The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-23

of water, and it would either sink swim, she
was not certain which.
After all the arguments both for and against
the benefits of a tariff to our farmers and labor
ing men as unit, we cannot deny the lesson of
Ioo years experience; there is no way for us to
avoid the great truth that unprotected indus
tries have never succeeded in competition with
protected industries. That fact is as unchange-
able as the Rock of Ages We may all differ
about it, but. the truth of it still remains.
Henry Gay gave utterance to this away back in
the fort-s, and it is fresh to this day.
Is it much better for us to pay moderately
high price for article than to remove the
tariff and run the great risk of paying a much
higher one; and are not the chances and the ex-
perience of the country in favor of the higher
price! DUMoNT KENNEDY.
CRAwEoRDsvILLE, Ind, Jan. 10.
The News and the Na.uralGas Ordinance.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal.
The position the News takes as to changing
the natural-gas ordinance. in at leas one partc-
ular, seems inf air. To show my orthodoxy
the subject of anti-monopoly and cheap gas,
would state that am a subscriber to the trust,
have paid mp all assessments due to date have
no stock for sale, took part in soliciting SUBJ
scriptions thereto, among the first to
denounce the ereediness of the Indianapolis
Natural Gas Company soon their now or
never" policy was announced, at which time the
editorial page of the News ''dumb an
oyster" and continued for days afterward,
apparently hesitating about adopting a policy
on the subject. The News had before this in
timated that the ordinance, then not considered
SO sacred. might reasonably be changed IN sew
eral of its features viz, rates ETC.. which
was naturally construed as fAvoring the Indi
annapolis CompanyS scheme subsequently devel-
oped. During these days of the News's Indecis-
ion and apparent halting between right and
wrong. it was suggested and partially agreed to
In a conference of a number of our citizens who
had actively favored the Doxy movement,
among them the writer, that in case the News
failed to take stand against the proposed ex-
torton of the Indianapolis company, that
public meeting be called and the best possible
fight made. The News shortly afterward "came
TO time" and has made successful fight But,
I think the News has. like the pendulum,
swung past the center point of judicious
policy to the other extreme in opposing
any change whatever e, -, in the ordinance.
Indians polis company is down, to keep it's
1.-THE News) foot on their neck" and 'drive them
out of town." The Fletcher company has
earned all the unpopularity and odium that at
taches to it, but it has recanted and offers TO fur
nish gas at the ordinance rates and the consider
alton by Council of the clause as to the necessary
amount of pipe laying, as asked by the Capital
City and Indianapolis Company, a rea-
sonable request 1t must be remembered that
the INDIANAPOLIS company has not an exclusive
privilege Of furnishing the city, as in the case of
the water Illuminating gas companies. but
there three other companies that will con.
test the market with it, and in whatever quarter
OF the city consumers in any reasonable number
are found, pipe will be laid by some more
of the four. The indianapolis company has but
main from the gas field, and it is cut of all
reason to expect that enough gas can be fur.
nished through it TO supply even half of the city.
Can any harm attend the policy of permitting
any all companies to come in and supply gas
to the extent of their capacity? No. The opposi
ton is a transparent scheme of delay that this
trust which was a little late in getting start,
catch up. AS we'll might the Council pro-
hibit the Marion or Boone county farmer fiom
selling his garden truck in the East market un-
less he bring enough to supply on demand, the
whole town. Such proposition would be alb.
surd and its contemplation is it's own best an-
swer. The News is carrying its fight beyond
reasonable limit, and if it continues will cause
reaction hurtful to the cause it seeks to serve.
Fair play wrongs no one. 1T