The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-02
THE PROPOSED GAS LOAN


The ordinance for the creation of loan of
half a million dollars to be expended at the
discretion of the Gas Trustees was passed to
third reading yesterday in Common Coun-
Oil, all the objsetions to it being disregarded
in ia manner giving color to the strong sus-
pieion that has been aroused that its final pas
sage is set-up job, and that the gas ring
will get the money, to do what they please
with it. The arguments yesterday in favor of
the ordinance were the same as those ad-
vanoed in the Select branch to push it
though, and unwilling members were urged
to vote for this enormous addition to the
city's Indebtedness under the threat that
portion of the city would be left in darkness
if the demands of the gas ring were not COM
piled with. 1t is not creditsble that Councils
should submit to being told to stand and
deliver in this style, and we hope that when
the ordinance again comes up for considera-
tion the independent members will fight it to
the last, and resist the imposition of such
burden upon the taxpayers, unless there is
some assurance that the money will be ex-
pended in proper manner, SO that the pub
lie will get the benefit of every dollar
of it. 1t is high time that
determined effort was made
to break up the gas ring and for the city to
obtain the actual control of its property; for
the circumstances under which this loan is
demanded prove very conclusively that the
Gas Trustees have come to consider the
members of Councils not as the representa-
tives of the people, but as the servants of
the ring, who are bound to do the
hiddipo of fhair raal poastarc Tbaro ora
men in Councils who do not consent to
this theory, but they have never yet
made the sturdy opposition to the Board of
Trustees that they should These men can
give the gas ring great deal of trouble, if
they choose to do SO; and if they will reso-
lutely resist every demand for money that is
not accompanied by estimates and specifca-
tions, they will at least oblige those who now
arrogate to themselves the right to ex-
pend the public funds in secret to be
more careful how they destroy the
property of the city and then ask for
half million dollars at time to repair the
damages they have done. The strength of
the gas ring lies in the subserviency of
Councils, and we believe, in spite of the bad
bargain by which the control of the gas
works was taken out of the hands of the city
government, Councils can be the masters
instead of the servants of the trus-
tees, if they choose. 1t is all non
sense to pretend that the city is
obliged to pay the gas ring whatever sums
may be demanded, and if it is necessary to
create loan of half a million dollars this
year, there is no reason why one for ten mil
lions may not be necessary next year. The
trustees destroyed the gas works at Twenty
third and Market streets without consulting
with any one and without authority from
those who ought to have voice in such
matter. AS the deed was their own
they should be made to bear
all the responsibilities, and Councils
are under no obligation whatever to appro-
pirate money for new works. If the public
is inconvenienced the trustees will be alone
to blame, and there will be such q clamor
raised against the management of the gas
works that radical reform can scarcely be
avoided. If new works were necessary the
consent of Councils should have been OBJ
tanned before the old ones were destroyed,
and the members of Common Council will
not sustain their own dignity nor serve the
Spublic interests if they pass the ordinance
now pending From the appearance of things
wfyhave but little expectation of the defeat of
= lean, but we sincerely hope that it will be
E&aAA with the utmost pertinacity by the
HAa4Het& of the Common branch who do not
SSH6AsApce to the ring.
.HESa aHES-