Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-14
THE GAS CoNTRACr.


A perusal of the proceedings Of the mu-
nicipal government of the city of Nashville
as published in yesterdays newspapers leads
to these conclusions, namely, that the Nash
villa Gas Light Company, in common with
other rich money corporations, desires to
attain but one object, a monopoly; that in
aid of that purpose it enjoys the active CO.
operation of the city government; and that
the monopoly is now, ostensibly, almost
accomplished. The object of the writer is
to criticize the manner in which it has been
attempted to- fasten mt nopoly upon the
people, aud to rebuke the ingenious scheme
employed by the friends of that monopoly.
1t would be unjust not to say that this
scheme, though not good scheme, shows
more talent than many good schemes. 1t
bears the signs of much patient thought.
1t contains varie y of points all guarded
with excellent taste and with eloquent
though pernicious logic. On that account
it the more deserves condemnation. When
the municipal machinery of Nashville IN
der the very eyes OF us all is withdrawn
from work for the public good, and set TO
work for the Nashville Gas Light Com
pany's good, it is tire TO select for our
selves new set of machinery.
The Nashville Gas Light Company has
greatly prospered. Its stock has commanded
from 100 per cent. upwards, when any OF it
happened Oh the market. It has been
monopolY whose laws were obeyed more
implicitly than the laws of the General or
State Government. In order to divide some
of that prosperity, few weeks ago, after
full and mature elaboration, the Peoples
Gas Light Company was organized. The
latter sought to come forward and contest
with the old company for the favor OF the
people. All il desired or asked for was an
open field and fair play. A petition for the
right of way in the streets Of the city was
presented to the Board of Aldermen on the
27tn of March last, which was granted. 1t
WIS next sent to the Council where 1t I'M
Willingly fell into the hands of the Chair
man of the Nashville Gas Company's Com
| mittee, who has since appeared as the
| champion of the monopOlists. The Chan
| Gerry Court, to which application had been
made for charter, had proved almost
ScyIla to the new company, but now it en-
countered Charybdis in the Common
| Council.
The old gas company witnessing the en-
tarpriss of the new company, resolved tc
1 take action. On the 9Th Of May resolu-
ton in the handwriting Of the above Chair
man was offered in the Council and then
referred to the Chairman's committee. The
resolution in its face seemed only to involve
the question as to the expediency OF pur
chasing the gas works and issuing bonds
| The Chairman now says the bonds cannot
be issued. Did he not know it equally a;
well when he drafted his resolution in the
beginning? If so, bis resolution on its fact
| is defective. The resolution was adopted
| and for the month next following, while
the public supposed the committee were de
liberating upon the policy of purchasing the
gas works, it suddenly receives the grateful
| information that a contract is closed by
| which the Nashville Gas Company Is con
stituted monopoly for ninety-nine years
The summary of this transaction is that the
| Chairman of the gas committee drew uI
| the resolution, himself the working mem
Der of the committee to which the resou-
ton was referre d, that he also wrote the re
port, in which is urged different thing
from the thing contemplated in the resolu
ton; that he submitted proposition from
the old company to give stated amount
bonus, provided the city would exclude
every other gas company; that he procured
the vote to be precipitately taken in spite o.
the request of Councilman Chamberlin and
| Douglas for time to consider. "Judgmenl
and reason have been on the Grand Jury
ever since Noah was sailor" but in the
execution of questionable deed the motto
of Macbeth has better application,
No boasting like fool,
| This deed I'll do, before this purpose cool.
The reasons given by the chairman il
his argument or report in yesterdays Bun
ner, are good as reasons, but as excuses fol
bis action are unsatisfactory and insufficient
The doctrine is SO false, the misconceptions
so glazing, the conclusions so vicious anC
ssfull of the seeds of evil" that on every
point we are opposed to the chairman, anC
can produce on our side authorities emf
nently more convincing than bis ''two ables
lawyers" who would blush were they no
lawyers at associating their names witt
such an argument.
The Nashville Gas Company's stock de
precisted 80 per cent. upon the formation
of the new company. The capital of tn
former last year was S4OO,OOO The "bonus'
they offer to the city for the purpose OF ex
Guiding all rival companies is less than II
per cent. If, therefore, this plan is to sue
coed, then the stock will ascend to the oil
quotations, and the stockholders will net a
least % per cent. on their stock, and b,
means of a bribe under the name of "bonus,
enjoy in future all the advantages of mon
opoly, in what is but one species OF manu-
facture and trade, that the spirit Of ou
laws demands shall be open and free t.
every citizen.
In conclr sion l invite attention to twt
provisions in the Constitution of the Stst'
of Tennessee, that is to say, ''mOnOpOie
are contrary to the genius of free State
and shall not be allowed" Art. L, Sec. p
No county, city or town shall become
stakeholder with others in any company
association or corporation, except upon a
election to be first held by the qualities
voters of such county, city or town, an
the assent of three-fourths of the vote
cast at said elections. Art. II, Sec. 20.
j. III, ).