THE HORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1906.
m INQUIRY 15
NOW UNDER WAY
HARRY MURPHY ATTENDS THE FIRST SESSION OF THE COUNCIL GAS INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
AMONG THOSE PRESENT WERE:
is;
A Great Advantage
"SPLITS" OF
Corporation Outlines Its De-'j
fense, Which Will Be
Technical.
10
WITNESSES ARE EXAMINED
Failure to Issue Subpenas Delays
the Investigation Somewhat, but
Witnesses Will iBc Called
Next Week.
An investigation Into the methods
of the Portland Gas Company in its
dealings with the public was (begun
yesterday afternoon in the Council
chamber. Six mcmbors of the Coun
cil's special committee on Investiga
tion were on hand to hear the first
day's testimony, and, despite the gen
eral unpreparedness of the publip's
side of the case, considerable progress
ivas made. For, while a mlsundertand
ing between the investigating commit
tee and City Attorney McNary had
brought about a failure to issue requi
site subpenas for important witnesses
who have been complaining against
the gas company, three complaints
were presented voluntarily. Two of
them were in writing and the third
was a personal complaint, of a nature
which the gas company may find it
cumbersome or Inconvenient to ex
plain. Leads the Gas Forces.
The gas forces, personally conducted
by Prcsldont C. F. Adams, wore early
in the field and made it plain that
they intend to fight the. issue to the
bitter end. Mr. Adams was accom
panied by the company's lawyer,
Joseph Teal, and a brace of gas ex
perts. These experts were examined
during the afternoon, but their testi
mony proved of little material' value,
being purely technical and having lit
tle or no direct bearing on the various
charges Involved In the investigation.
The most important testimony of the'
day was that offered by J. H. Toomey,
proprietor of the Barr Hotel, at Sixth
and Gllsan streets. His testimony was
brief, direct and incriminating and ef
forts to bewilder him upon cross-examination
proved unavailing. Toomey
established that he had a mind of his
own and was molested no further, af
ter declining altogether to be led in
bis testimony.
Evidence of Toomey.
Toomey's evidence consisted of a
statement of his gas bills for the past
three years. He said he held no preju
dices against the company, but felt it
his duty to show the kind of bills he
had been forced to pay. He showed
that for the month ending January 5
of this year he paid 514.45 more for his
gas than he did for a corresponding
period one year ago and this with
out additional gas burners or change.
In the hours of light service, in his
hotel. He also showod that for the
"month ending February 5, of this year,
he paid $7.20 more than lie did a year
ago. His sworn statement as given
from the witness chair follows:
His Sworn Statement
"From November 5 to December 5,
1904, my gas bill amounted to $42.60.
The succeeding month I was charged
$42.10. For the month ending Feb
ruary 5, 1905, my bill came to $35.05.
This year my bill for the month end
ing January 5 amounted to $56.55, or
$14.45 more than last year. Last month
my -bill was $42.25, or $7.20 more than
a year ago."
Replying to a question from Coun
cilman Masters the witness said lc
had not consumed any greater quan
tity of gas than when his bills were
at the smaller figures of cost
Attorney Teal stated that the men
-who read the meters might be late or
might call when the meter was not
accessible and return a few days later
when more gas had been used, lie
asked the witness if such a condition
of affairs might not account for the
difference in his bills.
"Hardly so great a difference as
that." replied the witness.
Abandon Cross-Examination.
Cross-examination of the witness
was promptly abandoned as he seemed
to show no inclination to yield to
beaming and soothing questioning. Mr.
Teal took refuge in the statement that
the "records" would be looked up and
a satisfactory explanation of the wit
ness testimony accorded.
Two written complaints, addressed
to City Auditor Devlin, were then
read. One was from Colin V. Dymcnt,
450 Sixth street, and the other from
H. L. "Ward, of Cazadcro. Mr. Dyment
asserted that the service ias deterior
ated and the gas bills increased in
size, notwithstanding the supposed re
duction in price. His communication
was read before the committee, as
follows:
Colin V. DymcnCs Letter.
T. C. Devlin. Esq. City Auditor Dear Sir:
As data for the proposed Bap service Investi
gation by a special committee of the City
Council. I bee to tiubmlt:
The quality of gas furnished has deterior
ated during the past month to such an ex
tent that It is now necessary to light two
Jets to obtain candle-power sufficient to read
comfortably. Formerly one Jet furnished
abundance of Unlit. The apparent decrease
in candle-power is at least 50 per cent.
