The evening world. Newspaper, February 27, 1903, Page 2

£ Commissioner Robert Grier Monroe, Whose Senator Fitzgerald Pushing His Bill to Pre- vent Further Robbery by Reducing the Price to 75 Cents, While Senator Martin Talks of an Inquiry Into Methods of the Combine. Department Is Supposed to Have Jurisdic- tion Over the Gas Supply of the City, Is Unable to Prevent the Stand-and-Deliver Tactics of the Trust. {Special to The Evening World from a Staft Correspondent.) . ALBANY, Feb. 26.—Members of the Senate and Assembly are keenly interested in The Evening World's agitation for fair charges for improved i Bas eervice in the metropolis. The feeling here is that a thorough, searching inquiry should be made by tho Legislature. Copies of The Evening World containing complaints (of many gas consumers in the metropolis were on the desks of every Sen- ator and Assemblyman when the session opened to-day, and they were eagerly read. Senator Bernard F. Martin, of the Thirteenth New York District, volced the opinion of the New York City legislators. He said: “The situation in New York as regards the gas service is fast becoming intolerable. When I was at home tho other night I found it impossible to read my paper becauee the quality of the gas was so poor. It Is time some- thing was done about this matter, which is of such vital concern to hun- | dreds cf thousands of people. “S$ don’t know what would be the best method of remedying the pres- ent conditions, but I shall talk it over with my colleagues and see if some- thing cannot be done. An Investigation by the Legislature might bring the best results. A legislative committee should be sent to New York City clothed with full power, and it could get at the bottom of these compl-ints ‘and compel the gas companies to give better service.” L Senator Fitzgerald, of New York, belleves the best way to bring the companies to terms would be to pass a law reducing the price of gas. He already has introduced a bill muking the rate in New York City 76 cents per thousand feet. This measure is in the hands of the State Committee on Miscellaneous Coroprations, and Senator Fitzgerald will make a hard fight to get it toa vote. ————— oh LAWS JUGGLED BY TRUST TO PROTECT GAS ROBBERY Commissioner Monroe's Hands Are Tied and the Extortion Goes On Without Hindrance, ‘While “holding up” the public through overcharges and “fast” meters, possible to continue their extortion without the fear of interference by “public officials. “Phe statutes enacted to protect the people really protect the corpora- tions and tlc the hands of the officials. This provisiun was worked into, tho new city chorter: | Section 6%. The Muminating gas of évery company shall be inspected at least twice a year, and may be inspected as frequently as the commissioner may think best, but not oftener than once a week. The gas shall be tested for illumtnating power by means of a discphotometer, or other approved apparatus, and during such test shall be burned from a burner best adapted to it, which is at the same tme sultable for domestic use, and at as near the rate of five feet per hour as is practicable. When the gas of any euch company’ shall be found on three consecuttve inspections to be of an {Mumi- nating power less than twenty sperm candies of six to a pound, and burning at the rate of one hundred and twenty grains of spermaceti per hour, teated at such place as the said commissioner shall specify by a burner consum- ing five cuble feet of gas per hour, ard shall not comply with the reasonable ‘and proper standard of purity as fixed by sald commisaloner, a fine of one hundred dollars shall be pald by such company to the clty."’ MONROE’S HANDS TIED. Robert Grecr Monroe is the Commissioner of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, He doesn’t take much Interest in the gas tests, because he hasn’t money to spend on them, and, besides, the charter provision permits kim to make tests not oftener than once a week. That was a joke put in the charter by the Gas Trust. Dr. E. G. Love is the gas chemist of the department. He has-two photo- metric stations for testing gas—one at No. 122 Bowery and the other in Sey- enty-ninth street. He cannot do much, He tests the quality( and if it runs under twenty-candle power the company is notified; but before the Trust can be fined three successive violations of the law must be shown, Commissioner Monroe said to-day: “I don't see that I can do anything as long as the gas companies keep | within the provisions of the law. We haven't yet been able to find suffi-| elent violations to fine them. As soon as we find the gas 1s of poor quality w? notify ths company, and usually the trouble Is remedied. We haven't yet had cause to fine the gas corporations, because the law treats them so Mberally. ONLY SEVEN INSPECTORS, “When Dr, Love makes his tests he reports to the Bureau of Lamps and, Gas. For Manhattan and the