Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-26
THE GAS ORDINANCE.
II ls Killed BY the Council Amer a
Protracted Discussion.

Protracted Discussion.
President Frank Murphy, of the gas COM
pany, sat in the council chamber last night
and saw waste Of gns, which, II properly
stored, woulu enable the company TO reduce
tho price of gas TO the figure desired by GER
tain members OF the council. The question
before the council, In a committee OF the
whole, was the ordinance introduced severa
weeks ago providing for a reduction OF the
price Of gas consumed by the city TO 81 per
thousand cubic feet, with an additional 25
cents per thousand feet to private con-
sumers.
Two reports were made upon the ord-
nance by the judiciary committee. MIR.
Burnham opposed the reduction as unjust.
MIR. Wheeler favored an amendment to the
ordinance, fixing the price 10 the citv at 81. 90
per thousand and 81. as to the consumer. MIR.
Burnham occupied the chair In the commit
tee of the whole.
MIR. Ford opened the ball with the state
ment that he didn't like TO see members of
the council prying into other peoples busi-
ness. He favored q submission OF the mat
ter to public bid, but did not want to see
the council take any arbitrary action that
might work an injustice TO the people and
the gas company.
MIR Lee wanted tho matter discussed. II
1t can be shown that the gas company can
stand reduction in the price of gas and still
make reasonable profit he would favor a
tion has been before the council for five
years since the United States Gas Improve
ment company came here and secured a
franchise for the manufacture Of gas to be sup
piled to the city at Sl.25 and to the consumer
at Sl.50. The Omaha company got scared
and bought out the new company, but found
1t more profitable to continue under the old
name, furnishing gas at $3.50 to s. per
thousand. The companies are identical. IL
it was possible for the United States
Gas company to furnish gas to the city
at 81 .25 five years ago, why not now. MIR.
Connell, when ho was city attorney, advised
the council TO pay only the amount agreed to
by the United States Gas company. There
is no doubt but That the company can make
good money in supplying the city with gas at
$3.50 per thousand.
"Mr. Burniam stated that the committee
had made inquiries as 10 the price paid for
gas in various eastern cities. In Richmond.
Va, and Philadelphia the gas companies are
owned by the city, and consumers are
charged 81 so per thousand. The same price
is charged in st. Louis and Providence,
while Buffalo is furnished at $780, Consid-
ering the additional cost of coal and oil In
Omaha, Mr. Burnham thought reduction
would be unjust TO the company.
Mr. Davis stated that the city Of Chicago
pays 81 per thousand for gas. There is no
reason, he held, why Omaha should not get
gas as cheap as elsewhere The Omaha gas
company admits that the gas at the burner
costs but 67 cents and it adds salaries, con-
tluRenCG5 anu VuTlOuS lutRluaTy
to run this up to Sl.46 He asserted that the
company has not kept its contract with the
city in regard to the quality Of gas They
haved used irregular burners aud have
charged S5 day for man to do repair work,
which they agree IN the contract to have
done without expense TO the city. MIR. Davis
intmated that the committee of the old
council had allowed bills OF the gas company
that had not been approved by the gas in
spector.
''If the gas inspector said that, he is a
liar" roared Hascall.
Messrs. Lowry and Snyder, members of
the old committee, strenuously denied tnat
any such action had oeen taken by the old
committee.
Then Judge" Hascall got the floor and
kept it until he was exhausted, He gave a
history Of the manufacture of gas, abused
several of his fellow councilman, run in his
stereotyped TRADE against the gasoline
lamps, and closed with his usual abuse of
the newspaper representatives.
After further discussion Of the question a
motion by Hascall that the ordinance do not
pass was adopted by the committee and sus::
tanned by the council.
Proceeding with other business, the coun-
Gil referred number Of grade and paving
ordinances to the proper committees and ad-
journed until Tuesday night.