The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-17
MORE SNAP JUDGMENT

BY reference TO the city council pro-
ceedlngs 1t will be seen thai an ordi-
nance has been passed TO provide for
gas In Emporia. We understand the ex-
elusive privilege of furnishing gas was
granted for thirty years, at price not
exceeding $3.50 per 1000 feet. That we
must have gas soon is an admitted fact,
That there is any particular hurry about
it we do not see. Why the ordinance
was put through under suspension
Of the rules is query. There has
been n little too much of that sort of
thing by the Emporia city council in
the past two years. When the water
works contract was let the same sort of
'snap judgment was taken. a gentle
man was then present who asked Il few
days delay in order that responsible
firm in Iowa might put in n bid on the
works. 1t was refused, and the contract
closed Immediately on the single bid
that was offered. This may have been
best, but we make the assertion freely
that not single member of the city
council would have done the business
that way If he had been letting con
tract for $4,000 or even $1,000 worth
of work for himself
In the case of this gas ordi-
nance Mr.. Watson, it will be seen,
wanted until next Thursday To investi-
gate, and to get information on the sub
iect from other cities. The courtesy and
right which ought never TO be refused II
fellow member Of such body, cspec-
tally under such circumstances, was de-
MED him, and the ordinance was passed
under suspension of the rules. Such
hurried action ON the part Of Il delibera-
tive body, unless in case of public emer-
gcncy. is not only as a rule injurious 10
the public interests, but is always open
to suspicion. We understand that
the gentlemen composing the COM
pany live here This is Of course pref
cradle to putting the interests of the
inhabitants of the city for thirty years
into the hands of non-residents. But we
do not see the necessity of the haste
manifested by the council No chance
was given 10 anybody else to say what
they would do about furnishing gas. II
seems to us, too, that thirty years is an
unnecessarily long lease 10 give :. gas
company on the people of Emporia, nc
difference who they are or where they
come from. No attempt was made 10 se'
If the price could not be fixed at lowel
limit than $3.50. If some process is dis
covered, in this day OF invention in the
matter of light, by which we might &c
gas at $500 per 1000 feet, we vii
have to keep on paying the $3.50 ill ih'
end of thirty years, because nobody eve
heard of a gas company charging les
than they were allowed to charge. The
ordinance is undoubtedly good thing
for the gas company-as good rs the.
asked for-but whether it is the best tina
could be done for the people ofthe city
whose interests IL is sometimes believes
councilmen are elected To protect ant
look after, is another question. Perhap:
as an Emporia councilman once sat
when being demonstrated with by one c
the people on a question that eiiecte
the people, ut is none of your id bu'
mess" All the people have to do
to quietly submit. Their hands are tie
in the important matter Of gas for lhirt
years, and they have the consolation {
knowing that many of them will be dea
before the expiration of that time, an
won't need gas.
We must simply "go it blind" rs I'll
councilmen evidently did, and believe
is all right and for the best After tift
years of experience with gas compaie
and the difficulties almost every city in th
land have had with them, and with the
grasping, monopolizing ways, the peop
must go through the same mill and su
fer the same toll, and all that withou
any seductive oyster supper in their
Such are the ways of n city council
the far west.