The Washington herald., 1910-04-05
Cost of Production, Price to Consumer, and
Question of Capitalization Covered in Ex-
animation Conducted by Attorney
GoIdSborough.
GAS COMPANY HEARING ON THE
CoUDREY BILL,
Committee on District OF Columbia,
House OF Representatives.
Apri 1910.

come 70 OTueIs anu aS understand II
Mr. Hazelton will address the committee
first.
Mr.. Goldsborough-I want 10 say. il
the committee please. that we have some
testimony that we would like to intro
duce, and perhaps it would be advantage
Gus all around il the testimony should be
concluded before Mr.. Hazelton opens his
argument. And I would Ike to say, fur
Their, 70 the committee that this course
is for US a vitality important proposition,
involving as il does, as ! understand II,
the constitutional rights Of the company,
When we get through with the testimony,
shall probably ask the committee to
indulge me in an argument for the COM
pany. 10 be made at a subsequent day,
so that I may have an opportunity TO
fully present our side OF the case TO the
committee
Mr. Pearre-It seems 10 me that the
suggestion of Mr.. Goldsborough is a rea-
sonable one, and that the testimony
should be concluded before the argument
is made
Mr. Goldsborough-I would like to say,
IL the committee pleases. on behalf of
the company. that think that this reso-
luton goes TO the whole root of the con-
troversy that has been blooming here
for quite a number OF years, and which
blooms perpetually. like the flowers in the
spring. in reference 10 the general char
acter Of the Gas Company and its general
attitude toward the public as a faithful
public servant II the company is doing
its duty fairly. as We shall endeavor TO
show that II has done, and is doing, of
course there Is no reason to penaIize it.
This is an Indictment practically-it Is
more than an Indictment; It is a tudg-
ment against the company, in effect. in
case in which 1t is charged with no
offense
The Chairman-Who is II that desires TO
be heard upon this?
STATEMENT OF Mr., COTTER T.
BRIDE.
of Washington, D. c.
The Chairman-Please give your name
and your business.
Mr. Bride-My name Is Cotter T. Bride.
and am in the real estate business now.
own house on Pennsylvania avenue
which was occupied by a man by the
name OF Sam Swain He sold out, and
notified the gas company that he had
sold out. But they sent the bills TO sam
Swain only. but he had moved. They
found out that they could not get the
money from the man himself, so then
they sent the bin 10 me, and would not
turn on the gas until the bin was paid
I went to the court with it, but they beat
me. The bin was for $3.50. They would
not turn on the gas.
Mr., Pearre-You say you went TO court
WAT court did you go 10?
ar. Bride-The Municipal Court.
Mr.. Pearre-What was the decision of
the court?
Mr.. Bride-The decision was against. ne.
but the judge told me: you carry It up
TO the other court, and It will be all right;
and with a jury you Will win" He de-
cided for the gas company. however. You
cannot get ahead Of the gas company, and
what Is the use Of trying?
Mr. Cary-NOw. Mr.. Chairman. I
would like to have the clerk of the
committee read these letters TO the
committee I have four letters here
that would like to have put in the
record. two of them being in answer
10 letters Of mine The Senators claim
that we are now having an investiga-
ton, and they say: why have an
ether?"
The Chairman-The clerk will read
the letters
The clerk read Mr. Cary's letters
and the following replies to them:
April ., 1910.
Hon William J. Cary. House OF Repre-
sentatives, washington, D. c.
Ny Dear Sir: am in receipt of
your letter Of the LIST instant. in which
you state that Chairman Smith of the
Committee on the District OF Column
bia Of the House of Representatives
has appointed you chairman OF a sub
committee to investigate the Gas Com
pany here in Washington. and in reply
you are advised that according to my
information the Chairman Of the Com
mHfee on the District Of Columbia is
not authorized to take up the Joint
investigation without direct authority
from the Senate. and l am not aware
that such authority has been granted.
observe from the public prints that
the Gas Company is now being inves-
tigated by your committee, and I hard
ly think the Senate would feel justified
in intruding upon that committee or
in attempting to duplicate its work.
Very truly yours,
(signed) THoS. H, CARTER.
April l. 1910
Hon. William ]. Cary, NJ, c., House OF
Representatives.
Ny Dear Mr.. Cary: I am in recent of
your favor Of yesterday, IN which YOU say
that Chairman Smith. OF the House Com
mittee on the District OF Columbia has
appointed you chairman of subcommit-
tee to sit with the Senate subcommittee
to Investigate the Gas Company in Wash
ington, and you ask me to tell you what
arrany ements have been made for the
proposed Investigation. In reply I beg to
say that / have been laboring under the
impression heretofore that the Senate
could manage such matters on its own
account, and I have also thought that
the House Of Representatives was equally
competent to manage It's affairs. I no
tioed that in a recent discussion IN the
House committee you suggested that
nothing but dynamite would start the
Senate committee in the matter of an in
vestigation of the gas company, and I
now wonder whether or not you and your
subcommittee are to supply the dynamite
if We should conclude to act jointly. I
beg further 10 add that the Senate has
not as Yet directed an investigation. If
that action shall be taken it VIII be per-