The age-herald., 1897-11-23
GIVE THE REASON
 OR DOLLAR GAS Says an Eminent Legal Authority on
 Law. MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT An Investigation Mill Begin by Spscal
 Committee. RESPONSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC The Press and the Public Should Keep Up Remonstrance Until Just Amends Are Made Owes Duty to the
 People of This City.
RESPONSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

The special committee appointed by the board of aldermen to investigate the gas question will meet Wednesday night in the council chamber at 79O.
 The committee will investigate ths charge of violation of contract preferred against the gas company by the people and The Age-Herald.
 The plan which the committee will pursue has not as yet been thoroughly determined. A resolution will first be passed embodying a plan.
 The various members of the committee have different plans.
 Alderman Pearce is in favor of making an investigation something similar to that in the investigation of the charges pref r'rs aga nst City Engineer KensT1ck by the Master Plumbers association.
 MAYOR EVANS HAS A PLAN.
 'I believe that the Investigation should be made as the water question was in- vestgated,'' said Mayor Evans. There is no one to be tried and the committee should go ito work, get all the facts and figures on the subject and report to the board.
 Tt is nothing but fair that the gas company should furnish the people of Birmingham dollar gas or show good reason why it cannot be done"
 All the members of the board of alder men are determined to get the facts in the case, and decide upon the facts. If ithe facts show that the gas company has violated its contract with the city the board will be forced to so report and take steps to annul the charter of the company
 Age-Herald reporters interviewed1n ny citizens yesterday, all of whom demanded that the board of aldermen should take the proper steps in the matter. If the gas company has violated it's charter the board should proceed to annul all its franchises.
 Among the many to whom Age-Helald reporters talked was Judge James B. Head.
 "If the gas company" said Judge Head, "is charging unreasonable profits the press and people should keep up remonstrance until just amends are made. I do not know the amount in- vested. the cost of production and dis
 
 realized; hence, cannot figure upon the reasonableness of the rates. Inasmuch as the company is a quasi-public corpor- ation,- owing duties ito the public and answerable to the public for it's manner of exercising and enjoying it's franchises, think, in view of the present popular demand it is it's bounden duty to make ito the public a full exhibit of all facts tnfa ant determination of the question at issue. in such tangible form as to be easily understood and verified by practical men. The people are entitled to this informa- tion, and will not be satisfied without 1t. If the company feels that it is private enterprise and its affairs exclusively it's own, it micconcaives its true nature. When the state granted a charter to furnish gas to the people at large, the company became, in a sense, by its ac- ceptance of the charter, public servant. It became bound to furnish, by reason- ably efficient service, gas to those desir- ing 1t, and the consumers, by availing themselves of fhe service, become bound to make reasonable returns to the com pany for it. The company has in its hands, peculiarly, the data which de- termine the reasona bleness of these re- turns, and as a just and faithful trustee of the franchises which the state has entrusted ito its lands, 1t is under the highest duty to make to the people a flair, square exhibit, withholding noth- ing essential for them to know.
 ''This is an important matter to both people and company, and should be dealt with upon bus:n ssls principles and ac- cording to business methods. Prejudice and oppression on the one hand, nor stubborn resistance on the other. must be factors in the solution. A gas com pany, properly conducted, is public benefaction, 1t matters not who the stockholders are, nor where they live. The people want to encourage it and all other public enterprises. They are will ing to pay abundant rates to enable the company to give them an efficient ser- vice and realize for itself just return