The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-10
CALL ON THE GOVERNOR
GAS-BELT PEOPLE HAVE ANOTHER
CONFERENCE WITH HIM.
Extra Session Talk Revived--State of
Indiana Files It's Injunction
Suit at Anderson.

The mayors and citizens committees of
numerous cities in the gas belt met at the
rooms of the Commercial Club yesterday
afternoon and later called upon the Gov
ernor, with whom they had a very salts
factory talk. Ex-senator Harlan, chair
man of the Alexandria committee that
started the agitation, was asked to preside,
ard in calling the meeting together briefly
stated the purpose. Progress had been
made, he said, since the meeting at Alex
andria and public sentiment had become
aroused in the State to such an extent
as to justify the belief that if they could
not get relief through the present laws
there would be a general demand for a
special session Of the Legislature.
Mayor Cromer. of Muncie, asked what le-
gal steps had been taken since the Alex
andria meeting, and Mr.. Lippincott of
Alexandria, explained that his injunction
suit had been appealed to the Supreme
Court. Billy Edwards, who earned fame
at the Alexandria meeting by declaring that
they all had plenty of nerve, If they were
not afraid" spoke at some length. He de-
clared that the present laws were utterly in
adequate and if the injunction case were
not won in the Supreme Court there ought
to be a special legislative session at once.
A. +. Potts declared his belief that there
was no remedy in law, and for this reason
he believed the Supreme Court would grant
the injunction prayed. He said he had
talked with the Governor and found him
averse to calling a special session until all
legal remedies had been tried, but if these
were exhausted, he believed the executive
could be depended upon to call a special
session. Mr.. Potts offered a set of resolu-
tons Of a very moderate character and
Mayor Taggart, of this city, offered an
amendment in the shape of an additional
resolution, asking the Governor to call
special session in case the legal remedies
should fail This latter was opposed and
temporarily Withdrawn, while the original
resolutions were adopted, as follows:
I'VE, the representatives of the commune
ties embraced within the gas belt of the
State OF Indiana, met at the capital city of
the State to confer as to the means for
stopping the waste of natural gas, by which
the comfort and prosperity of a large and
rapidly growing section of our State is
threatened, desire to express the following
views:
"First-That we believe that the present
laws, ii properly enforced, are adequate to
meet the necessities of the case and that
they should be tested before any other ac-
ton is taken.
''Second-We desire to express our respect
for the Supreme Court of our State and our
perfect confidence in it's wisdom and integ-
rity. That in its decision of the hambeau
case it has given the highest evidence that
its opinions are based upon broad consider
atoms of the general welfare and not upon
the narrow, obsolete rules of alleged indi-
Vidual rights.
''Third-We hold that our law has ad-
vanced with the changing conditions of our
civilization and that no mans individual
ownership in land gives him the right TO
wantonly waste a provision of nature OBJ
Viously intended for the general good.
"Fourth-We have viewed with approval
and satisfaction the attitude of our Gov
H.
spector on the vital questions involved; and
therefore, be it
journs il go in body to the State Capitol
to extend these officials of our State the
assurance of our appreciation of their con-
duct and services and TO oHer them Sucn
aid as We may be able to render.
Mayor Taggart then brought up his reso-
luton requesting the special session, but
II. f. Rose, of Muncie, opposed it as an ex-
preston of lack of confidence in the pend
ing litigation. He further expressed grave
doubt as to whether they could get what
they wanted from the Legislature after II
was called, and doubted whether public
opinion over the State would justify the
calling of a special session. Mr.. Fortune,
in order to test the sense of the meeting,
moved that it be the sense of the meeting
that, in case the legal efforts should prove
fruitless, they then petition for a special
session. This was debated briefly and
adopted on a viva voce vote, though there
were many nays The meeting then ad-
jcurned to call upon the Governor
The Governor received the delegation
cordially and as soon as all were seated
Mr. Harlan made a brief speech. lie told
the Governor it was probably not nnknoWn
to him that great question mao refen, dS
sprung UP that pertained to the grown ana
DEVELOPMENT of the State A condition had
arisen that they regarded as of the largest
Importance. Perhaps 1t was Deyonu the COLI
troll of any individual or community. They
were threatened by the waste OF that Prou-
uct that had. been the means OF auVInclhs
Indiana more than any other, natural gas.
That element in its prosperity seemed to be
rapidly fading away. They nad come 10 nlH
believing that he was patriotic enough,
awake to the situation to do what he could
in his official capacity to aid IN preventing
this waste of gas It was their 1eslre n ena al
once taken UP and heard at the earliest
possible day and Mr.. Harlan begged that
he would use his official influence toward
obtaining an early hearing. 1t was also the
expressed sentiment of the meeting, ne Salu,
that in case the legal remedies should fan,
he should call special session OF the Leg
islature.
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.
In reply, the Governor said that he had
expressed himself so often upon this subject
that what he had to say might seem some
what stale. He was deeply interested in the
subject, in common with the people of the
State, and had been anxious and concerned.
These were new questions in the courts and
they were ably contested by counsel upon
either side, and it therefore took some time
and study for the courts to reach just
conclusion Upon many of the points raised,
it was probable that there were no prece-
dents in judicial decisions. In the meantime,
the people of the State were anxious and the
executive was anxious. He had had some
conversation with judges of the supreme
Court some weeks ago, in which ne had
dwelt upon the gravity of these questions
and had expressed the hope that the court
would take them UP promptly when they
reached it. 1t was his Judgment that the
court would give prompt consideration to
the subject and that there would be no
more delay than was necessary IN reachlng
q just conclusion
The Governor expressed the opinion that
the Legislature should not be called until
the laws now in operation had been tested,
and they found what was lacking. After the
Legislature was called, if it should pass the
desired legislation, it, in turn, would nave
to be tested in the courts. He hoped the
present laws, or the equity or the case,
would prove a sufficient remedy.
He was not surprised that they We're anx-
ious. Since the discovery of gas, Indiana
had largely outstripped her sister States in
the accumulation of wealth and population.
No other State had shown such develop
ment during the last ten years. Ma1ufac-
tories had multiplied, cities had sprung up
and the farmers of Indiana had found a