The age-herald., 1897-11-25

pro-tem to investigate said matters. and to report, by ordinance or otherwise, in writing, ito next meeting of this board; and, to the end that said Investigation may be thorough and the evidence ad- duced before the committee may be pre- served, said committee may employ, at the expense of the city, @ clerk to take full notes of such testimony as may be offered before said committee.
 MT. Drennen said the resolution which had just been passed covered the one un- der which the committee had been ap- pointed.
 Mayor Evans asked what was consid- cred unreasonable prices. ''You cannot say the price is unreasonable unless it transcendS the price namsd in the con- tract. This charge has been brought and it is our duty to investigate it. I want dollar gas and we should have it if there is any way in the world to do so. but I think we should commence at the begin n'ng of the question:"
 The resolution was, however, allowed to stand. The chairman was instructed to employ a stenographer to take evil dence and the nesting adjourned.
 The committee will hold it's next meet ing Saturday nght at 7:30 o'clock when it meets to hear the evidence.
 CHARGES PREFERRED.
 The charges have already been pre- ferred against the gas company. D0as the committee want more?
 The gas company has a contract with the city to furnish gas at s1.4S per thous- and cubic feet. It virtually charges the people S1.65. They have to pay this much if they do net call at the gas com pany's office and settle by the tenth of the month. There is no stipulation in the contract conveying this procedude.
 In realty the people now get gas for $1.4S, unless some of the pets of the com pany whom, it is alleged, get gas at tho reasonable price of $1. The city is one of these pets. There are many others.
 The people pay $1481a for every 1000 cubic feet of gas and oftener they pay more They pay this outrageous price for an inferior quality of gas.
 A LEGAL OPINION.
 ''The resolution passed by the gas in- vestigating committee is a peculiar one" said a high legal authority on be- ing shown the document.
 'The charges have beem prepared against the gas company. The duty of the committee, as representa- tives of the people, is to proceed at once to inve sti- gate these charges. They do not need to have the charges preferred again.
 'The charge has been made. It has not been denied. Tke onus is on the gas company. The naNt move for the gas company is to make an attempt to prove that it is not violating its contract The people and The Age-Herald have done their part. The committeemen as the sworn representatives of the people should discharge theirs Another plan should be adopted. The Investigation will result in nothing if continued ac- cording to the resolution"
 Every man occupying a judicial posi- ton in Birmingham or in the counts held in Birmingham has said that "a corpora 'hon supplying a city with water or light is held responsible by the people. A private corporation is net Yet what is considered a private corporations has laws governing at, which they dare mot violate.
 The plan adopted by the committee is not imperative. It can be changed. and to secure a speedy and thorough teimina- tion of the investigation this should be done.
 As it stands at present, the investiga- tion should be conducted in a manner similar to that pursued in rhe invest iga- tion of the charge preferred against C.ty Engtneer Kendricl by the Master Plumb CTS association, This is the plan of MT. Pierce.
 Mayor Evans objected to this plan several days ago, saying that no one was to be tried. Tit is simply an investi- gaton to. see if the gas company has vio- lated its contract" was the language of