The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-07
A Minority Report in Favor of the Proposed
Amendment is Rejected. However, by
Vote Of Twenty-Five to Three.
The Councilmen Agree to Decide at Their
Next Meeting What They Will Do.
Defeat Of Councilman Darnells Ordinance for
Opening an Alley Through the Base Ball
Grounds-Street-R Railway Legislation.

less than three hundred people who were inter-
ested in the action of the body the natural
gas question, filed the lobby and and the hall
WAYS adjacent to the doors. Several times dur
ing the discussion those in the lobby became so
demonstrative that threat was made TO clear
all persons from the room who were not con-
'nected with the body. The session lasted from
until o'clock. and then action on eminsntly
important legislation had 90 be delayed.
The routine business began with the Mayor
reporting that he had paid to the county
treasurer $31Z75 in fines collected during the
month of January. John W. Bowlus city clerk,
reported that the expenses of the city
for the month Of January amounted to
S945586l The appointment of r. s. Seibert
by Chief Fire Engineer Webster, TO I'll q va
cancy in the fire department, was concurred in.
A very lengthy annual report of the city Board
Of Health was submitted, and as it shows that
Indianapolis is . remarkably healthy city, it
was asked that Ave hundred copies Of the report
be printed for distribution. The request was
referred to the committee on public health.
Mr. Trusler, chairman of the special FIRE COM
mittee, submitted majority report recommend
ing that Dr.. T. L. Armstrong be elected veteri
nary surgeon for the fire department.. vice E. FL.
Pritchard. A minority report submitted
by Councilman Gaul, recommending that DR..
Pritchard be- reappointsd. Tbs majority report
was concurrcd in bv vote of II to III.
When the natural gas committee called
Councimen Gaul and Dunn submitted major
ity report recommending that no changes be
made in the present natural-gas ordnance Ac-
companying the report the following COM
munication from the Trust company:
1 have been instructed to transmit to you the fol-
lowing copy of resolution unanimously adopted at
naa4sv, fha hcard nfH tors he fn-da
Resolved. That we do not now nor will we here
after ask change Of the natqralgas ordinance and
the resolution to the Mayor, Common Council and
Board of Aldermen
Councilman Tha1man. chairman of the natural
gas committee, submitted minority report
Recommending that certain changes be made.
.sThe committee" Mr. Thalman SAID "held
meeting, at which were representatives. from all
the gas companies, and both sides were fully
discussed. The Consumers Trust presented
petition that no change be made, which here
with submit. The Indianapolis and the Capital
City companies presented amsndatory ordi-
nance, asking that no company shall be COM
PEELED TO extend its mains beyond its capacity for
supplying gas. and that whom meters
requested by any consumer the company
shall pay for them, provided they are
used for year. but If not used for one year.
the consumer of gas shall pay for the meter.
here with submit the amended ordinance aud
recommend that it be made the special order of
business at the next regular meeting of the
Council, aud that if any company desires to
make any statement they be invited to such
privilege at such meeting. Iconsider it of great
sidered, as it is of vital interest to the
welfare of the city that gas should be
supplied at the earliest day possible. All
prejudices and i-feeliug should cease, and
all parties pull together for common inter-
est, and that for the best good of our city. In
my opinion there Is nothing asked for by the
petitioners who desire these amendments that
would not be right and fair between man and man.
They would be of no disadvantage to the con-
sumers of gas. nor TO any competing company.
The ordinance submitted provides that Section
13, of the existing ordinance, shall be amended
as follows:
Any corporation, company, firm individual
eeping the provisions of this ordinance shall be
PEELED furnish gas all applicants for any purpose
along its, his or their lines of mains as provided for
in Section IL hereof whenever applied for. And any
such corporation company firm or individual shall
to extend its, his their mains according
enue lane or public ground contiguous where it's
his their mains already laid within sixty days
Council and Board of Aldermen; provided. the same
shall be pettoned for by occupants of real
estate along the line proposed to be extended, and
chat 10 per centum Of such petitioners shall agree
consumers of and that in the opinion OF
the Common Council and Board OF Aldermen such
proposed extension reasonable and ought to be made
and shall continue such work and push the same to
ply with any such order shall be fined, hereinafter
provided; and each days failure to comply with
provided that no corporation company. firm indi-
vidual shall be compelled lay extend its mains
its supply of gas; and provided further, that when
meter is demanded under section IL of the above
entitled ordinance of June 81 1887. the consumer
shall agree in writing to keep and use such meter
for at least year. otherwise such consumer shall
pay for the same at the time of making application
for such meter.
Following the submission of the two reports
several protests against any changes being
made were offered, and received After all the
communications relating to the proposed amend
ments were received, Mr.. Stuckmeyer moved
that the minority report be laid on the table.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Pearson, Mr.. Stuck
meyer withdrew his motion until the report
he desired his fellow Councilmen to understand
that he was tied up with no company. He was
desirous Of going on record 10 on the gas
ents should to him and ask him to
vote against the amendments. he would
ask them to give some reasons why he should
do so. If any man could give him a reason why
the amendments should not be passed he would
vote against the amendments The amendments
We're Of vital Importance. They should be CON
TO find single man who could give any reason
why the ordinance should not be amended. He
Was opposed to any increase in the ordinance
rates and always would be. He spoke Of the
effort the newspapers were making to influence
the Council and urged the councilmen not TO be
influenced by anything they said. He rabuksd
the speaker of the citizens meeting held in the |
Criminal Courtroom, who classed the Indian |
spolis councilmen with the thieving aldermen of |
New York. and the councilmen appiauded him.
Councilman Swain said that neither of the |
reports suited him. There were amendments |
needed that were of more Importance than those |
proposed.
Mr.. Stuckmeyer was opposed to the amend |
ments simply because he thought there no |
need for them.
Mr.. Thalman said that no man in Indianapolis
thought more of the Trust than he. He could |
not see how the am eudments would affect either |
the Trust or the consumers. He believed that the
city losing money account of tho present |
fight among the companies Instead Of act |
Ing the people and companies simply call |
Ing each other names. There was too much |
contention the dottine of 'is or crossing |
Of a 1T If any man would show reason WHY |
the amendments should not be made he would |
vote against them.
Mr.. Trnsler said there was no more aus |
ceptibls TO public opinion than he. He did not |
come into the Council with chain around his |
neck. He saw nothing unfair unreasonable /
nbout the amendments, and he would vote for |
them.