The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-03
THE GAS CONTROVERSY.

The decision OF the heLO8B ouprem(
Court rendered Monday in the case of the
Crescent City Gas Light Company VS.. New
Orleans Gas Light Company, if not set aside
by the Supreme Court of the United States,
fastens upon the unfortunate residents Of
this city a monopoly Of the most grinding
character, and this, too, until 1925, or for
half a century to date from the present
year.
like the Ship Island Canal grant, the
slaughter House bill, and other cognate
measures, this new monopoly is one Of the
iegacies Of toe Warmoth Radical regime. 1t
was an emanation of the corrupt Radical
Legislature of 1870, and its primary object is
said to have been to extort money from the
stockholders of the New Orleans Gas Light
Company, whose ercLusi,e privilege expires on
the 1st Of April next but who are authorized
10 continue their operations for twenty
years longer by law adopted in 1860, de-
claring "That the charter of the New Orleans
Gas Light Company, as now established by law,
shall remain in full force and effect until the
first dav Of April, 1895; prorided, that the ex-
not continue beyond the period fixed by its
original act of incorporation.
Having failed to convince the owners of the
New Orleans Gas Light Company that it
would be to their interest to come to terms
with the incorporators of the new monopoly,
the last named parties, it is understood, have
disposed of their exclusive rights, real or pre-
tended, to supply the residents Of this city with
artificial light for the next fifty years, in favor
Of certain Northern capitalists, the most
prominent of whom, Mr.. G. X. Garrison, is, or
was few days ago, in New Orleans.
The decree prayed for and far as our
State Supreme Court can decide the point
obtained by the present proprietors of the
Crescent City Gas monopoly is tantamount to |
a judicial proclamation or imperial edict
forbidding any man or association I" to
make or vend Illuminating gas in the city /
of New Orleans from April l, 1875, to
April l. 1926, save and except the
incorporators or stockholders of .'The Ores
cent City Gas Light Company; ;. this enor-
nous privilege, be it well understood, being
granted to these parties, without any benefit
TO the city, or any protection against future
exactons from its residents who will be com.
PEELED to pay to the monopolists whatever
price they may choose to charge for supply
ing them with illuminating gas
Ia their brief sub mitted to the Supreme
Court, Messrs Randell and VIM Hunt, of
counsel for the New Orleans Gas Light Com
pany, denounce the course of the plaintiffs
as .'an attempt to despoil the defendants
OF their property" and, as regards
the supposed power of a Legislature to
confer on one citizen, or one class
enjoyed by the rest; in certain excep-
iional cases, not within any express constitu- :
ional grant Of power, but assumed to be :
necessary and inherent in government The ,
same learned counsel truly assert that 'the >
Crescent Company charter contains nothing
20 place it in the category OF such cases" !
Is 'it introduces no new species OF industry" 4
md ''does not set on foot, for the general !,
rood, any useful and beneficial enterprise =
The public charities, the Charity Hospital,
nd other charities are furnished with llu- :,
ninating gas free Of expense. Private citizens !,
procure this artificial light in their dwelling !
Houses and workshops at a reasonable cost, ~
lnder the protection of a statute and contract .,
# the State, and the wholesome influence Of I.
rec and open competition. !;
. No monopoly-no injustice-no shackies :,
pon human labor The Crescent Company -
harter changes all this. 1t cuts off all COM =,
EDITION in the manufacture and sale of gas -
branch of industry and business essential to 9,
ublic and private interests all protection
gainst unreasonable rates and charges-all
id to the public charities-all freedom of =.
.bor, industry, capital, science and skill in
arrying on the business i,
: 1t creates the company and crowns it with i
artial fayors ; it bestows upon it, for it's own !,
ole and special interest, and at the expense J..
all others-the State and city rs well as -,
rivate persons exclusive rights, privileges -
nd immunities; in a word monopoly of the -
lost offensive and anti-repubcan character"
We shall have more to say upon this sub -,
ct but for the present must be satisfied
it'll the above remarks and quotations from
lessrs. X. and w. II. Hunts able and ex- :,
lustiye argument "a