The Washington herald., 1910-05-22
Gas Legislation Needed.

NoS ~ AoAobASAA ~'NNN'
It was a iimsy excuse offered by the
House committee that It abandoned the
idea Of any general gas legislation be-
cause Il discovered "jokers" in the Coud
reg bill, virtually agreed upon week ago.
How did these 'jokers" get there and
why were they not promptly eliminated
from the bill? Is it not the business Of
committees TO correct measures and pre-
sent them in proper form? That was not
only the business, but the duty, of the
committee in the case Of this Coudrey
bill. assuming that it had merit The two
substitute resolutions reported, quite i'm
pressive on their face. mean absolutely
nothing They are valueless. Favorable
action on either would fail in the Senate,
as everybody knows. Therefore, the only
result OF the House committees action,
II IL stand, will be no legislation at all.
with the whole tiresome thing to be
thrashed over again at the next session.
This communitys best interests can be
served in no better way than by putting
the Washington gaslight companies upon
sound, equitable, business basis that
viii guarantee fair and square dealing
all around.
Why cannot this be done. and without
further delay?
1t is a reflection upon Congress that it
was not done long ago.
All that the situation requires to-day.
all that it has required for years, is an
honest, businesslike adjustment-an ad-
justment fairly conserving and safe
guarding the public's and the stock
holders interests alike. Surely this is not
impossible. not even difficult. II Congress
will but apply itself diligently and with
common sense, through the District COM
mittees. to the proper solution OF the
problems involved. other communities.
notably Boston and New York. have had
such situations to adjust. and have ad-
justed them TO the welfare Of the public
without the conhscation OF any corporate
property or destruction OF any corporate
rights. Indeed, It has uniformly proved
true that regulation and supervision. II
not actual control. have Immediately re-
bounded to the material advantage Of
the corporations themselves. Why can
not Congress do for Washington what
has been done by well-directed effort for
other gas-consuming communities?
a commission. If an enactment based upon
the Boston plan governing capitalization
and rates be preferabIe-and II seems so.
since cheaper gas resulted forthwith. and
further reductions are assured-then by
all means put the Boston plan in opera
ton in Washington. Better no legisla-
ton at all, Of course. than bad leglsla-
ton, but with facts Of record and IN
hand concerning the successful manage
ment OF public utilities elsewhere. It is
inconceivable that bad legislation could
now get through Congress.
There has been enough investigation
too much. in fact. It has been profit
less, in the main No good can come
from further airing Of old scandals. The
need OF expert assistance in developing
facts has passed. If il ever existed. The
facts are known Things done in the
past cannot be corrected, but future in
terests can be safeguarded. and the time
20 safeguard them Is now. Good service
and the assurance OF reasonable rates
are the essential requirements, as they
affect the general public. A voluntary
reduction. few months ago-one cred
liable act al least. on the company's
part-has demonstrated that there IS
good profit in 9o-cent gas That So
cent gas would still leave a margin can
hardly be doubted Certainly that figure
would quickly he realized once the
monopoly were put upon business basis
and its activities checked in all other
directions. And in the natural order Of
things the reduction would not stop at
SO-cent gas. Such has been the history OF
sound gas legislation without exception.
That the Washington Gaslght Company
is undercapitalized is believed by many.
That its outstanding securities do not
represent much over one-half the value
Of its property is the judgment Of we'll
informed men. II a fair appraisement has
not been made. let one be made by a
competent tribunal upon which Congress
can rely. Then let the question Of cap
italizauon. exclusive Of franchise. be set
tied wholly upon its merits.
Congress should clear up this gas sit
uation at once-clear it up fairly and
honestly and permanently. Put the mo-
nopoly on a Square-dealing, business basis.
Get it out Of politics and litigation. Let
it do what it should have been compelled
to do all the time-confne its activities
to making and distributing gas at a min
imum Of cost 20 itself and its patrons.
This IS what the situation demands.
and the duty Of Congress Is as clear as
the MONDAY sun.
Revised astronomical observation: we