The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-13

In game Of hide and seeE between
Washington Gaslight Company officials
and the House Distrfct Committee last
night the first real statements throwing
the scarchlight on TIRE inner financing Of
the corporation came out in the testi-
mony Of Sanford \. WhitweII. assistant
secretary Of the company.
Under probing examination he nd
mitted tie company has declared divf-
dends OF 20 per cent on capital stock in
the last year in spite OF the reduction Of
The price Of gas 20 the consumer from
4 g. 20 % cents.
This IS the largest dividend in ten years.
/ Tho witness also admitted the average
net earnings Of the company had been
about $4,000 annually since 1850 Since
that time the company has never failed
10 declare dividends OF 10 per cent or
morc. in spite a more than $500 a year
paid in salaries 10 executive officers and
many thousands expended Increasing the
value OF the property.
First Confession Made
: After the committee had charged d.
rect.y that the gas company was irving
TO block every effort % get az inforna-
tion concerning the earnings of the com
pany during weeks Of probing. last night
saw the first confession OF the steady
. flow Of consumers money that flows each
year into the Golfers Of the corporation.
+ The committeeman fred question after
+ question Al The gas company officer. dig
sing down into the intimate business %
the company. When they had finished
/ they asked him 10 prepare a statement
along the same lines dating from .SSs.
when the books OF the COMPANY we're
, destroyed 20 1870
They gave him five days 10 produce this
Information. and when il is presented.
and counsel fOr both sides have been al
lowed an hour each cc summing up. the
investigation will be over. There will
be only enc more session OF the commit
I tee at all events. 10 be held early next
week
Attorney r. n. GoIdsbOrough. general
counsel OF the company and a member OF
the board or directors. also had General
Manager William r. Hart on hand. BIt
Mr.. Hart declared ne knew nothing about
the financial business Of the company and
was excused
Attorney George c. Hazeton. who is
conducting the prosecution. fgura lively
speaking. was present. but he did not
speak
Wouid Put Public Wise.
.v,r.E.T,...-s..r--T-
introducing "A statement explaining why
the gas company is publishing verbatim
statements OF the committee hearings n
advertisements in an the newspapers.
He said the company wanted TO let the
public know all they want about the
company.
We want the people 20 read ty their
own fresides all the information that 4
reasonable man could want" ne said:
and We are doing it at a large ex-
pense
Mr.. GoIdsborough. there is an i'm
preston abroad that the company IS do
ing this advertising to sort OF tone down
the hostile newspapers said Repre-
sentative Cary
Il consider that a reflection on the
company and the newspapers, too" the
attorney reto~ted
Il suppose a corporation wouldn't in
sert advertisements with that intent"
Mr. Coudrey interjected.
This company is not" replied the Wit
ness.
His Remarks Irrelevant
But what We are trying 20 get az IS
how much this concern is making cut
Of the consumers, - said Mr. Coudrcy.
Now, DR.. Humphreys gave us good
deal of information, but his remarks
were irrelevant. The fact that he didn't