The Washington times., 1914-03-14
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF
GAS PLANT.

Discussing the price of gas, the
history Of the Washington Gas
Company, and related matters, from
the Senate floor on yesterday, Sena-
tor Norris quoted from the famous
Spooner report Of 1886 the sugges-
ton that if abuses Of the gas bust
ness were not corrected under pri-
vate ownership. the alternative
would be for the Government to take
over the business and conduct it as
a Government function. Senator
Spooner did not fatty recommend
that course; but he did point out
| the vicious tendencies of the busi-
ness under private management, and
declared that unless there should be
improved conditions, public owner
ship would be the natural remedy.
That was back in 1856. Have con-
ditions been improved since that
time, to such an extent as to JUS
tify continuing longer under the
regime of private monopoly?
Senator Norris, and most of the
people who buy gas in Washington,
do not believe there has been such
improvement.
1t is long time since the Spooner
committee made that mastery re-
port, and issued its warning to the
Gas Monopoly. Eere is one of the
extracts from the Spooner report,
that Senator Norris read:
It is not certain to the committee that
the time may not come, II indeed it has
terest OF the Government as a gas con-
sumer and Of the people of the District
require that the United States should
acquire, by purchase or condemnation,
plant Of the Washington Gas Light
Company and supply gas to the inhabi-
tants Of the city and for Government
uses. as 1t now controls the water sup
ply. The people are certainly entitled
to have put into operation in this city
for their benefit the best and most ap-
proved appliances AMI methods for max
Ing gas cheap and pure, whatever revo-
luton that may require in the methods
row here in use. Economy and the pub
u.
The committee has not felt justified
In recommending at this time. with it's
present information, that the Govern
m. Mt enter upon the manufacture and
here as remedy which may be en-
ployed, II abuses under the present sys-
TEN shall call for il, but the commit
tee have thought before a step so radi-
cal would be warranted. an investiya-
ton of a more thorough and scientific
kind than II has been able under this
revolution to make should be conducted
and the testimony reported to Con-
Gress. II is hoped that the Washington
Gas Light Company will. With the pat
ronage and Under reasonable regulation
by the Government, SO use its exclusive
privileges in this growing CITY as to
afford healthful and satisfactory illu-
minating gas at prices which shall be
to the company a reasonable measure OF
profit. Mere than this thr, company has
10 right to ask. With less than this the
public will not be, and ought not TO he.
Cuntent
John c. Spooner was no wild-eyed
extremist, filled with radical theories
of government, He was making that
report in day when public owner
ship of such utilities was rare and
generally considered doubtful ex-
pedient. Yet almost thirty years
ago Mr.. Spooner recognized that the
time might come, perhaps had come,
for the adoption of that treatment.
1t is safe to say that if Senator
Spooner could have participated in
the discussion which took place in
the Senate yesterday he would have
declared, in the light of all that has
developed in the local gas business
since 1886, that the time is now ripe
for public ownership. Senator Nor
ris pointed out that the gas COM
pany of today represents an. orig
inal capitalization of $4,000, with |
which the corporation started in
1S4S. Since that time it has earned |
very large dividends. and after pay
ing these has built it's great plant |
and increased its capital TO its pres
ent figures, out of surplus earnings.
There is no evidence that the corpor-
alton has any intention of giving the /
public the consideration TO which it |
is entitled. 1t paid - per cent divi- !
dends last year, as Senator Norris
showed, on the par of its stock; but
it persists in the claim that its prop
erty is worth something like $l5,-
100000. If it is worth that much,
all of il since the original $4,000
has been given to it by the consum-
ers of gas in this city; given, in ad-
dition to huge earnings that have
been turned into dividends. 1t is to
be presumed that this will 60 an for
ever.
Senator Norris remarks about the