Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-03


the communication from his Company
about the crematory and City Hall, now
burning free gas, but that the Company
would be willing 10 shape that up with
the Commute and give the city rate
lower than that made to any other Gus
toner. A little later on he mentioned
q fifteen cent rate for the City Hall and
crematOry.
A long discussion of the whole matter
ensued during which Mr.. Heard made
the statement that his Company, not
withstanding the rate named in the
written proposition, would be satisfied
ali present with zoe net rate, if short
Term of wears was agreed TO by thu city,
He said the rate Of 1Sc net over the river
was moi fair example, because the
gas company over there had paid Moth
ing for the privilege Of doing busin@s,
and the 1Sc rate had been going on for
unite a time. If his Company was given
q 20c rate. the increase would not put
i+ on an equality with the Wheeling
Company
After all the points alt issus had been
discussed. Mr. Heard making a strong
reDresentation for his Company, and
being ably backed by Mir. Hearne, the
representatives of the Company with
drew. and the Committee began 10 wres-
tie with the subject. Il was early ap-
n5rent that the majority CT the mem
hers were against the Company. After
one or two expressions of opinion, Mr..
Irwin. who was in the chair, called
Cant Otto to his place and made an
address during which he reviewed the
actions of the Company in the past, ana
announced his opposition to any in
crease whatever.
Mr. Butts said he had talked with hisI
constituents. and found many gas con-
sumers favored an increase in the nope
of getting a better supply OF gas. MI:
O--O also favored such action as would
afford the Company just relief Messrs:
Bachmann. N2Ke,vey, WlEiams and
Bodlev were opposed to an increase in
Drice hut the degree Of their opposition
varied good deal statement from
Can't OTTO that the city had no right to
grant an exclusive franchise, that the
contract with the Gas Company was
worthless. and that The city had been
Obtaining free gas for nine years under
false prefenses. this remark being pre-
dfcqte1 uDon a statement of the Solicitor
that the city had no right to grant an
exclusive franchise, brought out an
elaborate legal explanation from Mr.
Bovce. a summary of which was that
while the exclusive franchise was prob
ably void, the remainder Of the contract
was good and could be enforced.
After a great amount Of discussion
Mr. Butts moved that the Committee
recommend a 2oc rare. ten per cent. off
for payment within zen DAYS. the Com
parv 20 continue 20 furnish free gas to
the CITY Hall and crematory. and the
exclusive franchise to be maintained as
at present. This was LOST: AYES ,,
noes :. the latter Messrs. Irwin. BOdley,
McKelvey. B9chmann and Williams.
Mr.. Butts then moved the Committee
+ recommend that the city adhere to the
. present rate and contract. This was
adoDted. Capt Otto voting no.
The representatives of the Company
were then called in and the action of
the COMMITTEE explained. Mr.. Heard
then made an earnest address, going
over the arguments on the part Of the
Company Among other things he
said:
Wheeling emulates or attempts to
emulate Pittsburg in many things.
Why not emulate her in this matter?
Pittsburg throws down the bars and
puts no restrictions upon the sale of
gas. She allows the law of supply and
demand TO regulate it. Why cannot
+ Wheeling act with some degree of lib
/ crafty. instead of pursuing a policy
/ directly the opposite? If you want gas
if gas is a good thing-put it in the
/ power of our Company to supply it. If
YOU don't want it, let us know tiff
YOU want us to quit say so, and well
do it, But I appeal TO you again, by
every consideration of fairness. to not
take this action until after the fullest
investigation.
Mr. Hearue here interpOsed with an
offer on the part of the Company, to the
end that the Committee and Council
might have the fullest information, to
take a subcommittee or the full Com
mittee to Pittsburg, together with an
expert. to be selected by the city, and
allow the most complete examination
of the books of the corporation The
COMPANY would also procure the state
ments of men thoroughly familiar with
the gas business. and do any and all
things to facilitate the investigation.
Tt was also suggested as a further
means of facilitating the action of
Council that a meeting of the gas con-
sumers be called. at which the results
of the investigation might be detailed,
and the consumers themselves be ask
cd to express an opinion upon the JUS
II co 2
Hearne said the Company would agree
to this in any form which might be
found desirable or practicable, and
these matters were discussed at consid-
cradle length.
Among other things, Capt. Otto said:
"Nr Heard is there any truth in the
statement. to be heard upon the streets
and elsewhere. that the Company has
expended it's profits from gas in hunt
inc for oil?'
1T is unqualfiedly false" said Mr..
Heard He then went on to show that
with two exceptions its wells had been
nut down i'm the recognized Washington
county gas field One of these eXcep-
tons was in Monroe county, o.. where
a dry hole was the result, and the other
was over at COlerain, where a little oil
was struck. in hunting for gas. and
which oil would repay the cost of the
we'll
After some further discussion, the
representatives of the Company again
retired. and the Committee again took
uD the question alone. Mr.. Butts
moved to reconsider his motion recon-
mending that the existing conditions be
let alone. and the motion was adopted
and the motion laid on the table. He