Following the reduction. In charges from
51.50 per thousand to $1.15 per thousand.
meter readings have risen until monthly bills
are equal to or In excess of corresponding
monthly bills under the old rate. Possibly
this is due to the necessity of using more
jets to obtain an equal amount of light. Re.
spcctfulty., COLIN V. DYMENT,
What II. Ij. Ward Says.
Mr. Ward set out in his communication
that the gas company had ruined his
business and caused him a loss of $350
through turning off his gas. His state
ment says:
Mr. Devlin, City Auditor Dear Sir:
wteh to toll you how the Port
land Gas Company used me In 1904 I owned
and managed a restaurant in Portland and
wa using gas for short orders, a coffee urn
and a K0 c p. lamp when, without notice
and without just cause, they removed the
meter which cut on the supply, and thus my
business, which cost me $.V0, to ruined.
had to sell for what I could get, losing $350.
Subpena me if you wish. Respectfully.
Feb. 14. Caxadero, Or. II. L. WARD.
A third communication was read from
Mrs. A. Lindsay. 591 .East Alder street.
in which she stated that her gas bills
are "not unreasonable," and that she
therefore felt impelled to say so.
Attitude of Gas Company.
The attitude the gas company is to
assume throughout the investigation
was clearly developed at yesterday's pro
ceedings. It was made plain that the
company means to meet all charges by
laying anytmng that cannot be explained
to mere business errors rather than to
wrong intent When the committee was
I
ovokx or r
convened shortly after 2 P. M., Attorney J
Teal, on behalf of the defendant com
pany, arose to say that the company J
asked the right to file a sworn answer
to charges against it through The Ore
gonlan. Attorney Teal's Address.
Attorney Teal then proceeded with a
verbose address. He said that the integ
rity of the officers of the company had
been questioned, which, being a personal
matter, should be cleared up. He defined
the company as a public service corpor
ation, which always welcomed Investiga
tions, and asserted that should it ever
be desired to acquire the company as a
municipal ownership utility no objection
would be met with. Concerning the man
ifold charges that "nave been brought
he said they wished them thoroughly
probed and the company either exonerat
ed or else branded as all that it is ac
cused of being. Continuing, be said the
company did not claim to make no mls
to be altogether free from crit
icism. After eulogizing the corporation
and its officers, he attributed the general
rnmnlaints that have been made to "per
sonal motives" rather than to the good
of the public service.
Deposits for 3Iclcrs.
Tlprardlnr the practice of requiring de
posits on meters, he averred that was
nothing more than a system of providing
KPcuritv for the comnany. As to the slot-
machine meters, he asserted that they
were used where another Kin a oi meter
cannot be installed. The Tjnee of gas had
not been reduced In them for the reason
that thev are twice as expensive as the
ordinary' kind, and, furthermore, arc often
robbed by dishonest patrons, who put lead
slugs and all kinds of things in the slots
instead of quarter pieces, be said.
. Regarding the price of gas. Attorney
Teal said It was the company's policy to
maice reductions wnenevcr possiuie to ao
so, but that It was difficult in view of
extensive Improi'cments that were being
jwn w.
ft?
IIIMIIIIIHifHMMtC
! l - f
DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING PROPOSED
ROUTES OF TRACTION LlfoES WHICH
ASK FRANCHISES OF THE CITY OF
PORTLAND
rSy W Yfi
made in the system at this time. He
then proceeded to read articles bearing
on the gas company that have appeared
In The Oregonlan. and declared they were
unwarranted and untrue, asking that
those responsible for their appearance In
print be called before the committee. This
request was allowed, and an order for
subpenas Issued.
Gage or Battle.
"We may have been foolish." he added,
"to wage a battle thrown down to us. but
wc mean to stand by It. and cither stand
or fall by it" To the fact that a scarcity
of witnesses was on hand he also attached
considerable importance, saying The Ore
golnan. and not the public, was chiefly
interested, else witnesses would have been
present; therefore. It was up to The Ore
gonlan to substantiate the charges that
had been made through Its columns.
At this juncture Councilman Annand in
formed him that a list of witnesses had
been submitted to the City Attorney, but
he had been too busy to Issue the requi
site subpenas. Councilman Masters said
it was the Intention of the committee to
make the Investigation a thorough one.
C. E. S. Wood Also Appears.
Attorney C E. S. "Wood, who was seated
at the right of President Adams, said he
had been called Into the case at the last
moment and held an impartial position.