Bronx we have but seven inspectors to see that the streets are properly lighted. “1 asked the Board of Hstimate for money to establish gas laboratories, ‘Dut it was not allowed to me.” ‘before the Grand Jury, said: “It seems to be up to Monroe.” T A WATTLE RELIEF, Dr. E. O. Kellogg, of No. 104 West Fitty-eighth street, one of the victims Wrongs The Hyening World printed yesterday, has obtained a little ‘As @ result of the expose, Supt. Jastrow Alexander, upon reading eount of the way the Gas Trust was holding up the doctor, went post- to the latter's office and examined the meter, #10 per cent, too fast,” Alexander’ reported, do you mean by that?” asked the doctor. you're paying for 10 per cent, more gas than you actually use.” is Bure that 10 per cent. is not anywhere near the excess that oreed out of him. In 1902 his average monthly bill for the gas Office was between $7.50 and $9.00. This year it is up to $20.20, ‘World has advised the doctor to demand a return of every since the “fust meter was installed, There are who have been “held up” in the same way, and hae started tn thelr behalf has given them heart to nets gas companies have been able to so juggle the laws as to make it. District-Attorney Jerome, when asked if he would bring the gas swindle | seriember a FO DOE-98D 2 : : rs 4 : > 4 3 « 3 $ \¢ | | ME FOR A TALLOW DIP ' GUESS DOBPRDD @ © Hy * | | F t ~ HOGS SEND YOUR KICK ABOUT HIGH GAS, ELECTRIC LIGHT OR OIL BILLS TO JOHN D. HE OWNS ALL. INDIGNANT PUBLIC C RIES OUT AGAINST GAS HOLD-UP, the These The flood of complaints against gas trust Is growing every ¢ are some of the against the combine: The Affable latest complaints Clerk, |To the Hjitor of The Bveaing World: J havé five rooms, all ght, in the front of the house. My gas bill for the first month T came here, two years ago, way a little over $1. This month's bil! is $7.40. I took my previous recelpt to the office of the company to-tlay and I was bluntly told that no bills would be de: glad he was to see the helpless publi subject to his Insults and jeers as well as the extortion of his masters OLE NELSON, No. 267 West Fifteenth street, How He Gets a Chance, To the Editor of The Evening World T have use gas for cooking pur- poses for a number of years, and during the time before the so-called gas trust was formed my gas bills were very gradually increased, One day 1 was advised to put a top plate upon my gas range, and from that time my bill decreased to a uniform rate. J. J. KONEGS, Company Caught Stealing. To the Bditor of The Evening World Reading that the gas companies deny any overcharges on gas bills, 1 wish to state how my bills increased nearly double from last year, In my cg the same amount of £48 summer and winter, J have only four lights. ‘This is how my bills run; 1 notified the State Meter Inspector and he had my meter examined and said that he found it only 31-2 per cent fast. I figured that he would fad it About % per cent, fast. 1 went to the gas company's office and showed them the {inspector's memorandum, ‘They Jooked it up and told me they could only give me the $ 1-2 per cent, rebate for one year, Now, the meter has been In my Store nearly four year I lowe 81-2 per cont. on my gas bills for three years, I would like to know if I can make them pay me back that money, to which they are not entitled. ABE WOL#, His Meter Hocus-Po: To the Editor of The Bvening World: Bully for you, that you have opened _ War on the Consolidated Ges Com- with or examined bili this month. ald the urbane clerk at the counter, and there | a look In his eye that told how} regular, but ever since them my bills! eT use! 43] chs month than last pany. My experience is that it the | worst fraud on earth, with not a par- ticle of redress except to pay for two- | thirds alr and one-third gay—the enthe combination at $1 per 1,000 fect, It certainly ts balm to be able to tet | loose one’s long-pent-up feelings. My bills may not be large, but my Jenee has the same bearing on thi ject as ui of greater denomination | Here is My sas Dill for last December was $6.00, magician played some Then the hocus pocus my meter and Jo! and behold! my Jan- uary DIE Jumped to $8.10, For about a whole week of this last jmenth I hardly had any ight at all, and all my cooking wag done prinel- pally with coal, Kor two eve 1 had no gas whatever and had to use candles, Won't you please tell me of some business which I can enter, haying the dear public as my customers, and wherein they will have no redress, like in case they want any? OF THE DEAR PUBLIC. Increase Only in the Bi To the Baitor of The Evening World Concerning the robery of consumers by the Gas Trust, a year ago my bills averaged about $ monthly: this year they have run up to $6.8 or §7 a monta without any increase whatever in the consumption of gas. CHAR 8 H. GEORGE 61 Bank street, city The Meter Oun’t Ertl | To the Editor of The Byening World } My gas bill