The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-16
POTTS PLAN ENDORSED
COMMERCIAL CLUBS SPECIAL conf
MITTEE COMMENDs IT.
Committee of Directors VIII Investi-
gate Further-Club Increasing
in Membership.

At the meeting of the directors of the
Commercial Club yesterday afternoon the
special committee consisting of A. f. Potts,
d. p Erwin, George j. Marott, Evan +.
Lilly, Thomas c. Day, A. r. Metzger, c. c.
Foster and p. H. Fitzgerald, appointed to
consider Mr.. Potts's plan for the control of
city franchises. particularly the telephone
franchise, by the organization of companies
similar to the Consumers Gas Trust Com
pany, reported favorably on the plan. The
meeting was largely attended, and there
was discussion of the plan lasting several
hours. No determination with regard to its
adoption was reached. Instead a subcom-
mittee Of three directors was authorized to
investigate the subject further and recon-
mend action on the special committees re-
port. The subcommittee of directors has
not yet been appointed. That will be done
in a day or two. The subcommittee will be
in a position to go into the subject even
more fully than the special committee, and
will report to the directors within a very
short time. Mr.. Potts is urging that some
thing be done as soon as possible, as if the
plan DIS to be adopted and Endorsed by the
Commercial Club in time to accomplish any
thing it must be shortly, as the Board of
Works is proceeding with the telephone
question as rapidly as possible. Mayor Tag
CART and City Attorney Kern had a confer
ence yesterday afternoon lasting a good
while, and this was one of the subjects dis
cusSed.
The report of the special committee on
the Potts plan was as follows:
Your committee to which was referred
the matter of investigating the plan pro-
posed by Mr.. Alfred +. Potts for the con-
troll of the city franchises by the organiza-
ton of companies similar to that of the
Consumers Gas Trust Company begS leave
to report as follows: We have made a care
full investigation of this subject and express
1t as our opinion that such a plan of or
ganization is entirely feasible and practical,
and that it's value in the control of such
franchises has been demonstrated by the
success Of the Consumers Gas Trust Com
pany. We see no reason why 1t cannot be
applied to any franchise which the people
may be able to control hereafter. We find
that its application to the street-car fran
chise must necessarily be delayed until the
complications now in litigation are settled,
but that the club can do effective work in
preparation for that time.
I'VE further find that applications are
now pending before the Board of Public
Works for the granting Of franchise for
the introduction of a competing telephone
system in the city of Indianapolis, and we
believe that a company organized along the
lines suggested will have the hearty support
and patronage of the people of the city,
and that the Commercial Club should give
it's Endorsement to such plan OF organiZa
ton. Believing that such an organization is
of a quasi public character and not pri-
vate corporation, we recommend the modi-
fications in the plan as suggested by Mr..
Potts as follows:
"First-That the directors shall be re-
quired to file with the city controller semi
annual reports showing detailed statements
of the operations Of the company, together
with a list Of the stockholders.
"Second-That said city controller be
vested with power to inspect the books,
records and accounts of said company"