The sun., 1916-03-13
SAY LIGHT TRUST"
KILLED RIVALS HERE
United Gas Suit Testimony
Causes Mayor to Order an
Investigation.
BIG LAMP CUTS FORCED


The story Of an alleged attempt by the
United Gas Improvement Company OF
Philadelphia, controlling the leading street
liEiNing corporations in the country. 10
tifie composition In order to prevent lowea'
rates, and Of the crushing of rival
which offered to light the streets OF New
York and Uther municipalities at rate
which would have caused the Phila-
delphla concern u loss OF Sl,bOO.OOO u
year. has been told to "a jury in the
supreme Court before Justice Dugro.
The fury In returning verdict for the
defendant In "A suit for $4,000 damages
brought by George Marcellus lAanders of
New Britain. ex-presideht OF the Con
necticut senate. cx-Mayor OF New
Britain and unsuccessful candidate Tor
Lieutenant -tiovernor OF Connecticut on
the Democratic ticket two years ago. de-
c.ded that Mr.. I.anders suffered no dam.
age as the result of letters written by
Rlgland Momand, "A gas lighting expert
and inventor of lamps, TO Henry y.
Thompson, eX-Commissioner of Water.
Gas and Electricity. and William Will
iams. the present Commissioner clArg-
ing Landers with acquiring large in.
terest In the Pressure Lghting Company.
rival of the United Gas Improvement
COMPANY for the purpose Of wreckirg II
and removing II a. competition.
AZ "a result of the charges brought ut
| the trial AN Investigation of certain con-
tracts in the Office Of Commissioner Will
| Jams was begun by the Commissioner or
! Public Accounts on ;he ol|isr ot Mayor
Mitchell II WAS charged that tonmiS-
sioner Williams had favored tine Wels-
/ bach Company Of America. owned by the
| Philadelphia concern. 10 such an extent
, that 1t was impossible for other COM
pnnics 10 hid successfully for lishiinx
contracts. 1t was explained that tn" in
Visitation into the contracts mentioned
was made at the Commissioners request.
Th. complain, against Commissioner
Williams Was made by the Public Light
! ing Service Corporation, of whicT Mr..
Momand ls consulting engineer. 10 the
effect that because Of tniS conlinAy' =
how bds Commissioner Williams reject d
in 1914 all bids FOR street lighting in
Manhattan three times. and NnaIv. when
hc was comp, led So award q cuu, act
"a the Pubic Lighting S"rvlc" Company
because tho lai'e- bid 81 cents lamp.
AGAINST 81 W the Wclsbach Company.
lie mad. I, Impossible through arb.trary
action for the Public Lighting Service
! concern to carry out itS contract.
CommissiDucr WtlliuulS's iutsr.s, m
the trial of the suit against Munau,l
was indicated bv 'h. fact that his SEE.
retHrv was In court during 'ic seven
! da,s the c.t,e WAS ou trial,
/ Harry Gordon. trial counsel for Mo-
/ mand. in arguing his case pointed out
| that the United ,ias Improvement com.
pany had oio00o lamps for which u
| received tiS year but ~ a result ~
Momand> activities the price wa.
\ lowered To- So. resulting IN "a million
and half lose TO .he alleged lchtirc
trus'
At the 'i,nr tn" alleged false state.
ue!,t. concerning Lenders wer. naic Il,
Momlnd IN 1913. Ltmi-rs was rresi.
! den, and Mnnaud Nas viUs.pres den,
+, and general manager nf tNe Pressure
, l.ightiu- Company. Il corporation formed
IN 1910 Ia obtain contracts from mun'ci,