?
Mr.. Forstall-No. If that condition of
affairs exists that new land would have
to be acquired ard an entirely new plant
would have to be built which is reason
able from the fact that they are now
averaging only 20 per- cent of coal gas. il
would cost nearer 500 100000 than the
100000 mentioned by Mr.. McIlhenny
yesterday.
Mr.. Sims-I did not know bu. what you
had been working on this, and knew
about it.
Mr.. Forstall-No: I have been working
entirely on these statistics.
Mr.. Sims-I want to ask you if it is pos
sible by any means whatever to reduce
the proba bilities of accident of death or