Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-23
Cheaper and Better Gas.

The House District committees bills,
reducing the price of gas To 81 cents ana
prohibiting any increase of the gas COM
-pany's capitalization without the consent
of Congress give a good start to the leg
islation for which the community is hop
ing. 1t had been expected that as re-
suit of the recent hearings the House
committee acting on the theory that con-
CrsSs had by its previous action clearly
= ind GATED that it reserved In itself the eX-
elusive right To increase this capita MA
ton. would report specifically whether
any such increase should at this time be
made and. if an affirmative decision was
reached either provide for such increase
or lay down the basic principles upon
which It should be calculated.
1t is apparently the committees idea,
however to leave the question of IN
creased capitalization To be raised by
the Senate and to be adjusted in con-
ference. If the enactment of the de-
sired legislation will be expedited by
this method of handling the question,
the people of Washington Will approve.
Experience in the successive effective
agitations in the past for better and
:. cheaper gas. in all OF which The star
: has actively participated, suggests that
the greatest obstacle to overcome is
inaction. delay. congressional inertia.
and that often the surest way to ac-
complish results is for the House to
adopt some simple, even radical prop
-osition tas an amendment to an ap-
preparation bill. if necessary and thus
quickly carry the measure into confer
ence where all equities may be
thoughtfully adjusted.
q The people of Washington want. first.
the best illuminant that can be made car
! rying a minimum of the noXious gases
that threaten life or mingled with smoke
discolor and destroy property. They
want the safest illuminant supplied at the
cheapest possible rate, and they know
that with the improvements in the meth
DDS of production the cost of making
gas has decreased, and the revenues
from by products increased. They want
accurate meters to measure their con-
sumption of gas, and they want an in
expensive and impartial Judgment upon
stbc question of accuracy when it is
. raised. Finally, they want no ovepcap-
.italization TO raise equities in behalf of
tie widow and orphan which will tend to
postpone prevent the natural cheap
ening OF the price of gas or the expendi-
ture or large sums IN necessary improve
ments of its quality.
- Stating its own grievances the COM
~pany contends that IL is now under
capitalized: and that in common fairness
If Congress will permit no one else to
Increase this capitalization it should pro-
coed at once itself in general adjust
fment Of equities to put the companys
capita lization upon a just basis
Undoubtedly in the final legislation on
the subject Congress in assuring better
ard cheaper gas 10 the consumer will
either deny the companys contention that
1t is undercapitalized to its injury, or,
.concedinG the company's claim. will take
the trouble in the public interest to fix "A
figure or a fasis of increased capitaliza-
ton which will be absolutely fair both to
the corporation and to gas consumers and
the community.