this month is $10, last month is was $6.0. I wrote to the gas company and complained of the amuunt and also of the poor gas. They sent a man to examine the meter and he sald {t was all right, though I used leas gas Hoping shat you | will stop this wholesale robbery Tam YORKVILLE VICTIM Bills Trebled for Him, To the Baitor of The Kvening World: 1 would lke to make a complaint agalnat the Consolidated Gas Company My bills for January and February of Hiast year were eaco $1.0, and this year |January’s DIl* is $4.90 and February's $4.80-—three times as much. | To the Editor: | was the highest. On Jan. 14 my mont Is. 1) was $7.29, I complained to the gas company and they sald the next ‘bill would be lowers Instead of being lower, nx they promised, f got a Dill for ‘$10.8. We are using tho same! wmount of gas Vigat as when we pald! $2.50. Reapectfully yours, B, BONDERFSKY, No, 28 West Fifty-second street. | Econom{zed; Bil Jumped. Py the Katt Evening World: 1 have bee nsuming gas in my res- ta ant at Broome street, Man- hattan Borough, for the past four years, luring which tlme [ have suffered ex- ly owing to the methods used by | s comp Lately my gas bills have Jumped from $6.00 to about $10 a week, although 1 have trfed In every way possible to econom 1 less gas now than T id before, but, sirange to say, my bills ofte: asked the gas company et the meter, and when the In- ‘tor called and examined tne meter ne Niways said he found nothing wrong with it, 1 asked them repeatedly to install a new meter, but they refused to | do so, I sincorely hope this letter will assist you in winning your fight for the much- oppressed citizens of this city. D, SILVERSTEIN. Of Course, (Pay Up or —!? ‘Vo the Editor of The Evening World I am glad to see you taking up the of the public. My bills have been xs monthly: eval was so high I burned gas with and my bills came Now, when I'm using caus ar less than BN sh 5 baat EDS ORT REA B C THE WORLD: FRIDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 27, 1903, LEGISLATORS ARE AROUSED BY THE EXPOSURE OF THE GAS TRUST'S EXTORTIONS Write only on one side of pany i# not recetving any complaints of overcharging. I have sent at least four * GAS CONSUME) Tent That Showed Extortion, To the Editor of The Evening World: I write to say that your article In this evening's World (Feb, 25) regarding the gas overcharge {s. correct. As an illustration of t, and to con- vince one of my family that the gas companies charge what they piedse, I | a lamp for two weeks, not using gas whatever, and the bill for gas that month was just §1 more th the prevlogg one. If that does not prove extortion what does? If you take steps to prevent these rob- beries it will do a vast deal of good to | the public, A READER OF YOUR PAPER. Me Senda the Proof, To the EMitor of The Evening World | Me too.” Inclose, find two bills for | gas. One ts dated from Jan, 8 to Feb, 7, 192, the other from Jan. 8 to Feb. 6, | 1903, This year’s bill Is Just half again as much as last year's, with the ex- ception of 10 cents, Seeing must be be- Heving, don't you think? A READER. Nu Protection to the Pablic. To the Editow of The Evening World: I claim I have been persistently over- charged for gas and when I made & complaint the company turned off my gas without notice. According to thelr own showing and final acknowledgment they owed me something Ike $1.60, I had paid a $10 depos!t and the amount of my gas bills in all came to $8.40. The cutting off of my gas caused me serious damage beside the vexatious alrs and insulting manner of the super- Intendent. He sald gas was like rent and should Ge paid for beforehand and gas companies should be protected. I told him I'd like to see him in a country where the public had to be pro- teoted. AN UPTOWN VICTIM, His Meter Like a Hungry Dog. To the Editor of The Evening World: IT am a poor laboring man with a houseful of children. I have a quarter- slot meter, and it puts me in mind of a hungry dog, always whining fof more. I burn one Jet in my kitchen for about five hours at night and between 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning, and a quarter pays for only four nights. PATRICK N. Incrensed Nearly Threefold. ‘The Evening World: I wish to: that I am paying more for gas’ than’ ever-ibefore and’ I am using less, My bills never were over. $2.59, but for the last four or five months “| I have been getting bills of $6 and over: H. SHEVITS¢, No. 4 Sixth avenue, How Onc Houscholder Was Robbed To the BAlitor @ The Evening World: ‘Am glad to find you are “going for" thore “gentlemen” (?) who supply alr and a modicum of gas to the people of New York in exchange for genuine dollar bilis. It is a crying shame that they should be allowed to "do" us Keep the Lenten larder clean if you must. H-O will simpli Jonly coal for these purposes, my Dilla | consis ved $5. Fi ssa: can ine pullin | suffice. |month, and went to the One