St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-24
GAS AND POLITICS
Mingle With Street Railway Talk
Before the Chamber of Com

mGrCe.
The chamber of commerce certainly
united its cobwebs yesterday morning.
The session was one of much and
varied business. The report of the
famous committee of thirty, on the
street railway matter, was submitted
under fusillade of comment. The city
gas supply evoked lengthy discussion,
while Mr. Bushnell'S remarks about the
state lair were listened to with interest.
Among other things, MI. Bushnell in
formed his audience that the state agrl-
cultural society had just held the most
complete agricultural and stOckbreed-
ers' fair in the Western country. The
choicest products of the best state in
the Union were exhibited. Mr.. Bush
nell scored the Minneapolis press for
antagonizing him, as he says. 1t
charged that he was prosecuting the
fair matters and the object of the agri-
cultural society for his own political
ends. He denounces this as a canard,
and submitted his disposition as being
devoid of political aspirations, in that
connection at least.
In regard to the street railway matter,
Mr.. DriScoll submitted report, which
was adopted. The committee reported
that they held meeting on the 11th
inst, to which the public was invited.
and at which the president of the city
railway company was present. After
considerable debate at this meeting a
subcommittee was appointed, consisting
of F. Driscoll, w. Lindeke, Thomas
Cochran Jr., Charles Nichols, +. q.
Rogers and II. T. Stevens, who met the
committee ON streets OF the common
council and went into solution OF the
problem. AS result of these negOtla-
tions, the ordinance which grants unto
the street railway company the fran
ehise, the details of which have al
ready been published, was effected upon
a basis of liberal concessions on both
sides. The committee is of the opinion
that the ordinance secures to the rail-
way company a franchise of very great
value, vet it contains concessions on It's
part and provisions for the public pro-
lection and convenience which will be
of great benefit, and which Will afford
in the immediate future a system OF
urban and suburban transportation I'M
surpassed by any city in the country.
Mr.. Smalley, reporting on behalf of
the committee Oh the city gas supply,
offered the following:
whereas. The st. Paul Gas Light company
operates by virtue of franchise granted by
the municipality, and enjoys the free use OF
the streets of the city for its mains, and must
therefore be regarded in the light of public
trust to be exercised for the benefit OF the
people; therefore,
Resolved, That the rates charged consum-
ers for gas should be as low as will permit
the Company to earn a fair income on capital
actually invested and should not yield d
surplus for investment in new works or ex-
tension of mains. Money required for such
purposes should be raised by new loans, and
not at the expense of consumers.
Resolved, That the price of gas should not
exceed 81 so per 900 feet and be uniform
to all consumers at that price in order that
all citizens may share alike in proportion TO
the gas they burn in the benefits of the fran
chise granted by the city.
To this the eloquence and logic of
several members found ready and
timely vent. Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Peet
were averse to placing restrictions on
the gas company, on the ground that its
franchise was exclusive and that 1t
could conduct it's business after its own
liking. The debate, which waxed warm
and fervent, was finally concluded by
laying the resolutions on the table.
With an informal discussion on the re-
reception and entertainment OF the
National Education association, which
will meet here next summer, and the
delegates of the great American con-
gress, which meets here on the oath
prox., the meeting adjourned.