The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-11-29

Mr.. Editor Much as dislike toappear In print
In public, yet feel called upon as chairman OF
the committee on gas, 10 say few words In reply
to various articles that have appeared In the city
papers, '..
The writer II seems aims to show thai the Ooun
Gil is arbitrary, incompetent and unjust, giving
no reasons or figures that would justify the present
reduction in the price Of gas, &c.
In answer to II all will simply state that this
vexing question has occupied the attention of the
council and particularly the committee for at
least the last six or eight months; information
having been obtained by personal visits to, and
by correspondence with other cities, from which
careful statement was prepared and read 10 the
council by the committee, and after an earnest
consideration Of the same by full council the
present price was agreed upon.
As for submitting this question to board ofar.
bltrators as proposed by Mr. Reynolds / will say
that while fully recognize the business qualIf.
caious Of the gentlemen named, yet feel that 1t
Is scarcely probable that they would give II the at
tention the council have, and further don't be-
lieve the council have any moral right to assign
to Others the adjustment of a question that proper
ly belongs TO them. ..
The council as 1t stands was lawfully COnstitut'
ed, and Notwithstanding all the gentle appella.
tlons 1t has pleased certain parties to apply TO
them, they are nevertheless the ones chosen by
the voters Of the city (and not the three out Of the
thirty as proposed), ana are expected by them to
dispose Of all business pertaining to them as coun.
cimen, "even the gas question" The price was
fixed in good faith and meets the appreciation of
the public generally, there being but few croak-
era, some complaining that the price Is too high
while q few others think that il is TOO low These
latter ones, however, have the undisputed privl-
lege to pay more for their gas If they feel that Mr.
Reynolds is really oppressed.
As for the shortness of the term q years., don't
believe 1t is either right or wise for the present
council to bind future councils for term Of ten
years (as asked by Mr., R,) to a contract that may
prove within shorter time incompatible with
the times besides short contract will afford the
gas company an early opportunity to renew with
another council not composed Of blockheads and
gnoramuses, but possibly with some of the
thirty
In reference to the plea that the gas company
cannot make fair returns on their investment at
the present price, There may be others that can,
and certainly no reasonable man would, expect
the council to make good the investment of any
| private establishment. If the gas company needs
assistance outside of fair price for their products
| it should be by voluntary COntri buttons and not
by compulsory taxation. Yours &c.
CHAs. D. MoNNoT
an reference to the plea" of Councilman Mon.
not it would seem as if the scheme was to drive
the present company out OF business Surely
| this is not the business of members of our city
| Council. Their mission should be to do justice
and act fairly. The Gas Company ask no com
pulsory taxation" through the Council. They dc
however, demand fair treatment, at their hands
and that the Company is entitled to,
We admire Mr.. MonLOts regard for the dignity
and authority of the Council Heaven forbid thai
we should seek to detract therefrom.
We remember that in 1871 the city Council OF
| Canton did appoint committee of outside gentle
men, two ofwhom we're Judge Meyer and thelatC
Alex. Bierce on whose report the Council acted IN
arranging with the Gas Company, That Council
we believe was as watchful of their own dignity
and authority and the interests of our citizens al
| the present Even courts, of character and dig
nifty, appoint referees in important cases. and are
never above seeking council on important mat
ters.
By reference to an item in this paper twill bC
seen that the Cleveland Gas Company that sell
yearly one hundred and sixty millions cubic fee
gets two dollars per thousand. In Portsmouth
Ohio, by recent contract after struggle, Privat
consumers pay $3.50 and for street lights $50 pc
post per year, Portsmouth is larger than Canton
having 1870 street lamps to our H. and coal s pro
badly cheaper than in Canton as they can get 1
by the river. In Toledo too, by a recent contrac
torun five years, that city pays for street lamp'
So 20 per thousand cubic feet.
Now, Mr. Monnot these are a few facts bearing
on the question, If you have any, descend from
your dignity, and let us have them.