The Washington times., 1910-04-13
Superintendent and Counsel
of Company Give
Testimony.
STATEMENT MADE
BY GOLDSBOROUGH
Assistant Secretary WhitweIl An
other of the Wit
neSSeS.
The Committee on the District Of
Columbia, Tuesday, April Il, 1910.

E1TIfAea n -all4LfH man
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM F. HART.
SUPERINTENDENT, WASHING
TON GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
Mr.. Coudrey-You are the superinten-
dent Of the Gas Company?
AT. Hart-Yes sir.
Nr. Coudrey-How long have you been
the superintendent?
Mr. Hart-Since 1893,
NJ. Coudrey-Have you read the reso-
tuition pending before the committee?
NTr- Hart-NO. sir have glanced
over IT,
M Coudrey-I think you had better
read IL. il is very short That Is the
subject We have before us
NIr. Hart do not know a blessed
thing about IT, all I have TO do IS the
supervision OF the street work. the ply
steal part Of the work
MI. Coudrey-Vho asked YOU 10 come
here
AT Hart-NIr. GoIdsborough asked me
10 come here. He did not know whether
or not I would be called. He asked me
20 come. however
M CUudTey-Do you know anything
about the finances of the company
M Hart-NUJhiHC al all
Mr.. Coudrey-Resd the resolution over
and then I think YOU better have a seat
until NJ. GoIdSboroUEh comes You say
that YOU do not know anything about
The finances OF the company
ar. Hart-Nothing at all
Air C0udrey-You are the general
manager OF the company
AIr- Hart-That is a misuome-. there
Is no such office as general manager
Ar. Coudrey-Uhst is YOUR position
Mr.. HART am the superintendent
Ar Loudrey-Of what
Mr- Hart-The distribution, the street
work. other than the manufacture of
Sas-
Mr Wney-You are The outdoor super
inteudent2
Mr. Hart-Yes. sir
SIR. Coudrey-You do not know any
thing about the finances Of the com
psny2
Mr.. Hart-No, sir. have charge Of
the laying Of the surface pipes, etc.
AIr. COudTey-YOU have read the reso-
Iution2
NJ Hau-Ees, sir But I cannot
throw any light on it,
M Coudrey-Tou better have a seat
until Mr.. J--.dsborouEh comes.
Nj RotHermeI-who Is the man who
has charge Of the manufacturing Of the
Ess2
Az Hart-Mr- James s Mcuhenny-
Mr.. RothermeI-AII right
The CHairmaB-Are there any other Of
the officers here2
Mr. Hart do not see any. Mr. Chair
man
The Chairms1-AIr- GoldsbOrouEh- We
have had the pleasure Of listening 90
M Hart, AMI We have been waiting
for you
Mr.. GoIdsborougl-T thank YOU ]
have been expecting Mr. WhitweH
Nj Coudrey-KFho- Is he
AR GoldsborougH-The assistant sec
Rotary
The Chairmau-NVe can hear him
after we have heard YOU and not wait
STATEMENT OF MR. r H COLDS
BOROUGH, GENERAL. COUNSEL
WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT
COMPANY
Nj GoIdSb0rouEh-There is brief
statement that I want 10 make which
had prepared and intended to make at
the last hearing, nd which. If the com
mittee please, I viii make now
sir Coudrey-As I understand. you
are director in the company2
llT. GoIdsbOrOUgh-Ies. sIr-
Nr- Coudrey-Tou are not an officer OF
the company
Ar- Goldsbcrough-Ye sir: am q
general officer Of tie company. as gen
eral counsel
Nr. Chairman and gentlemen. II INT
committee please. before calling q new
witness L should De glad to make
statement In relation 10 certain NOR.
or less unpleasant criticisms thar wa.
debsrred from making at the previous
bearing ty the rules established by tht
CorImittee. Tor the conduct Of the case
no longer 80 uuchaIenged was sub
stantialIy embraced IN tAis inquiry:
Why Is IL that the company comes here
70 inform the committee by an expert
What its profits are and what is the
sctual value of its property upon which
the reaSona blenesS OF its profits are
u be deterp lned2
Looking - the subject calmly and
fairy, n goes without saying does il
not that II the cOupsuv's statement A.
ready In evidence Is 70 be accepted -
csla bllSEiue 4 prima facIe case. there
y no need of any further testimony hers,
other than corrobOratiN-e evidence VERT
fEInC or tending 10 verify the calcuia-
Cious and valuations Obviously I could
rot reasonably expect you to be salts
nee as To Such Vital matter. viii
mere repeuuons or the compaay-s own
zCteStatiOns- in The nature OF things
CofTObOTatloH must come from without
Vow Mr. HUMPHREYS was selected
from without from among other emineD;
6isinterested engineers and experts DO
coIroDOTate and verify the -cornnanr-
statement. which il. OF course the state
nlent Of its offers for the following
reasons
First, because he has been FOR many
years-at least a third Of a century--per-
souslly fsmi- ar with the property Sec
Ond, because in ISqS he was selected los
the pure haserS Of what Is now know
&c the Washington Railway and Electric
Company In appraise the property OF IN,
EaS companies FOR their use and heneh
IN negotiation they were about 90 en-
Ter upon. looking to- the purchase 81
these properties also Dr. Humphrey
made q thorough examination at ~
time and appraised the property of tn
Washington Gas Light Company. for tn
purchasers. AZ price approEimar Q rs
Dine millions Of dollars. = price which
tie purchasers. relying upon his al
praisal- were wiling TO nav for il
q 1ich in fact they wou5d have bought +
for. had not the stockholders declined
Since shat SppTaisemeut Of twelve year
ago. DR. Humphreys has made Al leaS
TWO similar appraiSalS- one Of them Oni-
two wears since all IF wlir1 or cuurst
Gus iflcs him iu a higher dcSrcc t. teSti
f. here 81 his Own know ledge. than an
= other euCiueer could have done. 81 ho-5