Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-16

claim jurisdiction OF this resolution. n
the Senate should see fit to send the reso-
luton to his committee he would do his
best to conduct the inquiry. but he made
1t clear to the Senate that he would not
contest with the District OF Columbia
committee for control of the resolution.
L VIII take no part in seeking to locate
control in either committee" he de-
clared.
Washington Gas Cheap.
Senator Gallinger insisted that Wash
ington is getting cheap gas. He reminded
the Senate mat the price had been much
higher in past years and that it has been
reduced steadily-about the only COM
modify upon which the price has been
reduced. In 1885, he said, he made a
motion In the District committee for a
resolution which would ultimately reduce
the price of gas to 81 per thousand
Feet Since that law went into effect. lie
SAID. the company has reduced the price
70 10 cents. He declared that the
District committee had received no com
piaintS regarding the gas company and
its charges.
For many years the District committee
has had jurisdiction over the public
utilities in the District As a result of
minded me Senate, the National Capital
now has the best underground system or
street railways in the world, and the
cheapest fare. In its treatment OF the
gas company the committee has insist
ed that the company do the fair thing
Tor the people OIL the District.
Prices in Other Cities.
Senator Gallinger said he had written
to seventeen cities to inquire the price OF
gas. From fifteen he has received replies
and has found that the average price is
II per thousand feet. He also found that
the average candlepower of the gas was
seventeen, as against twenty-five in Inc
District.
This difference. he remarked, makes
difference of about Z cents per thousand
feet in the price.
Because Of the zeal displayed by the
senator from Nebraska. Mr. Brown, in
urging an investigation OF the price of gas
IN the District Senator GaIlInger said he
wrote to Mr.. Browns home city. kear-
ney, Neb. He found that the fellow
toWnsmen OF the senator are charged
Sl.o1h per one thousand feet, il they paw
their bills promptly.
And the senator is worried over tbe
fact that the people OF the District are
paying 30 cents continued the senator
from New Hampshire
Senator Brown Retorts.
Senator Gallinger cited the price OF gas
of other Nebraska cities to show that
1t was higher than in Washington.
Senator Brown was quick to reply.
Nebraska companies" remarked SEN
ator Brown, ''obey the law and don't
violate their charters as this COMPANY
has"
It has always been the purpose of the
District committee. said Senator Calm
ger, to see that the public utility cor
porations in the District deal fairly with
M n L.
charges.
Senator Lodge maintained that the COM
mittee on corporations organized in the
District which brought forth the resoIu-
ton of inquiry had no jurisdiction over
1t and that it properly should go to the
District committee.
What is the province of the COMMIT
tee on organization in the District"
asked Senator Brown.
Its actual province is none.'' replied
Senator Lodge. ut simply furnishes a
craftsmanship"
Senators Lodge. Brown, Aldrich and
Cummins all debated the question OF the
committees jurisdiction.
IF this resolution goes to the District
committee, 1t will amount to nothing but
a request for information, remarked
Senator Brown, later.
Regarded as offensive Insult"
II resent the reflection on the commit
tee as an offensive insult" retorted Sen
ator Gallinger.
A vote followed brief further discus
sion. The motion was to refer tho rcso-
luton to the District committee.
The vote follows:
Yeas-Aldrich. Bradley Bra1desee,
Briggs, Buckley. Burnham. Burrows.
Carter. Crane. Cullom. Dick. Dillingham;.
du Pont, Elkins. Flint, Gallinger, Gamble.
Hale. Johnston, Kean, Lodge. Martin.
Nixon, Overman, Page. Penrose, Perkins.
Richardson, Root. Scott, Smith of Mary
land. Smoot. Stephenson. Sutherland,
Warner Warren and Wetmore.
Nays-Borah, Bourne, Bristow, Brown,
sas. Clay. Cummins, Dixon Fletcher
Gore, Hughes. Jones. La Toilette, Money.
Nelson, Owen. Percy. Percell, Shively.
Smith of South Carolina, Taliaferro and
Tovlor