The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-10

/ the regular officers
M Coudrey-Of course 7 don't want
| 10 say anything against their bringing
you here as an expert but all We want
10 know is one thing. and il seems to me
ne oIhclals OF the gas company could
come here and answer these questions in
a very Few minutes, II they would bring
| their figures
Mr. Humphreys-I.et me suggest there
/ Mr. COudrey, that YOU think OF the oues-
tons that have been asked me. and then
inquire OF yourself whether any one or
these men would be able TO answer. As
sumlng that I have nothing TO do with
| the Washington company. vet I presume
| the reason Why ] am brought into this
case IS because 7 have had q general
training in the business. have some re-
putation as an expert in the business.
and I think IL IS because they want To
/ get in q man who Is not
Mr. COUdrey-DO you beIittle your own
because you are an expert 7 think per
haps you are entirely TOO modest
Mr.. Humphreys-In what Way2
Mr.. Coudrey-In answering questions
in respect to the other gas cou1panies-
| But. so far as ] am personally con-
cerned, I do not care rap as 20 the
situation IN other cities What I want
TO know is whether they are charging
too much IN this city ] do not think We
have anything 20 do with any other city
For instance in other cities they charge
different prices for different characters
Of use In St Louis. my home town re
have two prices, the fuel gas being the
cheaper
Mr. Humphreys-Haven-t they changed
that lately?
Gives His Impression
NJ Coudrey-Thst Is my impression
I am gas user in St Louis Ny i'm
preston is that they charge different
prices, and think you stated 50 q mo-
nent ago
M Humphreys an inclined 70 think
tF.at they have come or are coming hack
to one meter I know the system OF dr.
ferenL rates for different uses has Gre
ated a great deal OF dissatisfaction and
7 thought they had changed back TO one
rate The rates I quoted as already eT-
planned. were from a list prepared TWO
years ago By M Glass. OF Milwaukee
Mr. COudTey-ProbabIy they are going
to change it. You quoted prices IN d5f-
ferent cities, and you mentioned Rich
mond, Va: Providence. R T. s. Paul,
Trenton, and ] think Wheeling. W Va
II We are going 10 try TO make cOmpsTi-
sons. let me say that Washington i
about the tenth city in the Union, is it
not2
Mr. Something Ike that,
I think
Mr. Coudrey-yYe will say the tenth Or
the twelfth. whatever II is We ought
to take the ten or twelve large cities
and make our cOunps risOns in order 10
have q more even chance II is not
fair 20 put IN such places as Richmond
or smaller places IN other words. r.
looks to me as if
Mr.. Humphreys-BuJ, Air CoudTsy.
that IS not my doing
Mr. Coudrey-I DO not want 60 do YOU
an injustice You are here 10 louk after
the gas COMPANY and We are Jurors o.
referees, so 10 speak. between he gas
company and the public and IL is hardly
fair 70 20 TO work and quote such places
that are favorable TO the gss situs-
ton
Nh Humphreys-Rut let ne answer
that an not responsible for that
MI Coudrey-You did not mention Mi
Mr.. Humphrey-Oh, yes But 7 did
not bring up the question as 10 the other
places This vas called for b. members
asked to give TIE prices at these places
Richmond vas mentioned; Wheeling
vas mentioned. and most OF the Others.
1 did not volunteer the making OF am
such comparisons, and I should agree
with Nh Tucker speaking n favor Of
the bill. in his first statement here Fair
comparisons cannot be MADE unless an
conditions are considered and bal
anced- You cannot compare prices with
out careful analysis or prices OF labor.
material ana ali local conditions 7 en-
tirsly agreed with Nj Tucker IN thai
regard I was asked for the prices and
have given them Your chairman This
evening reminded ne that I had not
yet given them as requested BY the com
mittee-
Mr. Coudrey-I think the great trouble
with our whole investigation Is that we
are getting away from the subject
Mt Humphreys think you are nov
getting reasonable
Mr.. Coudrey-I would Ike to have that
Information for the last ten years
Mr. Cary-I would suggest that he also
furnish the names Of the stockholders
Mr. COudTeT-The stockholders q r. in q
little printed pamphlet that We have.
Mr. Wney-Det me make this SuSges-
ton: IN order that Mr. Hum 1reys may
understand eactly what you want, AMI
in order that you may understand eI-
aCtly what you want, 1 suggest that
YOU make the request IN writing 50 I-fit
there viii be no possible mistake
stands what We want
Mr. Wiley-If YOU write out what You
want. then We viii be able 10 answer 81
much more definite form
Dir. COudrey-T think my question IS
complete Didn't YOU understand what
wanted. doctoT2
Mr. Humphreys am not sure for
there has been so much said, and 50
much loose tax
The Chairman-Let me suggest thar
hearing. and that we 20 on with the
other questions
Mr. CoUdrey-Nov there Is another
thing about the price OF gas here For
instance you have gone through this
statement Of the company and OF
course. you base your statement 70 Us
on their statement don't yOu2
Mr.. HumphTeys-Tes, in part. but not
entirely So Of course, as say, / nave
NT CoutTesv-Aren't these statements
sometimes misleading Don't you think
that q corporation that IS making ab-
normal profits tends 70 conceal in SOM
vvzv the profits that thev mske1
Ar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS thev do in
some cases I know Of such I don't
think that II IS the rule. and there Is not
the slightest indication OF that TO me
here
Mr.. Coudrey-Could YOU see & without
going into their books2
Mr. Humphreys can see q ErezS
deal, and I can see that they have over
stated their profits absolutely. 10 nv
mind have shown Il, Il IS all IN tn
record
Mr.. Coud-ey-Tn other words. rhey
have tried 20 show larger profits than
they have really made2
Mr.. Humphreys-There is no evidence
that they have tried TO do so. We dif-
fer as 70 methods Of calculating what -
the cost OF gas 7 calculate Il in q dif-
ferent way. 7 think they should have
included certain items in the cost Ehich
they have not done
Mr. C0udrcy-The question Of the rriCp
which they sell the gas for and what &
costs differs in different cities2
Mr. Humphrevs-Certai
M COudrey-But there fS onTv- ono