Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-01-18
lanraster futeIllgenrec.
TUESDAY EVENING. JAN. 10. 1884.
Elementary Business Pri.ciples.

The extraordinary conduct of the man.
a,ers of the gas company leads to the
suspicion that they are not quite sane
and yet they have not been suspected OF
any such infirmity during their lifelong
residence among US. But neither have
they been considered dishonest. The
Messrs. Baumgardner are the gas com.
pany the other persons figuring with
them as directors being small holders
of stock and mainly ornamental in their
functions. These gentlemen have en-.
jpyed the esteem of their fellow-citizens,
and the pressure upon them must he Sc
we're which causes them to greatly en-
danger it in their management Of the
gas service Of which they have lately
secured the monopoly. They signalize
their control by furnishing the citizens
inferior and even nOxiOus gas, at an in
creased cost and by failing to light all
the street lamps, while sending in their
bill as though the full service contracted
for had been performed.
Now it certainly requires no argument
to show that it is not honest to charge
for gas that is not furnished; nor to pro-
vide gas of inferior quality and injurious
effect when good gas is contracted for. If
the facts are as the citizens unanimous
ly see them, can the Messrs. Baumgard-
ner, if they control the gas company as
they are believed to do, any longer claim
to be entirely honest dealers? We do
not now say that they are dishonest !; but
we do say that there is such an appear
ance Of dishonesty in the management of
the gas works as to emphatically call for
an explanation from those who control
it, if they would preserve their fair
fame and have any desire to be con-
sidered both honest and wise. Men who
are not very scrupulous might argue to
themselves that they were acting honestly
when they were seeking to secure any
gain that would come to them without
getting them into the penitentiary. Such
men are the GOulds, who seek their
wealth dishonesty, yet, perhaps, law
fully. But it is not even lawful to sell
bad gas and charge for good gas nor
to sell gas Of any kind and provide none
at all. Such methods Of money making
are opposed to the fundamental princi-
pies of commercial dealing and the law
that governs it, which requires the
seller to furnish just what he sells.
And it don't change the case that tie
seller has a monopoly. He gains power,
when lie is thus entrenched, to battle his
victims, but if he attempts too great an
imposition he is certain to be blown up,
ere long, very high; especially when he
has the whole public storming his works.
No doubt the present gas company paid
q pretty penny for the works of the old
company that it had to buy out to get its
monopoly, and which are now almost
useless toit. And no doubt the stock
holders are justified in seeking profit on
their investment. But they can't get it
by furnishing bad gas and no gas, and
charging rs though they had given good
gas. That is an easy method of
getting "a profit that won't work
in practice. They may double the price
of gas if they will, provided they give
us gas and of proper quality. We may
then rail at them and denOunce them as
grasping monopolists and extortioners;
but we can't accuse them of cheating.
And if they get the profit they may be
able to philosophically stand the abuse.
But they must avoid violating the
statutes; that every wise and we'll
Conducted monopolist takes care to do.
We are surprised that it seems to be
needful to remind such old and
esteemed business men as the Messrs.
Baungardner of these elementary busi-
ness principles, but we trust they will
read them in the spirit in which they are
rendered and they may he assured that
If the! have anything to say to the pub
lie We shall be delighted to priut it.