The Washington herald., 1910-04-14

- pAcAh eAAo"NA'
II is a matter OF common knowledge,
Mr.. Chairman, that up to the time Of
the passage OF the act requiring the
lighting companies 20 make annual
statements 90 Congress the companies l
have the honor to represent here were
more or less severely criticised. from time
To time. because OF their failure 20 take
the public into their confidence. The in
uuirv was city-wide-why are the people
Kept in ignorance Of the merits OF mat
tiers and things in which they are so
vitality interested? Personally, l was
very glad indeed when Congress thought
proper TO accurately define what II was
that It desired or required to be annually
made known 10 all concerned in the
premises. l was gratined. because I be-
Iieved then. as now. that II would lead TO
better understanding between the
companies and the people as well as be-
tween the companies and the great COM
mittees who are charged with their le-
gal regulation. SO when question
arose Gas It did a year ago. OF vital in
terest 10 the public, Of which the Com
missioners thought It necessary to Of
fcially take cognizance, the companies
determined that II would he to their in
terest and 10 the public interest (Which
in the last analysis are one) 10 have the
proceedings fairly reported. at the com
pany's expense, in the daily newspapers
Of Washington. so that not only those
who were present At the sessions (al-
ways a limited number). but everybody
else IN the city. might thoroughly un-
derstand the merits OF the case-jUst
what it was the committee proposed 20
do, why Il proposed 10 do it. and how il
was 70 be done The question that was
then under consideration was tho pro-
priety OF prohibiting the gas companies
from making water gas or other gas con-
tanning more than 10 per cent OF what IS
known as carbon monoxide.
The Washington Gsslight Company ex-
erted itself upon that occasion 20 bring
20 this city gentlemen eminently distin-
guished as gas engineers 10 testify before
the committee as to the Illuminating vaIue
or water gas relative 20 coal gas, as e
the injurious character OF monoxidt
NNA4ANA MANEI kaS INV az Adh4N Aeil AAFNf az
to the relative merits OF water gas anc
coal gas. and as 20 the proper method;
Of safeguarding the public from whatever
danger there might be in the use OF tht
mixed gas the company was then making
Perhaps I should further say in Justice
70 the company. that IL took the position
then as now. that it was willing. as q
always had been willing at all times IN IL
previous history. 10 abide by the decision
Of Congress. whatever Il might be, anC
TO Immediately proceed. II Congress
thought 80 wise 10 do so. 70 the erection
OF a modern coal gas plant. 20 comply
with fits wishes
The result OF the course pursued by th'
company in publishing that testfnon!
(Which as I'm this case necessarily in
volved a very considerable outlay wa!
so eminently satisfactory 20 our consum
ers and the people generally; was so OBJ
vlously taken by them as an eyidenc,
Of good faith on our part In the dispose
ton We professed 20 do whatever ough
10 be done for their protection. that
occurred 70 me that II would be the par
OF wisdom In this case also 10 take then
into our confidence that they might b.
advised by a permanent record which thel
could study at their nresides, 20 clearl,
understand Just what II was and is tina
the companies have 10 cay to the com
mittee. and through the mouth OF tn
press 70 them, in regard 70 the charge
which have been more or less industri
ously circulated which are at the foun
dalton OF this bill
Believing that we shall be able 10 prov
| in the course OF this investigation, L
! your satisfaction and 20 that Of the pub
1 lie. that the COmpany's charges are rea
sOnable. that its profits are not only no
unusual but much less than those com
monty enjoyed by similar concerns. be
/ lleving that we shall be able 70 show yol
/ conclusiveiy that IL has rendered goo
service and is in every way worthy an,
well qualified to be accepted and receive,
as q faithful steward. 1 have systematic
| ally undertaken TO give the widest pub
I lefty possible in the premises to the pro
| ceedings in question, I cheerfully TAX
the responsibility involved, in full assur
ance that the committee and the public
I FFAASAA NAAV AtfNNAsA 10 hAAALA oAbNNs VIII O.
preciate and approve Of this policy.
The Chajrman-Are you ready to b
questioned now?
Mr.. Goldsborough-I am always ready
sir.
Mr.. Coudrey-As I stated the last time
| speaking for myself as one OF the nine
teen members OF the committee, Of cours
you have read the resolution and yo
| know what it is. Instead OF having
doctor first and then the undertaken. W
have the undertaken first and then tn
doctor, not wishing TO cast any reflection
on DR.. Humphreys. What we want I
get at is how to prevent this, instea
Of waiting until after the whole thin
is over. We want TO know, In order (
pass on this resolution intelllgently
whether the property IS making excessiv
! profits. Now. you take the resolution
which simply says that It prohibits yo
from doing certain things. Is there an
objection on the part Of the gas compan
to the resolution
] Mr. Goldsborough-Well there is tn
objection to the resolution OF course tn
gas company is one Of a large number o
public service corporations here in Wash
ingtoA. 1t IS entitled, unless 1t has so IA
forfeited its rights that it ought to b
Penalized by Iaw-it Is entitled to precise
! ly the same consideration that is accorde
10 every other public service corporation
and every other individual It's constitu
tional rights are precisely similar TO their
in every respect Among them is tina
right, free and uninterrupted use and en-
joyment OF its property, OF which It ough
not to be and cannot be deprived withou
due process of law I think. and Wi
argue when we come 70 discuss the Law
OF the case. that this act in this respec
is clearly unconstitutional
Mr.. COudrey-Right there. For Instance