Hundred bi and Fourteenth street office, but wae Ameri hot allowed by the not-over-civil clerks jlo see any higher official, I was told that unless 1 paid my bill my gas would be cut off, 1 paid. AN ANGRY VICTIM. No Angels In the ‘Trost. To the Bditor of The Rvening World I am one of the sufferers by Gas Trust | methods, Whereas, my gas bills never nounted to more than $1, this month tt comes to $2.6), and we were more ful, only burning one ight. When I went (o the office to complain I was told they did not employ angels, and could not help it R. HALL, magnted rapid). SEND YOUR COMPLAINTS OF GAS EXTORTION TO THE EVENING WORLD. The Gas Trust says there are no. complaints of over- charge from its victims, To refute this statement The Evening World will print all complaints sent to this office. Each communication must have name and address of the writer, not for publication unless desired. the paper. with impunity. The secretary says th have been no complaints. He tells an ple at the office complaining when 1 made mine, though they never do the slightest good For December my bill was $12.90, In Jenuary $18.10. . 1 have been keeping house for six- teen years and never had such # bill— | bot even when gas was $1.50 per 1,000 feet. Again, in January, 1901, my bill was $8.40}. In January, 1902, $9.40, and this year $18.10 (and have never been with- out coal for my furnace all the winter). (2 do hope that you will not rest till those cormorants and yultures are laid low, and are forced to give an honest and square deal to the consumers of their “gas.” BUNCOED. Uned No Gas—Bill for 83.5! To the Ed!tor of The Evening World I will give you my experience with the Gas Trust. 1 applied for gas; they sent me a leaky meter thut flooded the house with gas until we discovered its source and cut tt off and sent word to th company, They fixed it, also my Dill which was $1 for nine nights—one jet burning one and a half to two hours, su mere, ail outside rooms. * Pitiado a complaint to the company. as my ‘nélghbors had no larger bill for a month for cooking and illuminating, and I had no gas stove, so, of course,’ didn't cook with it, But I got my second bil! before any one came to investigate. This Hill was 50 per cent, more than that for people using two or three times the amount I was using, A man finally came to examine, not the meter but me. He said the amount was too small to bother about. If it was several dollars, why, there migtht be something done My bills merrily Increased every month until one month, gettin; (for one jet), I’ sent them word to cut oft the gas’ and immediately stopped using it. Imagine my surprise when the collector came at the end of this montn | with a bill for $3.80; that was $1.40 for | not using gas. Of course I didn't pay it, but they had my deposit. They sent again by mail, asking me to remit $3.80, but I remitted a piece of my mind in- stead, 4 g There is only oné way to stop this legahxzed public thievery—that 1s through municipal ownership of gas. Lend your ald to turn the thieves out and add another laurel to your record. Mrs. J. COSTELLO. Both Fleec7d and Intimidated. To the Editor of The Evening World: Will you kindly give some attention to my protest against the wholesale robbery of the gas company? I am a private consumer and my bills have y in. the’ past three you kindly judge for yourself? ecember, $6.00, muary, $10.30. bruary, $11.10, ‘This, desptte the fact that during De- ember we burnt more gas than during January and February. The company threatens to discontinue my supply un. less my two last bills, amounting to $21.10 are patd by the end of the week, and the sum i@ entirely beyond my means, Can ‘nothing be done to end this out- rage? I have been advised by the com pany to pay for an inspection of my Meter by the Stato Inspector. M. 3. «T want some more.” We hear much about icity of living, This applies with espe~ cial force to the break- st table, an breakfast The Amer- which ts of H-O in some one of its forms will be the salvation of the can nation. The latest crack out of the hat- box is the brownish Derby, London’s crack hatters have taken it up—we've taken one of | my bill for $2.40 | R. LITTLE, No. 1844 Third avenue. No, 214 Bast Twenty-titth street. Short, Crisp bat Convincing. ‘To the Hilltor of The Evening World: Nearly Doubled His Bil, To the Editor of The Evening World I also wish to make a complaint | Pe) Hy iis i against the Consolidated Gas Company Aitodeamtistatsntrts te Our bills are increasing évery month.