National Republican (Washington City

So Far, So Good.
The Washington Gas company had not a hide so thick after all that it could not be pierced by the lance of truth. A creature of public bounty, drawing the breath of its life from an act of congress which it has violated time out of mind, and is constantly violating, it acted like the master of the people and of the government. Insolently parading the record of its ill-gotten gains, convicted out of its own mouth of unparalleled extortion and greed, it has at last been brought to bay. It wants something. It wants to add joints to its long fingers with which to reach deeper into the people's pockets. It cried out against chartering a new gas company last winter because that would involve tearing up our streets. But no sooner had congress adjourned than it projected additions to its mains and called on the district commissioners for a permit to tear up streets for that purpose. The commissioners made a stand, saying that the company could have no privileges not already granted by its charter until the city street lamps were lighted for a price which would enable the people, with the limited appropriation by congress for the purpose, to have lighted streets on those dark nights when clouds prevent the moon from giving light. At the same time complaint was made by the commissioners of the price charged private consumers. The National Republican then commenced turning on the light to the ways of the gas company—its original stock quadrupled by the watering process, so that the rates paid by the people yield interest on two millions of dollars where only a half a million has been invested, and then fifteen per cent. a year realized on this fictitious amount, being sixty per cent. per annum as a return on the investment. And what is the result? The company, desirous of the privilege of laying new mains, in localities where it will occasion much public inconvenience, and which are now served by long connecting pipes, has graciously consented to light the street lamps four hundred hours more during the year, and to reduce the price of gas from $1.75 a thousand to $1.50 after the first day of July. The nominal price now is $2, but a discount of 25 cents a thousand is allowed on bills paid within seven days. The reduction should carry the discount with it, so that private consumers would pay $1.50 with 25 cents a thousand off, when paid within seven days. Then the company should be compelled to furnish gas instead of smoke, and to make it of sufficient illuminating power, regardless of its own trick of not requiring this of itself in the bill which its solicitors drew for passage by congress. It is outrageous that corporations should draw leaky contracts between themselves and the government and then defy the people with the question "What are you going to do about it?"
If the Washington Gas company expects to supply this city with gas after the next session of congress it will have to make gas that is fit to be burned in our houses, and which will not make us blind in its use. Then it must reduce the price so that it cannot declare dividends to exceed 10 per cent. on the actual cost of the works, and hereafter it must pay for improvements out of dividends and not by adding to the burden of the consumers.