The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-27
A QUESTION Or TWO oNs1DERED.


only answer we can give One is, whether,
if the amendments asked to the gas ordinance
be taken up in the Council on Monday night
next, thoroughly discussed and defeated, the
company companies asking them will then
come into the city? Ascend is. what the Indi-
pipe lines unless it does come in? So far as
the Journal is concerned, it has no lnforma-
ton whatever as to the plans of either Of the
two companies in case the changes they ask
are not granted. The Journal has accepted
the attitude of the two companies just as they
publicly stand, and has assumed that the
managers and directors of both at least
fairly honorable and candid business men,
meaning what they say and believing in the
propriety and justice of the amendments they
ask. What may be thought Of the actions of
the indianapolis company in the past is little
to the purpose now; certainly the Journal
would be the last TO defend or to indorse all
that had been done by it, and by great
many other people 1t is noticeable, if not
instructive. that some of the most abusive de-
nouncers Of the company now were the most
blatant advocates of the Doxey business, about
which the Journal at least did necessary
thing for the protection of the people. But
"Carbon's' questions. well as the
current discussions, seem based upon
the theory either that the COM
panies are composed of robbers" and
"scoundrels," as has been so persistently as
serted, and therefore entitled to no decent
and courteous consideration; or else that the
city is in position where it can force them
to serve it at the alternative of the practical
destruction of their property. as not only
they but entirely disnterested persons,
think might be done. 1t is precisely
against the possibilities of such spirit that
the changes are asked as a measure of just aud
necessary protection. Unfortunately, on the
part of some people, prejudice and malice are so !
strong that no thought of justice enters into
the consideration of the question of amending
the ordinance, but merely that of exacting the
pound of flesh, according to the letter Of the
bond. So long as that spirit is either DOM
inant or SO strong as to be a menace, just so
long will the necessity of the change asked
be a more or less vital one. If it were
not for the existence of that spirit,
the advice of the Journal would be,
without question, for all the companies to
accept the ordinance as it stands, come in
with the gas at once, and trust to the future
for such changes as may be found absolutely
4;aI nd 20 he aoff a;r
part of the people and the Council not to i'm
pose hardships or undue burdens. Under
other circumstances this course would be one
that could be taken with some degree of
safety; but when the air is rended with
threats of "killing" and driving out" and
men hitherto of fair repute in business circles
are freely denounced ''robbers" and
''scoundrels'-as men wanting to fleece the
people and expose life and property to danger
and damage from the use Of unfit material,
they probably feel little safety in trusting to
fairness and justice
The Journal thinks the companies are
possibly overly careful, but Carbon" and
everybody else knows that capital is timid
as well as grasping. Nothing is more
cowardly than half million of dol
lars except million of dollars. There is
list of thirty or forty stockholders of one
company and of about three hundred in the
other. These men are our own citizens; they
own property, and are doing business here
contributing to the prosperity of the city as
much, probably, as any other like number of
men. The only candid question to be asked
is whether, the matter of rates being absolute
ly settled, the changes asked in the gas
ordinance are prudent and just? If the Coun-
Gil takes up the proposed changes the spirit
in which they are discussed and the temper
in which the decision shall be reached must
have much to do, it strikes US, in determining
the future action of the companies which are
asking them. But, as we said, we do not
know what the purpose and plans of the COM
panies are or may be; we have taken it for
granted that .hey asked for the changes on
what they believed to be good grounds, and
like Mr.. Atkins, and number OF other lead
ing manufacturers and citizens, the Journal
thinks the amendments such as could be
granted without in the slightest degree i'm
pairing the rights and security of city or
people, and such due regard to the safety
of the large capital invested might suggest
to fairminded men. That the proposed
changes have not been considered on their
merits by any who oppose them, but are de-
nounced withou. stint as part of plan for
robbery and diabolism in the use of danger
GUS agent in unsafe material, aEd be-
cause it is believed that if not granted the
company viii be compelled to accept irksom
conditions at the risk of total practical
destruction of their entire plant and invest
ment, and because the changes are opposed