Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-12
ADDICKS BOLDLY SAYS BUY
He is Still After Philadel-
phia's Gas Plant.
COUNCIL VOTES NOT TO SELL
But Members Do Not Put
Themselves on Record.
Resolutions Adopted in Common Council
That the City Must Not Sell the Plant to
Any syndicate-Addicks BOLDLY Declares
That He still Means to Buy the Works.

Though many members of the City
Councils have Indignantly resented the
idea Of any scheme to absorb the city's
gas plant being under consideration,
said last fridays Philadelphia Record,
simple little resolution Thursday
stirred up lively discussion in the
Common branch. There was brilliant
display Of vocal fireworks, and By
viva yoce vote the chamber voted that
In the judgment Of the Common
Council Of Philadelphia, the gas works
shall not be sold, and we express our
Gisapproval OF the alleged efforts in that
direction" No one thought 10 cali for
an aye and nay vote, and, consequently,
no members we're placed on record re.
rarfing the matter, but there was not
single negative vote when the resolution
was put.
While the hot discussion was in
progress in Independence Hall, j. Ed
ward Addicks, who is credited by rumor
with being largely interested in the al
legged scheme, was having himself inter-
viewed on the subject in Boston, where
the headquarters of the Bay State Gas
Company are located. This is the bold
declaration Mr.. Addicks felt called upon
To make:
ADDICKs ADMITS HIS SHARE.
at is true that shall make an offer
to buy the gas works OF the city of
Philadelphia and press the matter to a
conclusion. The people are in favor of
the movement to place the gas interests
with private enterprise, but the news
papers in Philadelphia are opposed to
the change. do not care to state the
price, but the newspapers say 800, 100000
IS to be offered.
1T is too early to determine what form
the enterprise will take in my hands.
do not know exactly how l shall ar
range il as between myself and my
Observation-Disclosures in the Bay State
Gas Company. In fact, have no plans
at all in reference TO the question of
Bay State Gas ownership of the Phila.
delphia works if the purchase is made"
HAWKES. STARTS THE DISCUSSION.
The matter came before the Common
Council in the shape Of preamble and
resolution, introduced by George Hawkes.
Of the Twentieth ward, which read as
follows:
WHEREAS. Numerous citizens entertain
the belief that scheme is being perfected
by which the control of the gas supply is
to be taken from the city and vested in the
hands of private parties therefore, be IL
RESOLVED, That it is the judgment of these
Councils that the supplying of gas should
be prerogatiye of the city.
Resolved, That legislation should speedily
| be had providing for the charging, i'm.
proving and perfecting of the citys gas
plants so as TO make the furnishing of
better gas TO the consumer at 81 per 900
cubic feet an established fact, and with no
loss to the city.
The reading of the resolution created
considerable of sensation in the cham
Der. and the members began to pay I'M
usual attention to the proceedings.
Captain Walton, chairman of the com
mittee on highways, promptly moved
| that the matter be referred 70 the com
mittee on gas. Thomas l.. Hicks Of the
| Thirty-fourth ward, offered an amend.
mentin the form of a motion that the
preamble and resolutions be adopted.
President Hartman declared Mr.. Hicks
motion out OF order, while Captain
Walton's motion to commit was pend.
ing, and then the discussion began in
earnest ......5.
l. PROMPT ACTION URGED.
A. Atwood Grace of the Twentieth
ward, took the floor against the motion
TO referto the gas committee. "These
| Councils ought TO go on record right
now" said Mr.. Grace, "as opposed tc
the sale Of the gas works, and desire
all opportunity to vote that way"
Mr.. Hicks declared that eff the city
should ever part with this valuable
franchise it will never be sorry but
once, and that will be always Now is
the time for this chamber to show the
people of Philadelphia that its member!
do not look with favor upon the scheme
WHICH is said to exist looking to tn,
turning over of this great franchise to I
private syndicate or corporation"
| r. O., Horr of the Thirty-third ward
deelredit distinctly understood in ad.
vance that he did not wish TO be PLACED
on record as fayoring the sale of the ga
works, "But, at the same time" h,
said, ait might be good thing TO sci
them If the city can get great dea
more money for them than they ar
worth. If an offer should be made Il
purchase the gas works tomorrow
would probably be as much opposed I,
acceding to the proposition as any othe
member, but if price greatly exceed
ing their value should be offered for tn,
plant it might be an advantage to tn,
city TO part with them, and | might
under proper circumstances and condi
tiens, vote in favor of an ordinance t,
that effect"
NOT INFLUENCED BY PUBLIC cLAMoR
Captain Walton declared that he wa
not and could not be influenced by an,
public clamor or newspaper editorial
on the subject, before any proposition
10 buy the works had been presented
and urged the reference of the resolu
tons to the gas committee as the onl
proper method of bringing the subiec
before the Councils for intelligent an
fair consideration. Mr.. Hawkes. made
brief but pithy speech in favor of th
! adoption OF the resolutions he had of
fered.
: "Let us puton our gas works." said MI
Hawkes., "a placard bearing in immens
letters these words, NOT FOR SALE
Then let the gas committee of thes
/, Councils take up for consideration tn
! other propositions contained in the resc
. buttons, namely, the perfecting and ez
, tension of the gas supply. Let us sa
i to these carpet baggers who are intel
E ested in gas plants and works in othe
cities, and who are seeking to obtain tn
gas franchise in this and still more cite,
that they must go elsewhere; let us in
press upon these people that our ga
: works shall for all time be part an
parcel Of the city. And then let the ga
, committee consider the resolutions wit
all the wisdom of which it is capabl,
But before they are referred to the con
mittee let this chamber say to-day to til
! people of Philadelphia, We, your men
beers of the Common Council. are OF