The Washington times., 1910-12-14
Regard Chairman's Action in
House Yesterday as
Unfortunate.
EFFORT TO OBTAIN
HEARING FAILED
Status, However, Remains IN
changed, Although Some Think
Move Not Strategic.

Advocates of gas legislation IN the
House today regard il as unfortunate
that Chairman Smith, of the House Dis
trict Committee. IN the hope that he
could get up the measures at the
eleventh hour yesterday afternoon,
asked unanimous consent for the con
sIderation q the Cary and C0udrey
bills. which was promptly refused
When the pension appropriation bill
had been passed, late yesterday, Chair
Smith, who WIS watching for such an
opportunity, moved that the Oft-neglect-
ed District calendar, which contains
thirTy-fOUr bills, should have q showing
II is gratifying to the members Of
the District Committee that several
bills were eventually passed On the
other hand there IS disappointment that
Chairman Smith called Up the much
more important gas measures when
there was no chance OF unanimous con-
sent The status Of the gas bills on the
calendar however, VIII not be CHANGED
although Mr.. Smiths move may be re-
Earded in some quarters as not a
strategic one
Sprung Surprise
When Chairman Smith asked the IN
anInOus consent of the House late YES
terday afternoon TO devote the balance
Of the legislative day TO the considera-
ton Of District measures. he Informed
the House, in the face Of pending Oh
lection, that he only proposed TO call
up several bills OF minor Importance.
That such important LEGISLATION as
Lne Two gas bills, one fixing the price
O gas IN the District al 50 cents and
me other preventing the issuance OF
WaLered stock, would be called I'd was
not suspected by the friends OF the
Even had it been possible to obtain
unanimous consent for the consfdera-
loE OF such vital LEGISLATION there
was not q quorum Of the House pres
emf II the question had been raised.
and many OF the advocates OF the biIi
already had gone to their homes - tir re
OF day Of desultory debate on the
pension bill
Names Bills.
When Mr. Smith asked for unanimous
consent 10 take up District bills. ne was
asked what bills he proposed calling I'D.
He replied:
I can tell you very quickly the bills
that I would ike 10 call I'D. There Is
the bin, Il. r. 20575, which relates to
changes in highway plans: H r 22s02.
which relates TO the pay Of crossing Do
Ecemen; the bill, H R 225S8. referring
70 the extension Of Thirteenth street;
the bin, s 6910. relating 70 the Reno
road extension. the bill, s 674S, relating
TO the designation Of land for assess
2 snt; and the bill, H r 21331. for the
widening Of Park road
After the House had passed several
street Improvement bills, including
those authorizing the extension Of Thfr-
teen-h street and Reno road, the widen
Ing OF Park road and changing the
highway plans as II related to Broad
Branch road from RitteuhOuSe street
10 western avenue. the bin requiring
InS lighting Of vehicles IN the District.
the chairman Of the House District
Committee TO the surprise OF the House,
said
Mr.. Speaker I desire TO call up the
bin, H p 1909, 70 TX the price Of gas
in the District
The bill and amendments were read
by the clerk, the meat OF the bill being
contained IN the following section
That on and after January ], 1911,
It shall be unlawful for any person.
firm. or corporation, vending gas for
Illuminating or heating purposes In the
District OF Columbia, to charge therefor
q greater price than 50 cents per loo
feet Provided. however, That II a con
5Emer Of gas fails or refuses TO pay
his III TO- gas consumed On or before
the 10th day Of the month next sue
Gee ling the month within which the
gas was consumed. Il shah be lawful
lect, and receive an additional amount
equal TO 10 Per cent Of the bill as a
penalty"
Exchange of Views
The following exchange OF views then
tbok place between Mr. Mann, Mr.
Smith. and Mr. Cary, the latter the
author Of the bill.
Nj Mann-8Ir. Speaker, reservinE
the right TO object, I would like TO
ask the gentleman IN charge Of the
bill in reference to one matter The |
ordinary. practice is to make a reduc-
ton Of 10 cents a thousand OF more
where gas bills are paid promptly,
and that Is contemplated by this bill
The ordinary practice is to take the
rate that IL permitted and make a re-
duotion from that rate. This bill
hxes the rate al so cents a thousand
and then proposes TO authoize the gas
company TO add on 10 per cent as a
penalty. What authority IS there for
US TO enact legislation authorizing
one man to assess penalty against
another and collect it,
Mr. Fitzgerald-Oh, that does not
M. Mann-No; but It may worry the
gentleman from Wisconsin (1dr. Cary)
10 furnish US the information.
Mr. CaTy-I VIII say that was an
amendment offered by another gentle
man OF the committee Ny bill was
originally 50 cents IN order to get the
bill before the House. I was satisfied 10
let It 90 that way
M Manu- am inclined to think, and
I have seen some gas legislation here
that was ineffective. although I do not
think II was the design of the commit
teee OF this House to make Il Ineffective,
that this bill is not worth the paper IL
is written on and for that reason, for
the present, I object
Similar Fate
No sooner had unanimous consent
been refused for the consideration Of
the bill fixing the price Of gas than
Chairman Smith called up the other
gas measure. It suffered a similar
fate The clerk read the terms Of
the bill which prohibits the gas COM
panies from issuing any bonds. Ger
6fcates OF Indebtedness. or any other
evidence OF debt. without the express
consent Of Congress-
representative Mann. OF Illinois.
again became active and had some |
pertinent things TO say regarding the |
bill and the attempt 70 set it before |