While he was not ready to believe The
Oregonlan was in any way influenced by
personal motives, yet the public having
failed to respond, the cbarccs made by
The Oregonlan should be corroborated by
that source. Mr. Annand here repeated
that the subpenas had not been Issued,
thus accounting for the absence of wit
nesses. B. S. Peterson, representative of an In
diana gas establishment was introduced
by the gas company as an expert who
could throw some light on the subject of
meters nnd the gas system in general. He
defined the various kinds of gas. Regard
J. Cook.
1 ifc. 'kiXt
"
. . AftK
. , ail k. t i-" jlj . 1.1.
"5WS CNF oW-
ing the quality of gas used in Portland.
Seattle and Los Angeles. Mr. Peterson
said that the gas used in Portland and
Los Angeles is about the same. Inasmuch
as Portland consumer pay $1.15 per thou
sand cubic feet, and Los Angeles con
sumers get their gas for S3 cents, it was
thus shown that Portland pays 30 cents
more per thousand feet for the same qual
ity of gas.
When Councilman Masters told of an
experience he had had with Portland
gas. the company's expert was at n
complete loss to understand the phe
nomenon. Mr. Masters said he had
turned on a gas jet and held a match
over It The Jet. was not Ignited nor
was the match extinguished, although
held over the Jet for some time. Mr.
Peterson entered Into technicalities but
finally admitted that he couldn't un
derstand the case if the match actually
continued to bum undisturbed when
held over an open jet.
Gas Meters Examined.
The workings of a coupleof gas me
ters were explained at the Instance of
the cbmpany's representatives and ad
journment was then taken until
Wednesday, February 2S. at 7:S0 P. M.
At that time it is intended to have all
subpenas served.
The members of the committee in
attendance were John Annand. F. S.
Bennett. R. E. Mcnefce, A. G. Rushlight.
Dan Kellahcr and W. T- Masters. W. T.
Vaughn alone was absent
Portland Railway Sued.
John Winters complains that as he was
about to alight from a street-car at First
and Arthur streets In October, last be
cause of the overcrowded condition of the
car and other reasons he was thrown oft
the platform on to the ground and se
riously Injured about the head, face and
body. Testcrday he filed suit In the State
Circuit Court against 'the. Portland Rail
way Company for $3000 damages.
JBZUrrtETZp
s
FIR II FRANCHISE
Council Committee Reports for
Mount Hood.
DISCUSSION OF PROVISIONS
Corporation Must Give Fifty Thousand-Dollar
Bond for Faithful
Performance of Its Agree
ment AVith the City.
Consideration of the application for a
franchise pf the Mount Hood Electric
Company occupied the attention of the
joint streets and judiciary- and elec
tlona committees of the Council for
three hours last night, with the result
that the measure was recommended fa
voraoiy to ine council upon me l per
cent gross earnings basis, the same as
In the case of the Cascade Power Com
pany, and In fact the applications of
both concerns have been shaped to
meet similar conditions.
it is possioie, nowevcr, tnat as a
matter of form the franchise of the
Mqunt I Food pooplo may be referred
to the Executive Board, at the Council
meeting tonight, to fix anew the com
pensation required by the city. Such
'VALLEY XRJLC7I0M
S .n! f? :
Apollinaris
a step may be deemed necessary by
reason of the fact that the original ap
plication of the corporation has been
changed to such an extent, under direc
tion of the City Attorney, that it has
virtually become a new proceeding,
and may be treated accordingly by
the legislative body.
"What the Franchise Gives.
The franchise as passed upon section
by section by the committees last
night, prescribes that the construction
and installation of the plant shall be
gin within one year, and that the cor
poration or Its assigns shall be pre
nared to furnish electric energy for use
within the corporate limits of the city
within two years from the date of ac
ceptance of the franchise. Before avail
ing Itself of any of the provisions of
the franchise within the city the com
.pany must furnish a bond In a sum not
less than S5G.Q00, conditioned upon the
faithful performance of its agreement
to be ready to transact business here
within two years, such bond to be
waived after the expenditure of $230,D0q
in construction work. ,
"The bond feature Is precisely the
same as in the case of the Cascade
Power Company's franchise recom
mended by the same committee last
Friday. In fact there is a similarity be
tween the two all the way through, and
to make the relationship appear more
binding. Attorney "Pike" Davis. Engi
neer W. B. Chase and A- C. Churchill,
of the Cascade Power Company, were
on hand last night to lend the moral
support of their presence to the ef
forts of the Mount Hood people, and
there appeared to be a unique spirit of
friendliness between the two aspirants
for lighting honors all the way
through.
Cobb Talks for Company.
S. B. Cobb, president of the Mount
Hood Electric Company, did most of the
talking for his corporation. He was ac
companied by Vice-President J. E. Davis.
