The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-27
II GAS QUESTION.
WHAT THE EQUITABLE PEOPLE
SAY.
They Will Lay Their Pipes in Spite
of the Ciiy's Contract With
the ola Company.

Wndl IL TIC pTbtcUt hlLlbuQc OI Tue
Equitable Gasligbt Company toward
the city of Memoirs ia view OF the
recent action Of the Legislative Coun-
cilP" asked an APPEAL r, porter of one
OF the at o,neys of the ECU table.
"Tbe Equ taN'e Gaslight Company"
was the rep y, "wss organize by en-
ergetic and enterpIisiug capitals in
response TO a sentiment of this com
munity that s)me measures ehould be
adopted to curta ! the power of the
existing company. At considerable
expe Sc, ttouule aud time the organ
izers enlisted Northern capitals 10
the entsrJ rise. This could
only have bean done upon
tine assumption that the investment
could be made profitable, and had the
sympathy and approval OF the com
munity. The policy Of Memphis since
the epidemic has been to invite capt.
tai here, and 1t would be folly to sup
p 80 that it could be induced to come
upon uncertainties, 1t was, therefore,
necessary to convince before the
assistance could be obtained. When
the company finally succeeded, 1t took
out a char'e r snd presented q petition
to the Legislative Council for the right
to Icy down pipee, eto., ia the
streets Of Memphis. At this time gas
was sold for So 80 per 1000 feet. 1he
Old company at once reduced its
price TO So per 1000 feet, AID also pre-
sented a petition to the Council f.r an
exclusive privilege upon aitain terms
and condition, Prior to this time 1t
had taken no action even squin,ing in
this direction or indicating hat it was
actuated by philanthtopic aud chari-
table principles"
"Was the ap l~ication for G aut Of
right Of way favorably receiveu2'
1--WE thought 80, at all events, never
dreaming Of what an issue was in
store for us. The Legislt tive @ uncl
appointed a committee for a soec,fic
purpose. 1t was chsIgsd with the
duty Of investigating the financial
condition Of the new company, and
the character of the gas proposed to
be used. 1t had no power to make a
contract with the old company. After
three or four months OF Intellectual at.
tsmpts to force the new company to
make a contract satisfactory to the
city, q resolution was passtd 10 give
the Equitable a right to eater. By
some inexplioable process this resolu-
ton was subsequently set aside, aud
the contract now known to the read
ers was entered iuto."
"Have they legal grounds to sand
upon In entering upon an implied
OBJ igatjon to guarantee q monopoly to
the old company ?"
al do not think 30. / do not think
the action Of the Council can be too
severely censured. 1t has simply
taken advantage Of an oecaSion to
make a trade, and q trade that is
neither advantagr ous to the citizen
nor creditable to the city, as a city"
"How about the legal status Of the
case ?"
ut Is too plain for argument that
the city could give no exclusive priv
ilege as il is 10 direct violation OF the
statute. II hiss attempted to accom-
plish indirectly what is post vely pro-
hibited. 1t has virtually d clared it
has no power 10 prevent the new COM
pany from building its works, but 1t
will lend all the resources and power
OF the city government to Illustrate It.
Mr.. Hadden in his interview practi.
cally admits this. The question can
therefore be asked, is the Legislative
Council the law making power OF the
State, or simply charged with the duty
Of executing the lawP"
"What course will the Equitable
~purBue?"
ave are determined TO build. We
have Iights, and II neces> airy we shall,
assert them at the end OF the law.
Notwithstanding newspaper inue =
does and street talk, we are q bon =
hde corporation with ample D to
carry out our works, and iu ly de.
termined to INTRODUCES our gss.
We cannot help regarding the
action of the Council as tia
most high-handed oltrage p T,
peti ated since the new goveInm nj
has been formed. II res mblts he
action Of an o~liRaIceical government
and will recoil upon the heads OF these
who are responsible for it. The pow
ers that be 9 II have particular
pets in the distribution Of tlaccAises
This was p ainly apparent in h reaction
Of the Uouacil with rife ence to the
new street railroad company, No II
fost was made to thwSr them; on the
contra y al the power Of the govern
meut was en- listed in support Of the
new company. How does il happen
that tlis line of conduct WAS no sp.
parent in the n at n OF the Equi.
table Gas Q mpany ? Is a gas iran.
cnise more valuable than a raj way
grant, or is il the re o n | Of the too
compan es thai Iegu ates { e direct on
in which The cat jump ? 1t wo Id te
lot resting to h,ar the Councl ex
plain Just toW he arriveda heir ar.
bitr ny ciAon, and how they seek
to justify il.