The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-17
The Natural-Gas Ordinance.


The na:ural-gas ordinances came up for con-
sideration by Mr.. Casper introducing an
amendment providing for the suspension for
forty-fve days Of Section Il for the purpose of
allowing the Consumers Gas Trust to begin
laying pipes within the city limits. The ordi-
nance, the same as that which has been pub
lished, was accompanied by resolution from
great many citizens asking for its passage, and
Mr.. Casper asked that the rules DO suspended
and the ordinance passed without delay.
Mr.. Trnser vigorously opposed the suspension
of the rules and the passage of the ordinances.
He said that not long the majority of the
Council said the ordinance should be
changed to the dotting of ''t' or the crossing
of an al" 1t then called q sacred ordi-
nance and to touch it would be ruinous. A
portion of the press and the people were loud
In their denunciation of the councilmen who
dared to vote to change it. IL any other COM
pany would come in now and ask to have
the ordinance amended the Trust
desires, the howl would go M that il was "try-
ing to steal the of the city" Council
men who came to that chamber to legislate for
any one company had no business there. He
would not vote for the amendment TO the detri-
ment of other companies; he would like to
the newspapers taught that they could not con-
troll the Council. At the conclusion of his
speech Mr. Trusler moved TO refer the ordi-
nance TO the natural-gas committee. but his
motion was laid on the table by decisive vote,
and the discussion was resumed.
Mr. Thalman said he had voted to change the
do TINS time. He took the same view of the
question when the Indianapolis and the Capita
City companies were asking for 9 change He
thought the Trust should be allowed 30 come in
while the streets were torn mp.
Mr.. Hicklsn said he was embarrassing
situation. Before he had vigorously opposed
change. He had been folio wing the newspapers
and they had gotten him into trouble. IF any
one had asked the Trust company to submit q
communication TO the Council saying il would
never ask for a change he would feel more kindly
toward 1t now But it voluntarily did such
thing unsolicited, when the question OF change
was up before II going 20 vote for the
ordinance" said he "bnt do uotwant the Trust
to be so fresh again"
Mr.. Long thought the ordinance was good
enough for him when it was up for amendment
before and it was yet He thought is took q
good deal OF gall on the part of the Trust to
come and ask for q change now.
Mr.. Johnson do not believe the Trust wants
a change.
Mr. Thalman-Well, if the Trust does not
want the change, should not pass It.
Mr.. Casper created some amusement by stat
ing that there was no doubt but what the Trust
would accept the ordinance il 10 passed.
Mr.. Darnel1 said when he made his canvass
for Office. he did so on the promise that he would
never vote for change in the ordinance, and he
proposed TO stand on his platform.
Mr.. Finch said his constituents had held q
public meeting and instructed him not tn vote
for any change. and he proposed TO follow their
wishes
After further discussion ths rules were sus-
pended by vote of Is to 6. and Mr.. Markey
then offered amendment providing that all
the work done by the Trust for the first forty
five days should DO done south of the Union
railway tracks. The streets on the North Side,
he said. were all torn up, but az yet, there
sign of the South Side. The majority
OF the Trusts subscribers were there. and be
thought it should be compelled to supply
them with gas first Mr. Thaman
thought the amendment would be unjust, and
Mr.. Stuckmeyer said be had been asked by his
constituents to introduce amendment similar
to that offered by Mr. Marley. but he felt GER
tain that the Trust would desire to follow it's
plan already agreed upon and he had concluded
not to offer it, On motion of Mr. Casper the
amendment offered by Mr.. Marley was laid
the table. and the ordinance was read second
time. and put upon its passage. It passed by
the following vote:
Yeas. 1s-Burns. Cummings Dunn. Elliott. Gas
per, Gaul, Hicklin. Johnston. Kelley, Marley. Nc
Caeiiand, o'Connor. Parkinson. Smith, s5uckmeyer.
Swain, Thalman and Wilson: Nays, 6-DarneI.
Davis, Finch, Long, Pearson and Trusler.