Treasurer C. W. Nottingham, Secrctary
Samuel Connell and Directors G. W.
Waterburj and Elmer B. Colwell. The
other directors are Richard Connell. C.
W. Pallett, C. C. Woodcock. H. C. James
and C. W. Miller, the latter being gen
eral manager also.
There was some discussion over the
question of compelling the company to
put Its wires underground, but its offi
cials raised such a storm of objections
to such a course that the committee re-
9-S
4
C0
CO.
frained from pressing the issue. It was
claimed that the June floods would All
up the conduits and put the transmission
lines out of commission, and this argu
ment had the desired effect.
Cobb alleged that his company way
going ahead rapidly with construction
work at the present time, and expected
to expend fully $1,000,000 in the next two
years, having already contracted for the
sale of their bonds under those condi
tions. Menefee insisted strongly upon the
good-faith bond feature, and thought
530,000 should be given as security to pro
tect the citjr against any tendency to
speculate upon its credit and commercial
integrity.
Vaughn wanted to know how the city
was going to be out anything by grant
ing these franchises, and could see no
necessity for requiring good-faith bond?.
Unless they bring the power here within
one year, he said, the franchises would
be forfeited.
Menefee maintained that the principal
Injury to the city would result from the
hawking process in the effort to sell
bonds.
FRONT-STREET FRANCHISE.
Three Applications Will Come TJp foe
Hearing: Today-
The Front-street franchises will occupv
the attention of the joint streets and ju
diciary and elections committees of the
Council this afternoon. Three different
set3 of applicants are contending for the
right to use the street as a gateway to
the city.
George B. Moffatt, "the Xew York cap
italist behind the Willamette Valley
Traction Company, gave the following
reasons why his company should be given
the Front-street franchise:
"The reason we are entitled to the
franchise at the hands of the city is that
we were the first to make application
and this application covers a limited part
of the city. It is a public service cor
poration to transfer cars to our road
and all other roads to terminals in vari
ous parts of the city. It Is a commercial
railroad, not a street railway at all. that
is asking admittance to Portland, and
under the understanding that Portland
desired a commercial railway connecting
it with its markets, capital has been
raised and the work of construction com
menced In the Willamette Valley. Xo
road can be built that cannot gain not
only an entrance to the city, but also an
entrance to the terminals of the various
transcontinental lines. Wc safeguard
the city by stating what price In cash
will be paid for the franchise, and wc
offer to put up cither cash or a bond to
assure the city that the road, not only
in the city limits but all the way to
Salem, will be completed within an
agreed time. Furthermore, to assure the
city that this road will be operated inde
pendently and in the Interests of all ship
pers, the company offers the city an
option to buy the road at its cost and In
terest after five years. Property-owners
along Front street who opposed the fran
chise now favor it. provided no steam
will be used In the operation of the
road."
J. Whyte Evans, president of the
United Railways Company believes his
company should.be given the Front-
street franchise for the following rea
sons: "We have the material on the
ground," said he, "and the imple
ments for construction ready for im
mediate work. There is no railroad
or railroads directly or indirectly in
terested with the United Railways
Company. We have shown evidence, we
believe, of good faith. We do not ask
for six months' time to begin, but will
begin now and continue, weather per
mitting, of course, until we connect
Portland by electric railways with the
finest suburban country in the united
States. Wc shall go In every direction
but will confine our present efforts to
Salem. Hiilsboro and Forest Grove, to
gether with the city lines wc arc asking
for. We are builders of railways, not
promoters. We have shown our good
faith "by the purchase of the Chamber
of Commerce building, and wc are hore
with our families to make Portland our
borne and we will bring thousands of
neoiilc here through means at our
command. A bureau of information is
now being established in L,os Angeles
to exploit Portland, in our party ar
men well versed in real estate matters
who sec here opportunities in realty
which they will doubtless take advan
tage of when they get here. Our slogan
Is 210,300 people ror .fortianu in
Thomas McCusker represents the
third aspirant his claims for consid
eration being based on an application
for a franchise, which will probably be
acted upon by the committee this af
ternoon. He names Thomas u. Honey
man and Edward Newbegin as his
backers.
GRAT HAIR QUICKLY RESTORED
To Its natural color by using Alfredum's
Egyptian Vienna. aure, narmicsa. ai
first-class druggists.
SCOTT'S EMULSION
is more than a fat food.
There is no animal fat
that compares with it in
nourishing and building
up the wasted, emaciated
body. That is why chil
dren and anaemic girls
thrive and grow fat upon
it. That is why persons
with consumptive tenden
cies gain flesh and
strength enough to check
the progress of the disease.