The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-20

very evident, from the article itself; ior
il the writer were not ignorant on the
gus question he would not attack the
Commissioner, who have nothing to dc
with the matter; but would address his
remarks to the Trustees Of the gas works
The fact he does not know the difference
between these two boards is conclusiy 9
that his inquiries have been exceedingly
when men prefer charges against an
individual or u corporation, the "Onu'
probandr or burden 81 proof rests with
the accuser; for, according TO all law, ev-
cry one is regarded as innocent until his
guilt has been established by conclusive
testimony. Now what proof has the
writer advanced to establish his charges
Let us see what his proofs are. He says
that in hundreds Of instances thegas bills
for December, 1875, are at least third
larger than they were in December, 1874,
notwithstanding the fact that the price Of
gas ilas been reduced from So so to So 80
per thousand feet. Now, such loose and
vague testimony would not be accepted in
any court OF justice in the Unitad States
He fails to specify single case, taking
merely the loose statemcrft Of some dissat-
isfied citizen who would perhaps complain
il the gas were given thcntlor nothing, be-
cause the trustees had failed to put orna-
menal chandeliers with patent burners
into their houses at the citys expense. II
the writer OF the aforesaid article wishes
to establish his charge, he must make q
very different investigation from that
which he professes to have made, He
must calculate the increased pressure pro.
dncct by the addition Of a u inch main
10 the s inch main previously used; he
must bring up number Of cases in
which M accurate calculation has been
made, properly certified, Of how many
hours the parties burned their gas in
December, 1875; lie must, moreover, as
certain how many additional burners
have been used by the aforesaid
parties; nor must lie forget TO
inquire in how many instances 7
feet burners have been substituted for 4
or feet burners: He must recollecI
thatit ia common in our country for peo,
pie 10 use everything more lavishly
when they can get It a little cheaper,
often making the aggregate outlay much
greater than when the article was more
expensive. Take, for instance, the post
age in the United States; compare the
revenue from that source at the present
time with the same when We paid ten
cents for letter. There are perhaps a
hundred letters written now where there
were five under the old law. The same
holds good in regard to gas; individuals
will burn twice as much when it is 81 80
per 1000 feet, us they did when it was
So 81, and then complain, because il
costs little more. ] really believe il
the city were 10 furnish gas for moth
ing there would be loud complaints
in regard to its quantity and quality
Let the writer OF the article under con-
sideration first enlighlen his own igno-
rance MS to everything pertaining TO the
workings OF the gas office, and then il he
finds anything wrong. and win call upon
the properly constituted authorities in n
polite and gentlemanly manner, | can
assure him that no efforts will be spared
to do Justice to all concerned. A little
common sense would teach the gentleman
that the officers Of the gas works can have
no possible interest in defrauding the
community, for. the money, paid for gas
does not 60, into their pockets rs any one
may sec for himself il he will take the
trouble to inspect the books, which arc
at all times open to those desiring in
formation. The meters can also be ex-
amined by the inmates OF the houses, and
any man with half an ounce Of brains can
learn how to read gas meter in ten
minutes, The vague andsunsubstantial
Charges contained in that article are al
together unworthy OF notice, and reply
was entirely unnecessary. Nevertheless
the Trustees arc anxious that the people
should be satisfied, and We have volun-
teercd this reply in order to let theconi-
mpnity know that we deSirc TO sec justice
done.
Any civil inquiry, made in gentle.
manly manner TO, the properly consti-
tutetl authorities, will meet with a promp,
and, hope, satisfactory response.
JUSTICE.