New-York tribune., 1911-03-03
GAS SW|NDLERS At WORK |
Supposed Collectors Impose on
Women by Cutting Bills.
ONE MAKES ROUNDS IN AUTO
Company Puts Special Agent on
Case-Police Say Job Is
Too Big for Them.

The joy Of a lot Of consumers OF Con-
solidated Gas in Central Park West and
vicinity at getting their gas bills reduced
is being jolted rather roughly these days.
Their imaginations stirred by reading
about cheaper gas, they gladly embraced
the chance offered by young men with the
most plausible manners IN the world 10
pay their monthly bills with a goodly
amount chopped off Their awakening
comes when the real collectors Of the COM
pany drop in and demand the fun amount
Il is not till then that the happy house
wives discover that they have been i'm
posed on by clever swindlers.
The swindlers are variously described
and II is therefore supposed that there is a
gang OF them at work. and they are oper-
ating on a larger scale than hitherto at
tempted in this particular game One OF
them IS described as a dapper young man
With very convincing airs.
His custom Is to say that he understands
that the customer has been dissatisfied
with the amount OF her gas bill and that
the company has sent him 70 make an ad-
justment When the bill is produced he
asks number of very intelligent questions
about the use made OF gas. the habits OF
the family IN burning their Jets. the cook
ing done. and so forth. until the lady OF
the house has absolutely 20 doubt that
she Is dealing with one Of the most i'm
portant and experienced officials Of the
company.
/ He finally ends by declaring that in his
1 opinion the bill IS exorbitant. and ofering
to strike off some OF It. The victim ir
every case apparently has readily agreec
/ 60 pay forthwith.
Another operator who has worked in the
same neighborhood appears with even more
Of a flourish. He comes in an automobile
and wears a beard. He says he Is doc
/ tor. and most people believe him.
/ II am a member OF the citizens com
nlittee organized I'm the neigh borhood" h'
i says, Ito see II something cannot be done
. bout these outrageous gas bills We are
! having TO pay. The company has ap
/ pointed me a special inspector TO look into
/ Il. Why. since the SO-cent gas law came IL
my bills have been bigger than whep 4
was 81. Can I look al your bnl?'
! The hopeful housewife. with visions ot
reduced bills. agrees with everything h
says, and produces a bill for 81 60
D
serts with heat TT IS an outrage. II
mark II down to 50 s., and the collector vii
call tomorrow"
/ The collector calls tomorrow, and. th'
way having been paved for him, he hat
little 10 do besides take the money anC
sign the receipt.
{ These two have been particularly ACTIVE
/ IL the vicinity Of Central Park West anC
IC6th street A number of neighbors thert
have compared notes, and find that the1
I agree IN the description OF the men anC
their methods
The Consolidated Gas Company has pu
special agent on the case. The poic'
also are said 10 have been called upon TO
help. They say that It IS practically i'm
/ % cssible for them to do much, since Their
are over three hundred thousand custom
ers OF the company, covering wide terri
tory, and IL Is impossible TO tell where tn
/ swindlers will appear next