The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-28
THE GAS COMPANY
WILL Be SUMMONED
To Appear Before Committee Monday
Night.
RESOLUTION BY Mr.. EVANS
Will Investigate the Question oil Un-
reasonable Prices.
WILL WRITE TO OTHER CITIES
Charges Were Preferred Against the Gas Com
pany Yesterday, But the Time For
Filing Them Expired at 6
0'ClOckp. m. Friday.
RESOLUTION BY Mr.. EVANS
WILL WRITE TO OTHER CITIES

Resolved, That, whereas 1t has been
publicly charged that the Birmingham
Gas company lis charging private con-
sumers of its product $1.65 per thousand
feet for gas;
Now, therefore, pending a further in
westigation of the matter at issue, this
committee hereby calls upon the Bir-
mlngham Gas company to appear and
answer make to such complaints, or
SHOW cause for thus making a charge to
private consumers in excess of price
named in it's contract with the city, at
such time as the chairman of this conn
mittee may notify them to appear.
The above resolution was unanimously
adopted at the meeting of the gas in
vestigadsn held in the city hall last
might
1t strikes the key note of the situa-
tion and the gas company will now be
forced to put UP Defense if any it can
find.
The next meeting will be he'd Monday
might at O'Clock. Chairman Walter
Moore will in the meantime notify Presi-
dent B. f. Roden of the resolution and
ask him to be present.
A FULL COMMITTEE.
THE entire committee, composed of
Chairman Walter Moore. Mayor Evans,
Drsnnen, Lynagh Kerr. Ashford and
Pean9e were present.
When the meeting was first called to
order Mr. Drennen presented some
charges which had been given him by
Attorney Chisholm.
The allegations were that the gas COM
pany had broken it's contract by agree
ing TO furnish gas at Las and rendering
dts bills made out for $165. Accompany
ing the charge We're several gas bills to
be used as evidence.
There was considerable discussion as
to whether the charges should be taken
under Amusement. Under the resolu-
tion pa sSed ct the last meeting no
charges filed later than p. m. Friday
evening could be considered. The
charges handed in by Mr. Drennen
were filed before this time.
Mr.. Altman drew up a resolution to
cover the ground, which was as fol-
lows:
Whereas. by resolution of this COM
mfttee charges or statements We're i'm
Vlttu IN JIlS Hlulter VI UTE di. SSu Niold-
tions of the contract between the city
of Birmingham and the Birming ham
Gas company, and also as to the rea-
SonablenesS of the price now charged,
and it was requested that an offer of
proof should accompany such charges
or Statements
And whereas, it was requested that
said charges or statements be filed by
p. m. of the 26th inst;
And, whereas, no charges or stale
ments were filed by said time,
Now. therefore be lit resolved, First,
that each member of this committee be
and is hereby appointed a committee of
one to gather such information as he can
Ito enable this committee to discharge
its duty under the resolution of its ap-
poinltment.
Resolved, second, That the chairman
of this committee correspond with such
parties in other cities as may be neces-
sary to gather the needed information,
and to take such other steps as he may
deem proper to ascertain the cost price
of "gaS in ether cities of the United
States of like size and population. ''---
Mr.. Drennen said he would oppose the
resolution because it prevented further
action on evidence before the comm.Stee
Mr.. Evans was of the same opinion, and
asked that action be delayed on Mr. Alt
mans resolution until he could draw up
one.
Chairman Moore and other members
of the committee explained that it did
not mean this, but was simply intended
to cover the present cases where charges
had been preferred too late
The vote was then taken and Mr.. Alt
mans resolution adopted Mayor Evans
submitted the resolution printed above
and it was also adopted.
The committee then adjourned to re-