The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
CITIZENS WILL
BE SUMMONED
New Move on Part Of the Gas IlYeStSat-
Ing Committee.
THE IDEA OF COL. AL IMAM
Who Wants More Evidence, Despite RO-
dGn'S Admissions.
ONE COURSE TO ANNUL CONTRACT
Mr.. Kerr Wanted the Question of the Inferior
lily of the Gas Investigated Com
mitteemen Assented- Meeting
Monday Night.

The gas committee will summon pri-
waite citizens before it to testify that
$1.65 has been charged for gas.
This action was taken ait an executive
meeting of the body held yesterday after
noon in the law office of Col. ]. ]. Alt
man in First avenue.
The committee will hold another meet
ing nsNt Monday night at O'Clock in the
council chamber.
There were present at the meeting yes
terday afternoon Col. ]. ]. Altman, May
or r. V. Evans, Mel Drsnnen, ]. T.
Lynagh, w. ]. Pearce, R. H. Kerr and
City Attorney Lowe.
In the absence of Chairman Moore
Colonel Altman presided over tbs meet
ing. At the opening he said that 1T was
his idea to have some of the people who
had BEN talking about the gas question
summoned before the committee to tes-
tify wherein the gas company had vio-
hated it's contract. What he wanted, n
sadd, was to have some OF the people
who had been doing so much talking
before the COMMITTEES. to make them put
UP or shut up"
NO NECESSITY FOR IT.
Mr. Kerr said that he saw no necessity
for such action when Mr. Roden of the
gas company had admitted that the con-
tract had besn violated.
"Have you read Mr.. Rodents testi-
mony?" asked Colonel Altman, as he
turned his head toward Mr.. Kerr.
mo, but heard it, promptly replied
Mr. Ksnr.
Mr.. Roden admits it and denies it
several times in the course of his testi-
mony,' was the rejonder of Mr.. Altman.
This action might do very WE'LL" said
Mayor Evans, but I see no necessity
for it,
Colonel Altman persisted that some ad-
ditonal testimony should be brought be-
fore the committee. He said that a law
suit was not improbable and the city
should b. prepared for it.
Mr.. Pearce said he thought the purpose
of the meeting was to consider the ques-
ton of unreasonable rates and that
Sliditilldl hOOuG was III pOSSeSIOn OIL IN
formation bearing on this point
INFERIOR QUALITY OF GAS.
Mr.. Kerr said that some of the people
who had been complaining of the quality
of the gas should be summoned before thu
committee.
To this Acting Chairman Altman as
scented and said that he thought the
original resolution creating the commit
tie was broad enough to cover this.
Before the meeting was called to order
some one jocularly remarked to Colonel
Altman that he was using gas, jet hay
ing just bsen lighted.
The colonel smiled and said Eyes" and
added that it was rather "watery' the
afternoon before.
To cover the whole case Mayor Evans
moved that the committee adjourn to
meet Monday night; that every member
of the committee who desired some cit-
zen summoned hand in the name to the
city clerk and all such citizens would
be summoned by next Saturday night.
1t now appears that the committee
will investigate the charge that the gas
company has been furnishing consumers
with inferior gas. The resolution clearly
empowers the body to investigate any
question of violation of contract
A majority of the members of the COM
mittee seem to think that the only
course left is to recommend that the
company's contract with the city be
abrogated
In this connection they apprehend a
law suit, and some of THE members are
of the opinion that everything should be
gotten in good shape before the city
council takes action.
NO FEAR OF LAWSUIT
The most generally accepted opinion