Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-24
LIMIT PUT AT $6,60O,000
Requirement and Operation by Fed.
eral and District Governments.
BILLS INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
Measures Submitted by Mr.. Rother-
mel, Democratic Member Of the
District Committee.

The requirement and operation jointly
by the federal government and the Dis
trict of Columbia Of the plant Of the
Washington Gas Light Company and the
Georgetown Gas Light Company is pro-
posed in two bills introduced in the
House today by Representative Rother-
mel Of Pennsylvania. a democratic fnem-
It is provided that not more than six
million dollars shall be paid for the plant
and equipment of the Washington Gas
Light Company, and not more than $780,
600 for the plant and equipment of the
Georgetown Gas Light Company. The
bills propose to appropriate $6.6OOOOO for
the purchase Of the two companies. but
1t is directed that the property be ac-
quired by condemnation proceedings, and
II possible for a smaller sum than the
maximum fixed in the bills.
The Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
Is intrusted with the duty Of taking over
the plants.
Authorization Of Purchase.
The first section Of the bill for the pur-
chase of the Washington Gas Light Com
pany follows:
That for the purpose Of placing under
the exclusive control, management and
ownership Of the government Of the Unit
ed States all the property Of the Washing
ton Gas Light Company, duly Incorporated
and organized by the authority OF Con-
gress to manufacture. sell and furnish to
the consumers Of gas in the District of
r1y ~ OF nd ri
Of purity. heating and lighting power that
may be deemed practicable and desirable.
and for the purpose Of manufacturing
and selling such product without loss to
the government Of the United States, the
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor is
hereby authorized and directed to acquire
by condemnation proceedings as herein
after provided the property known and
described as tho gas works, plant and
equipment embracing the real estate
and all the appurtenances thereunto, be-
longing, of the Washington Gas Light
By said company in the manufacture. dis
tribution and sale OF gas for light, heat and
power or for any other public use In the
District; together with all the corporate
rights and all the privileges, powers and
interests which the Washington Gas
Light Company may now have or hold
by virtue Of existing law, and for the
purpose Of acquiring the property OF the
said company the sum of 100000 or so
much thereof as may be necessary is
hereby appropriated out any money In
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. :"
The second section of the bill pro-
vides that the Washington Gas Light
Company shall within ninety days after
Its passage furnish the Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor with a full and
complete inventory of the respective
property interests, amount of capitali-
zation, all outstanding indebtedness
and liability. amount OF capital stock
issued and the names of all the stock
holders as shown by the records and
books Of said company, and giving the
amount owned or held by each stock
holder respectively, and the company
also shall furnish to the Secretary of
Commerce and Labor. as he may re-
quire, all maps, profiles, contracts, re-
ports of engineers and other docu-
ments records and papers to aid him
In carrying out the purposes Of this
act"
Section three provides that the condem-
nation proceedings shall be In accordance
with the act Of August 80. 1890. by which
the site for the enlargement of the gov
ernment printing office was acquired.
Fixing the Valuation.
Section four specifies that ''in the pro-
ceeding to acquire the property Of the
Washington Gas Light Company the court
in rendering judgment therein shall first
deduct from the total valuation of the
company's property, as ascertained and
determined by the court in conducting the
condemnation proceedings, the full
amount of the outstanding liabilities and
Indebtedness of the company, and
the amount remaining after said deduc-
| ton has been made shall be entered in
| the judgment as the just valuation of the
| companys property authorized to be ac-
| quired by the government for public use,
| to be awarded for payment out of the ap-
preparation of six million dollars, accord
| ing as the court may determine the re-
| spective rights of ownership of the sew
eral stockholders"
Considerable interest Is manifested
| in the bill. IL for no other reason than
| that 1t would seem to combine the
| function of municipal and government
| tai ownership in the requirement and
| operation Of the gas plant, inasmuch
| as ii is specified that the government
| shall pay one-half the cost of acquir-
! ing the properties and the District of
Columbia the other half.
| The second Rothermel bin is identi-
cal with the first. the provisions OF
| which have been stated. except that II
| provides for the requirement of the
1 GEORGETOWN Gas Light Company's plant.
| and limits the cost of such acquisition to
100000