The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-15
Takoma Citizens IndorSe
Resolution Calling for I'M
mediate Action.
APPROVE MEASURE
OF SENATOR BROWN
Association Calls for Congressional
Action on Subject With
out Delay.

Calling upon Congress for immediate
action. on the ground that more than
S50a09o a year viii he saved the tax
payers Of the city yearly, the TakOma
Park Citizens Association enthusiastic
ally indOrsed a resolution last night that
the manufacture and sale Of gas IN the
District be controlled directly by the
Government through the purchase OF
the washington Gas Light Company
And IN furtherance OF this resolution
The association went on record as ap-
proving the resolution introduced In the
United States Senate by Senator Brown
calling upon the Attorney General for
information regarding the Capitalization
Of the Washington Gas Light Company
tt was also voted that the copy Of IA
resolution be sent members Of the
Senate.
The meeting OF the association last
night was wholly an anLi-Eas company
one The committee on gas, appointed
some time ago to consider the question
in the District, was ready with its re-
port anxious To be heard by q fun
membership Of the association.
Following the reading OF the report
il was unanimously adopted. 1t reads:
No Corporation Control
whereas the manufacture and sale
Of an article so generally used by the
people OF a large city and so necessary
TO their comfort and welfare as FLU
ulinating gas should not be controlled
ny a single individual or corporation;
and
Whereas. the Washington Gas Light
Company, corporation. Fas the ex-
elusive control Of the manufacture and
sale CT all gas used in the District Of
Columbia By reason Of which the peo-
pie, who Of necessity must use II, are
forced 10 accept such quality OF Eas
as the company may see Ct 20 furnish,
and at a price generally considered not
justified by the service rendered; and
Whereas, the said Gas Light Com
pany. proposes 10 issue additional Ger
tLfcstes Of stock for which no equiva-
lent capital VIII he invested in the
plant or business. as the result OF which
the stock issued viii far exceed the
amount Of capital actually invested,
therefore be II
Resolved. by the Citizens AssocIa-
ton OF Takoma Park. That the manu-
1actU7e and sale OF gas IN the District
Of Columbia should be controlled and
owned by the government OF the Dis
triCt, and that the Congress Of The
United States should, without delay,
provide the means whereby such control
an ownership may he secured. with
Just and reasonable compensation 10 the
corporation now owning and exercising
the franchise"
Expect It 10 Spread
Z Is believed by members Of the as
ISOLATION that the movement for mum
cipally owned gas VIII spread through
out the District and viii result in the
company becoming the property Of the
Government ore member. IN advocat-
ing the adoption or she resolution. az
sued that gas. IKE water, should be mu-
uiCipaI properly, and that eventuauv. the
concern would be taken over by the
District He pointed out thar If the
company IS capitalized for the extra
$4,000 as he said, the melon cutters
plan. the taxpayers Of TIE District viii
he forced to pay out $4,000 annually
without any profit The stockholders. or
IarAer the insiders in the Kzs COMPANY.
one speaker asserted. viii be tho only
ones 10 profit by the extra capitalization
Il was pointed out thar "a Commence
fNned b| cities IN this and other c0u0-
tres. have been run at a profit 1rE 40
IL product has not. cost the consumers
% much as under private o-v1.rsI7fr
one city In Tennessee was cited aS >
striking example II was asserted fHa-
iorl1erly L cost The taNnayers Of rhar
CITY S4laot1 q year for gas Under
municipal ownership. this v-zs ~a5-5-s5
= Ala9000 yearly
IN the opinion OF one speaker as
InunfClpai ownership Of the gas com
pany must eventually be. the time Ms
most opDoTtUne for taking the stem 81
~ az me extra burden on the taxpavers
would ne done away with.
By Unanimous Vote.
Following a general discussion. in
vhioh the text Of the resolution va
Wholly favored, It was adopted BY a
unanimous vote.
tt IS the hope Of the Takoms Parl,
Citizens Association that the movement
Tor municipal ownership Of the gas
plant VIII spread throughout the Dis-
trict- The members have been informed
that the project viii receive the backing
~ other associations I'm different sec
lions of the District. Hence there is q
feeling among its advocates that the
movement viii be SO widespread that
Congress viii give II more than pass
ing consideration The resolution ap-
proving the request for an Investigation
Of the 1aS light comuanv hv the Al
tcrney General likewise received hearty
approval It vas the expressed Opin-
ION Of different members that once a
CEoTouEb investigation Is made that
tilere viii be little objection 10 munici-
pal ownership of the concern. except
nom those who VIII lose their share Of
rhe annual melon cutting
II j. the intention Of the asSocia ton
- hold educational meetings monthly
Prominent speakers viii be invited 10
address the meInneTs vu topics Of pres
c1t day interest cle VIII be selected
t5r the near future