New-York tribune., 1885-01-28
GAS CONSUMERS UP IN ARMS.
A PROTECTIVE ORGANIZATION FORMED.

| - A~O Il IOhMGDs
THE LEGISLATURE ASKED TO MAKE AN rNvEsrIGA-
TON.
Dissatisfaction with the charges of gas companies
TOOK shape last night ameeting of influential clt
zens at Delmonico's and the formation of perman.
ent organization for the purpose of looking after the
interests OF the consumers Among those present
were Jackson s. Schultz, John II. Sherwood, Will
IAN Laimbeer, +. b. Thurber. James II. Seymour,
Algernon 3. Sullivan. Simon Sterne, Nicholas Il.
OConnor. j. Rhinelander Dillon. William f. Buck
ley. William Van Zandt s. " X. Cooper Frederick
Robert, William II. Fearing, Sidney de Kay. DR..
Eugehe Howard and Horace Winans. The meeting
was called to order by Mr. Schultz. and Mr.. Sher-
w"od.was called to the chair. After he had stated
the object Of the meeting and invited all who had
not signed the call to add their names AlgenOu 9.
sullivan objected to signing the statement of facts
sci iorth IN the call he was not familiar with
their andat the suggestion of Mr.. Thurber portion
Oh INC call was stricken out. Mr. Sullivan and many
| Others then signed the document.
Mr. Laimbeer offered the following resolutions
| whIcb were unanimously adopted:
Resotred, That organization be formed to he known
rs the Gas Consumers Association OF the State Of New
YORK ana that Its objects to obtain. preserve and
pubic generally to adequate inspection OF
meter so that consumers may get what they pay for
measured by standards established and maintained by
puDc authority and seek otherwise TO protect and to
such Just restrictions are recognized elsewhere
necessary necessary for ga: and other corporations e1er
consumers Ia not protected by the law Of competition
ana where the individual citizen cannot successfully
MAINTAIN ms rights against large organizations.
objects ar" requested send their any of the
officers OF this organization.
The following nermanent officers of the new
association were chosen
President John II. sherwood vce-presidents. Jack
treasurer. Robert " strebcIgh SECRETARY, Frank s.
Gardner; Executive Committee. f. y. Thurber Edwin C.
Stanton, sheridan Shook Hiram Cranston, and Henry
Milford Smith.
j.. Rhine lander Dillon made a statement Of the
gas bi.i, chat he had received before and since the
consolidation Of the gas companies, showing that
prior the consolidation they were lower than since
the ALLEGED reduced rates have gone into operation.
Meantime, he was burning less gas than formerly.
1ou re lucky fellow" said Mr.. Laimbeer. g
had house with nobody in II for four months. and
received my gas hll right straight aos9 the same
as ever ILanghter.l
Carroll Reagan rcla ed his experience as n mem.
her OF an organization with 500 members. which
resolved no longer to patronize the Municipal Gas
COMPANY, and only SIX of them stood by the agree
mcut
A letter was read from j Lichtensten & Son. who
stated that while from November 30 to December
rs, ies3, their gas bill 500 25. for the cor
responding period Of 1854 10 was $273 go, instead
OF being reduced 500 as II should have been.
Nr. Sullivan said he had often such move
mcns a. thus paralyze by starting false basis.
lie was well acquainted with many directors OF gas
companies who rather tnau allow false meters to
be used would be willing that their right
He asked one Of them If he had
600 and IN December 1854 It was only Sal 900,
falling oifof Sis 900, whiletho output of gas was
ANYTHING Ia show that this reduction was not
sham the reply was that tho income Of the muni-
cipa Gas Company III December. 1888. was S1s9,-
substantially the same aud he also said that IN
December, 1853. the Windsor l'otel had pad
Sl,6l2 for gos. and IN December 1884, its bill had
been only 500.
Mr.. Sherwood here remarked that last year the
Windsor Hotel was full aud this year II was about
half full. ks example of tho increase OF gas
bills he cited those OF the Sherwood House, which
had run up from 81, ,l57 62 in 1850 to S3,606 80
Simon Sterne said he occupied q large house in
One-hnndred- nd-eighteenth-st. and was de
lighted 10 learn that gas was TO be reduced:
This year, with "a smaller consumption of
gas, his bills were higher than last year.
The gas companies were corporations Tine gentle
men with whom Mr. Sullivan bad come IN contact
simply took their % per cent or 10 per cent divI
deuds and did not much trouble themselves about
details. They should fight the gas companies with
and full particulars Obtained ABOUT the
gas supply, tho consumption and tho meters.
adopted
R>soird That the Executive Committee he requested
TO report at the next meeting memorial TO tho
inquire into the relations lighting companies
the puio and int? the cost charges and character OF
f. b. Thurber said that the gas companies had
been subject strikes. The object Of ms movement
not To strike. but TO obtain what was Just both
10 the gas companies AMI TO the Consumers He be-
Iieved in protecting the gas companies in their
monopoly, If they pleased 10 call 1t so. but wanted
il properly restricted.
Charles Hull Hisford made an address in which
he reviewed the history of the gas companies and
said
Let note OF the mos. apparent and fragrant re-
suits Of this policy O. IL has gwen rise to an enor-
nous capital swollen hyond all example OF similar en-
terprses any other part OF the world 2J II has pro-
dnced system of arteral distribution which In spite Of
costly and useless duplication OF mains IN almost every
OF the city IL miserbly inadequate O the present
consumption. o. II has continued the manufacture OF
coal GAS for the last i've years, during whi.h the
superiority Of water gss an Illuminating agent
has been demonstrated by the preference OF the
great body OF gas consumer and finally, secure |
In Possession pntrrd up with the pride of Ignorance
It's managers sought out no further improve |
ments In the processes OF gas makiug hut allow new
into their territory, construct works.
produce and send out "a far superior commodity, aud
when the OF the Equitable Company which they
reduce the price OF and prccipate disastrous war
with the In ierton OF again absorbing competing com
disc back TO 81 20 or - 90 a thousand feet. |
JackSons S. Schultz said he had known all the gas
companies directors for forty years and lao re-
spected them. but not IN the gas business. Those |
rich gas manufacturers were ''in cahoot" with ,
@1" taking $Ss' $Ss Instead ''S Of s SIS Ry ,Rss
their agents did II. These respectable men en-
ployed agents to do what they wouId not do them
selves He moved a vote of than ks To Mr. Bots
ford. saying he had gone 20 the bottom OF tne
subject and the motion was carried unanimously.
Mr.. Sterno said that n dreadful suspicion came
over him that special rates were charged 10 the
large hotels and local rates to the ordinary con-
sinners.
MT Sherwood stated that when no had gone to
the gas companies for redress Of grievances he had
been treated like a dog.
After further iutercha nge Of views the associa"
tion adjourned meet at he call of the chairman.