The Washington times., 1910-03-14
GAS RESOLUTION
BATTLE BEGINS
Gallinger Objects to Report
Made by Senator
Brown.
REFERENCE ASKED
TO HIS COMMITTEE
Exhaustive Report on Affairs of
Monopoly Presented to
Senate.

Senator Morris Brown OF Nebraska to-
day presented TO the Senate from tho
Committee on Corporations Organized IN
the District Of Columbia he resolution
OF that committee In favor OF a sweep
ing investigation of the washington Gas
Light Company.
He presented with the resolution.
which is a substitute for the original
one he introduced in the Senate. an ex-
haustive report dealing with the affairs
Of the company In question
Scarcely mad Senator Brown presented
the report when Senator Gallinger.
chairman OF the Senate District Com
mittee, was on his feet. and declared
that at the proper time he would move
10 refer the resolution TO the District
Committee. Senator Gallinger was much
stirred up, and said with some show Of
heat:
This is the first time in my nineteen
years Of Senate service that the juris-
diction of that committee has been in
vaded"
Moves to Refer Resolution.
Senator Gallinger a moment later
moved to refer the resolution TO the
District Committee. Senator Brown
asked that action on the motion be de-
ferred until tomorrow and that the res
olution be printed In the Record. SEN
ator Gallinger consented.
Tomorrow there viii be an animated
struggle in the Senate over the Oues-
uon Of what shall be done with tie res
oluuon. Senator Brown. with the hack
ing OF the other members Of the Com
mlttee on Corporations Organized in the
alfgrTlCr- will q "a ri al,
the resolution going TO the District
committee because they are cor vinced
this would mean it's burial
The report from the Committee on
corporations Organized in the District
IS one Of the most cOmpIate presents-
tons on public service corr oration mat
ters that has ever been submitted TO the
senate. u was prepared by Senator
brown with the collaboration Cf others
on the committee.
Congress Control Asserted.
The report OF Senator Brown goes
deeply into the affairs OF the Gas Com
pauy and declares Congress has full
control over its behavior. Il s declared
that the $500. 90 certificates OF indebt-
edness are without validity and unau-
thorized by law.
\ full legislative history Of the com
pany Is given.
The committee gives these reasons
why the resolution should pass.
Holds Congress Responsible.
1. The Washington GasIight Company.
being a creature Of Congress. Congress
Is responsible for its behavior. In order
to discharge this responsibility. Con-
gress should know all Of the facts in
cident to the business Of the company.
its capitalization. the extent, and value
of its properties the quality and cost
Of its service 70 the public.
2 Such information Is not obtainable
from the annual reports Of the company
made 10 Congress.
3. The act Of 1S4s limited the author
lied capital stock OF the company TO
$1,000 which has since been increased
10 $4,000 coo, some Of which, it is claim
ed. is without legislative sanction.
(. The company has outstanding Ger
tificates Of Indebtedness equal to fits
capital stock. 70 wit, S2600OOO, bearing
per cent interest, all OF which. 70 is
claimed is wholly unauthorized bv law
> II IS impossible FOR Congress to de-
teTmine what is a reasonable charge for
gas unless Congress shall first know the
value Of the plant, the amount actually
invested. and the cost Of production.
History of Company.
The report further says:
From the legislative history Of the
company. since its charter was granted
IN lSiS, il Is clear:
First That the capitalization Of the
company is within the control OF Con-
Gress.
Second. That the company has ac-
cepted such authorization as Congress
has given il and has acted hereunder.
CONTINUED on Seventh. Page.)