The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-06
LEASE OF THE GAS WORKS.
PHLLADELPHIA,S COMM0N CoUN-
OIL ACTS ON THE ORDINANCE.
Only six Votes Above the Necessary Nnm-
bcr Received to Pass Fart or the Meas
uro - Tho Provisions or the Ora'nsnce-
Cheaper Gas Mt Intervals OF rive Years.

Only six Votes Above the Necessary YAM
bcr Received to Pasn Part OF the Meas
uro - The Provisions or the Ora'nanee-
Cheaper Gas Mt Intervals OF rive Wears.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 5.-By the narrow mar
gin Of six votes more than tho actual require
mcnt to pass a bill, the Chamber OF common
Council took the first tangible step to-day to
dispose OF the municipal gas plant. Inc
Chamber passed the first section OF the ordi'
nance, commonly referred to as the gas works
lease," and, In the presence OF dilatory tactics
from opposing members adjourned until Mon
day to resume the task. The ordinance Is not
drawn In the customary form OF q lease Its
purpose, set forth In O preamble, Is 10 secure ny
contract with q responsible company the mann
tenance, operation, development, and extension
of the city gas plant. To that end 1t empoales
the terms of a contract for thirty years, which
the Mayor is authorized to execute with the
United Gas Improvement Company, q Phila-
delphia enterprise extensively engaged In tho
erection and management Of municipal gas
plants.
Under the agreement this company is to take
charge Of the works owned by the city imme'
diately after tho approval Of the ordinance by
the Mayor, and during tho period specified to
manufacture and sell gas to consumers at $l
a thousand cubic feet. During the first ten
years OF the contract the company Is to pay
tho city all receipts from consumers In excess
or 30 cents a thousand cubic feet; during tho
next five years all in excess of 80 cents; during
tho succeeding five years all in excess OF 80
cents. aud thereafter all in excess Of rs cents.
1t is stipulated that the city may reduce the
price to consumers to the extent Of its royal.
ties from the company.
In other words. If the city desires gas to be
sold to consumers at any time, in the next ten
years at 30 cents n thousand feet, the con-
sumcrs get the reduction and the city gets
nothing. The only other consideration exacted
expend $15, 900, 900 during the term of the
contract In improving the works.
eral character made to the city, but the Mayor
of Philadelphia has asked members of Council
to vote for this bill, and one of the chief factors
In promoting the stages of it's legislation was a
ubiquitous engine OF political corruption, tho
old Gas Trust Ring. was swept from power by
= h ae1uge OF muhiGlpal reform eh such al TINS ttry y
public sentiment in Philadelphia favorable to
q separation of the gas works from the admin
i%stration of the city on account Of political ex;
t~rayagance, but there IL an equally pronounced
sentiment In favor OF disposing OF them to the
best interests of the taxpayers.
lodged in the control OF a trustceship created
by an act OF Assembly which empowers the
sale Of series of loans, which have all been liqui.
dated. The trusteeship became in course OF
years a source of political pestilence, which was
blotted out only by a gigantic wave Of reform.
A few years later II was vacated by the provi.
Government is now administered, and the cor.
rupt ring that once held sway passed into
memory.
The gas plant was valued in the last annual
message of the Mayor at $40, 100000. The re-
ceipts from consumers during the current year
are in excess OF SO, 900, 900, and the amount
during the same period was slightly less than
that figure.