| game house, ame Yurners, no wller= Last year January's bill was $1.0, this} ations, Result of complaint: Promise of year &. A. BARTON, | inspection of meter. Yours, No, 18! Third avenue, ‘A SUFWERER, How Is This for a Jump? No Complaints, BAS Hows 7 To the Bakor of The Bvening Worlds ‘To the Rattor of The Hvening World: Wor the past two years my bill aver-| The Secretary of the Consolidated Ges aged from $200 to $3 @ month, which! Company is mistaken in saying the came ry the smartest London shapes and reproduced it in the two best Lon- don tints, in black Derbies and Stetson soft hats, Ready now, with the new blocks | av. INTERESTING, IF TRUBS. You Can Try It for Yourself ap Prove It. One grain of tho active principle # Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets will digest 3,61 grains of meat, eggs or other wholesom | food, and this claim has been proven b actual experiment, which any one ean pet form for himself in the following man Cut a boiled ege into very small p | As it would be if masticated, place the em | and two or three of the tablets in a botth or Jar containing warm water heatea to 9 degrees (the temperature of the body), an: keep it at Chis temperature for three ‘one-half hours, at the end of whieh time th ‘exe will be as completely digested as 3 | would have been in the healthy stomach @ ja hungry boy. ‘The point of this experiment ts that wha Stuart's Dyspepsia Tablets will do to th. ‘exe in the bottle it will do to the egg o meat In the stomach, and nothing else wi) ‘yest and invigorate the stomach so safel; and effectually. Evon a little chitd can take Stuart's Tablets with safety and benefit § its digestion 1» weak, and the thousands cures accomplished by their regular dail) | Use are easily explained when it ts under, stood that they are composed of vegetable | essences, aseptic pepsin, diastase and Golde; of them myself in the last six montha. | absolute untruth. There were slx peo-| Seal, which mingle with the food and diges) | It thoroughly, giving the overworked stom. | ach a chance to recuperate. | Dioting never cures dyspepsia, neither a pills and cathartic medicines, which simply irritate and inflame the intestines, When enough food is eaten and promptly digested there will be no constipation, nor in fact will there be disease of any kind, | Lethe) good digestion means good health tp e Y organ. | ‘The merit and success of Stuart's Dyspep sia Tablets are world wide, and they are vold at the moderate price of sized package in every dru United States and Canada, Burope. ets. for full. store in the as well as in BLOOD HUMOURS Skin Humours, Scalp Humours, Hair Humours, ‘Whether Simple Serofulous or Hereditary Spowdly Cured by Cuticura _ Soap, Ointment and Pills, When All Other Remedies and Best Physicians Fail, COMPLETE TREATMENT, $1.00. In the treatment of torturing, disfig- | uring, itching, scaly, crusted, pimply, | blotchy and scrofvious humours of the | skin, scalp and blood, with loss of hair, Cuticura Soap, Ointment and Pills have been wonderfully successful. Even the most obstinate of constitutional hu- mours, such as bad blood, scrofula, in- |herited and conta, lous humours, with | loss of hair, glandular swelll, ulcere ous patches In the throat and mot sore eyes, copper-colored blotches, as. well as boils, carbuncles, scurvy, sties, ulcers and sores arising from.an im- | pure or impoverished condition of the | blood, yield to the Cuticura Treatment, when all other remedies and methods fail. | And Breater still, if possible, is the | wonderful record of cures of torturii cintiguring, humours among infants an children, The suffering which Cuti- | cura Soup and Ointment have alleviated among the young, and ,the comfort they have afforded worn-out and wor ried parents, have led to their adoption in countless homes as priceless cura- tives for the skin and blood, Infantile anc virth humours, milk crust, scall head, eczema, rashes and every form of itching, scaly, pimps skin and scalp humours, with loss of hair, of Infancy and childhood, are speedily, permas _nently and economically cw when Il other remedies sultable for children, and even the best physicians, fail. | DIED. M'COY.—On Thursday, Feb. 26, THOMAS, be> loved husband of Cansie McCoy. Funeral Saturday morning at 9 o'clock from | hin tate resid 53 Lincoln ave., Broax: | thence to St. Jerome's Church, 138th wt, and | Alexander ave. Dovten Glabe please copy. MURPHY,—On Thursday, Feb. 1903, THOM- AS, beloved mon of Mary Murphy. Funoral from the residence of his mother, 510 East 16th wt., Saturday, Feb. t 9.80 thence to the Immaculate Conception Church, Hast 14th at, where @ solema requiem mass will be offered for the repose Laundry Wants. D to run errands, Laundry, 43 Brookly: aes " dulivery Wagol a Laundry, references |npar 64th at. jable bore in eference required, FAMILY TRONER. “Troy -OLaAl ary, 243 Columbue ave. b BOY WANTSD. Laundry, 108 W. th at. ry; 44 weekly at ‘2018 Broadway, ERRAN 4 ine. and mem rsa epange at at et 304" Canal et, un h i at ey fl e a iF, nueetay roy MBN to Jara ahirt ironing. wie wal Gmorter Wanted, Laundry, : {TeD—Starcher and opersior oo Hagen ye her ovo lroner; sae Steam Laun- wi enced 178 w. x Rocers, Peat & CoMPANY.| ype thoughtless man with land @ Hh . winds bo na Wee wis, He does not think of printer's tal