The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-10
$40,0O0,000 GIVEN AWAY
IND OF MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP IN
THE QUAKER CITY.
Valuable Gas Plant Leased by the City
Councils to "a Private Company
injunction Proceedings.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9.-The action of
the Common Council in voting away the
most valuable property owned by the city
the gas works, worth at least $4,000 0O0-is
bitterly denounced by many people, who re-
gard the action as a death blow to munich
pal ownership. At the meeting of the Coun-
Gil yesterday the members who opposed the
deal spoke bitterly against the proposed
legislation. The members favoring what is
called the grab" said nothing Finally
their leader, Mr.. Van Osten, arose and
moved the previous question. At that time
the galleries were filled with citizens The
question being ordered, the roll was called
and the vote stood Is to 80 to give away
for thirty years this immense property. A
scene of great confusion followed.
"Shame!'' some one in the gallery shouted
and there came in a moment such a storm
of Kisses as has never been heard in the
Council chamber of Philadelphia. before.
"Bribe-takers!" some one shouted, and this
was followed by cries of 'robber!'
'thievesr' and 'perjurers!' In vain Presi-
dent Hartman pounded his gavel on the
desk in an attempt to secure order. The
people were enraged. He finally called upon
the police, and a dozen or more officers ran
into the galleries, but no sooner was one
Many of the councilmen who had voted for
the measure were alarmed. They suddenly
betook themselves to the various anterooms
where the lobby was entrenched and then
left the City Hall. 1t was over half an
hour before the galleries could be cleared.
Early in the session a communication was
read from what is known as the Baker syn.
dicate which has bid for the gas works.
This syndicate, composed of reputable and
responsible men, formally offered to take
the lease of the works on the same terms
as the proposed ordinance gives them to the
United Gas Improvement Company, and in
addition to pay down Immediately ST. 900 900
in cash and 100000 annually for thiry
years, thus giving the city $4,000, 900 for the
lease. The United Gas Improvement Com
pany which was to-day voted the control,
proposes to pay the city nothing, but in
stead insists that it shall charge the private
consumers 81 per thousand feet for gas for
the next thirty years. The only thing to
prevent the deal going through Is the may
or's veto. Before election he promised to
prevent any such measure going through.
The Select Council to-day, at a special
meeting, approved the ordinance leasing the
Philadelphia gas works to the United Gas
Improvement Company for period of thir-
ty years. The ordinance passed by a vote
of 25 to 13, after a session lasting from 10
o'clock this morning until o'clock tonight.
passage of the proposed lease. The ordi-
nance now goes to Mayor Warwick for his
consideration. Pressure Will be brought to
bear to induce him to veto it.
Late this afternoon a bill in equity was
filed in the Common Pleas Court by Joel
J. Baily and other citizens against the city
the mayor and other heads of departments
to restrain the proposed lease of the gas
works. A copy of the bill was served on
Mayor Warwick. 1t asks for an injunction
and an order declaring the lease illegal on
the ground that the city charter prohibits
the operation Of the works by any other
parties but the city.