The Washington herald., 1910-04-14


to reduce gas in those days. yet, in
fact, IN the twenty-five or thirty years
preceding. they voluntarily reduced the
price Of gas nine or ten times. doing
precisely what the companies have done
this last year, and which they win Go
again II fairly given an opportunity.
[, Mr.. Rothermel-You mean that you VIII
reduce the price Of gas.
Mr.. Goldsborough-UndOu the
price OF gas will be reduced again. IN
/ less the cost Of material advance TO a
| prohibitve degree. AS 10 that we all
know that the tendency all over the
country Is toward an advance In prices.
The Chairman-I think IL would be
well for Mr.. Goldsborough 70 conclude
! his argument and let US conform 70 the
resolution and then we can ask Ques-
tons.
/ Mr. Goldsborough-I rose for the pur-
/ pose Of making the explanation which
had the honor 10 make TO the committee
to take mp the time until the committee
was ready 10 proceed with the other wit
nesses. I want 20 argue this case later
on and TO read for the benefit OF the
committee the decisions Of the Supreme
Court not only on the subject generally,
but in cases that have gone UP 70 II
from this jurisdiction that concern this
gas company as 10 these very matters
here in question.
/ I thank the committee very much Tor
its kind attention.
MIR. Coudrey-I think the best thing 10
DO in order 10 get at the meat in the
icocoanut is to have some official OF the
gas company appear before the COM
imittee.
Mr.. Goldsborough-We have some one
here 20 answer your questions in regard
70 the amount Of money made for the
last ten years
Mr.. Coudrey-Has he prepared state
ment?
Mr.. Goldsborough-Yes sir.
Mr.. Coudrey-That is the thing which
would interest US most. I have letters
here-my mail IS increasing very mate
rally, my letters from people all around.
through no fault Of mine. The resOlu-
ton was not introduced for that purpose.
but the thing for US 20 do IS 10 stick 20
the resolution. would like 70 have some
. official OF the gas company, IL he IS
here
Mr.. GoIdsborough-He IS here with a
statement answering your question.
, Mr. Coudrey-I think he should be put
on the stand next.
Mr.. GoIdsborough-We shall be glad to
DO that.
Mr.. Cary-Walt a minute. You have
made the statement that the gas COM
pany has reduced the price OF gas?
! Mr.. Goldsborough-Yes sir.
Mr. Cary-That is only apparent?
Mr.. Goldsborough-No; It is real re-
/. duction.
Mr.. Cary-I have bills here to prove
, that the gas company has not reduced
. the price OF gas. that the price OF gas
TO the consumer has not been reduced.
, Mr.. Coudrey-When was the last re-
: duction?
Mr.. Gcldsborough-The 1st day OF last
July; 1t has not been IN force one year
, yet.
Mr. Cary-These bills put IN my hand
i, Cexhibiting) are bills which have beer
= paid by a certain gentleman within tho
: past two or three or four years, and stu
the price to-day is higher az Il cents
than It was at IZla cents. I will put then
in the record. They start in in 1907 and
. come UP TO March 10. 1853.
= Mr. Goldsborough-If you want ne q
7 explain that can only make the ex'
=. Iplanation that DR.. Humphreys has made
. that it has been the experience hereto
fore everywhere that when prices art
reduced people unconsclOusly use more
7 gas.
. Mr.. Cary-But this man does not. HI
= has to close up at a certain time, and b,
,, does close up. He only uses the sam'
, number OF Jets, and he has never Use'
- any more How is 1t that his gas BILL
. are higher at the reduced price,
: Mr. Possibly his mete,
does not register correctly.
r. Mr.. Cary-I know OF a case where {
I man had not lived in a house for three
I months and yet bills were sent him anC
> he had TO pay them or have the ga!
cut Of.
-. Mr.. Goldsborough-I will say this. Nj
= Cary. that have personally investigate
a number of cases. and / have neve
found one yet that there was not a rea
= sonable explanation for. take il that
; Is really unthinkable that a gas compan,
conducted in the city OF Washington
right here under the shadow of the CAPT
-. tol. with $1,000 consumers, with 100000
OF property. eco or 200 employees. and per
- hsps $50 inspectors, could bride an inspec
y. tor or a bOokkeeper 10 make a falls
charge involving 50 or 81
Now. I'm ali fairness is not that IN
. thinkable2 OF course, the companys In
. spectors make mistakes; they may rea
:. things wrong occasionally. The compan
: is not infaIible. the inspectors are no
: infalubIe, and errors will creep into ever
business: accidents happen in all famne
but ours Accidental cases will occu
where you have $1,000 consumers. Their
: are 5000 consumers here. How many o
d them have been TO you? These hearing
are published IN all the papers in IN
town, and there is not a man or woma
who can read who does not know tina
this investigation is going on; that thi
class OF testimony has been offered here
. How many OF the 5000 consumers hav
: come forward to complain OF their bills
Il and say that they believe that they ar
: unjust. and that they have been improT
?, erly charged?
Mr.. Cary-A good many have come
81 me
Mr. Goldsborough-How many?
Mr.. Cary-I DO not know how many. bu
Il I know that people stop me In the stree
s every day.
Mr. Goldsborough-I have not any doul
n Of that, and I have not any doubt bJ
d that you are offering this testimony (
z oyood fai+b o7d 4, tbn iprarasA 30 4l,. 80
IS pie, but Go not believe, Mr.. Cary, tina
when you come 20 look into those case
you will find. as I have done in thos