The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-31
STEALING THE CREDIT
DEMOCRATS WANT THE HONOR OF
GETTING CHEAPER GAS.
Council Committee Ignores Mr.. Al
lens EfOrts-How Mayor Taggart
Tried to Head 1t on.

The Council committee on contracts and
franchises met last night to consider the
ordinance for cheaper gas introduced by
Messrs. Wolcott and Allen. AS had been
anticipated the committee recommended
the adoption of Mr.. Wolcott's ordinance
with certain amendments proposed by the
author, reducing the rate from 80 cents, as
proposed in his original ordinance. to 10
cents, the figure fixed in Mr. Aliens ordi-
nance and providing that the gas furnished
shall be equal TO eighteen candle power,
and also providing that only accurate
meters shall be used in measuring gas.
Accurate meters are designated as those
not more than 2 per cent. fast nor more
than 3 per cent. slow. Authority is con-
ferred on the Board of Works to appoint
inspectors to test meters and the quality
of gas furnished.
There was absolutely no discussion of the
ordinance by the members of the commit
tee and nothing was done with Mr.. Aliens
ordinance but it was given out that the
committee would recommend that it be
stricken from the files if Mr.. Wolcott's or
dinance is passed. Tho only thing said as
to the relative merits of the two ordinances
when Mr.. Golfer remarked that he
thought Mr.. Wolcott's ordinance was
stronger than the other. Mr.. Aliens ordi-
nance simply regulated the maximum price
Of gas at 10 cents a thousand cubic feet.
Chairman Golfer and Messrs Montgom-
cry, Smith, Rauch, Madden and Shaffer of
the committee, were present, Mr.. Murphy
failing to put in his appearance. He is rec
ognized in the Council as an employe of
the gas company and the meeting was de-
10 holt for. 70 T1hr
bers of the committee expecting to receive
some information from him as 10 the atti-
tude of the gas company on the subject
He failed to appear and Mr.. Shaffer was
the only Republican councilman present at
the meeting.
The only suggestions on the subject came
from w. A. Pickens, an attorney. He as
sured the committee that he appeared only
in his capacity as a private citizen. He
suggested that if the Council has the pow
er at this time to regulate the price of gas
at, say 70 cents it would have the same
power in six months or a year TO change
the price again. He suggested that If in
ordinance fixing the rate at 10 cents
a provision should be inserted making that
the price for a definite period, say five
years, there might be less disposition on
the part of the company TO make hght
and some compromise might be effected by
which the company would enter into q con-
tract to furnish gas at that price for a DELI
mite period. In answer to a question from
Mr. Montgomery he replied that he mad no
information that the company would ac-
cept such a condition. Mr.. Golfer remarked
that the committee had adjourned from d
meeting earlier in the week in order to give
the company an opportunity to be heard
If ii might so desire Mr.. Pickens was
thanked for his suggestion, but II was not
discussed. After waiting some time Tor Mr..
Murphy to appear Mr.. Golfer suggested
might we'll
and sign its report, and this was done
without any discussion of the question
at all.
James H. Costello president, and Coun-
cilmen Ohleyer and Cooper expressed some
regret that there was no discussion OF the
question, all saying that they attended the
meeting hoping that representatives of the
gas company or some one else ADVISED as
to the cost of gas would appear to give
some information on that score. There is
a feeling that the members OF the council
are in the dark, and that there IS danger
of passing an ordinance Limiting the price fc
of gas at tigure that II cannot be Iur-
nished. This, it is believed would be fatal,
as the courts might be induced to declare
sucn an ordnance invalid on the ground
that gas could not be furnished at the price
stipulated. Mr. Montgomery said that he
understood that the company intended TO
fight any sort of a reduction. With this
fact in view he thought it well for the
Council to adopt simple ordinance, leav-
ing the fight to be determined by the
courts.
Back of the determination of the Demo-
cratic members of the committee to recon-
mend the adoption of Mr. Wolcotts ordl-
nance, as amended by the author, and the
determination to ignore Mr.. Aliens ordl-
nance, there is an interesting history. Mr..
Allen, of the Republican members of
the Council introduced a resolution in the
Council several weeks ago asking for an
opinion from the city attorney as to the
rights of the Council to regulate the price
of gas. The city charter seemed to confer
that right Weeks passed and nothing was
heard from the city attorney. Mayor Tag
CART completely ignored the provision of
the charter requiring him to sign all ordi-
nances and resolutions passed by the Coun-
ell within ten days or return them with his
objections. Finding that neither the mayor
nor city attorney had enough interest to
act on such a question when presented by
a Republican. Mr.. Allen went to another
attorney and had his ordinance drafted
When he reached the Council chamber July
II he found that Mr.. Wolcott also had an
ordinance ready to introduce, which the
city attorney had prepared, with his opln-
ion holding the Council had the right to
regulate the price of gas That was the
first intimation Mr.. Allen had that any in
terest was being taken in the question by
the Democrats. Mr.. Wolcott, learning that
Mr. Allen was about to introduce an Ordi-
nance on the gas question, slipped his own
ordinance to the city clerk. When it came
to the introduction of new ordinances the
city clerk read Mr.. Wolcott's ordinance be-
fore the roll call of councilmen was had.
This was irregular and unusual, but the
trick was successful, and Mr.. Wolcotts
ordinance was numbered and given first
Democratic city convention was held and
declared itself in favor of 75-cent gas. This
was open Endorsement of Mr.. Allen
ordinance. The Democrats realized that
something would have to be done if they
were to get the credit for the lower gas
ordinance. Mr. Wolcott decided to offer
amendments to his ordinance reducing the
price to the figure named in Mr.. Aliens
ordinance and the Democratic platform,
thus giving a pretext for ignoring Mr..
Aliens efforts to secure a reduction. When
the ordinance is passed, if it is passed, the
Democrats will claim all the credit, not
wthstanding the fact that Mayor Taggart
violated the requirements of the charter in
order to avoid the subject, and that the
city attorney paid no attention to the res
oution until there was aggressive action
on the part of the Republicans. Mr.. Allen
said to a Journal reporter that he did not
care particularly for his ordinance as
his sole desire was to see the price of gas
reduced. His friends. however, think it
outrageous for the Democrats to try TO
steal credit to which they have absolutely
no claim whatever.