The age-herald., 1898-04-08
CITY WILL STOP
 THE ROBBERY Aldermen WilI Rise in Their Might and
 Regulate Gas Rates. PRICE TO BE FlXET AT $125 Ordinance Will Be Operative at Once and
 the Old Company MAY RESIST IT IN THE COURTS Argued That City Has Same Right to Officially Regulate Price of Gas as Water
 Rates, Hack Fares or Any
 thing Else.
TO BE FIXET AT $1.25
nAY RESIST IT IN THE COURTS

Within the next two weeks an ordinance will be passed by the city council prohibiting the sale of gas at price greater than $1.2 per thousand cubic feet.
 This ordinance is not intended to take effect when the new gas company begins to supply gas to the citizens, but 1t will go into operation at once
 This will bring matters to crisis. After the ordinance is passed 1t will be unlawful for the old gas company to charge more than the legal rate for gas. In case they insist on charging the old price of s1.65, they will immediately be prosecuted for violation of the city law. If the gas com pany has any legal rights at all in the case they will then have an opportunity of as- serting them in the courts.
 Council Has the Right
 The above facts were botained yesterday by conversation with the various members of the board of aldermen. They said t8t the board undoubtedly has right to pass a law regulating the price of gas just as they have to regulate the price of hack fares, street car fares, water rates or the
  which is to be granted franchise or with which new contract is to be made. The old gas company by the violation of it's contract with the city has forfeited it's con- tract and the board now has the right to compel them to reduce their rates.
 The schedule of rates as will be set forth in the ordinance, will conform with the rates which are provided in the contract between the city and the new gas company. That is $125 per thousand for the first two years, and $1.10 for the next three years, and $1.00 from then on. Each of these rates is reduced ten cents for prompt payment before the tenth of the month, but as above stated, the ordinance will go into effect at once, so far as the old gas company is con- cerned, instead of waiting until the new gas contract is completed.
 Fruit of the Age-Herald's Fight
 The passage of this ordinance will be practically the consummation of The Age Herald's long fought contest for cheaper gas for the citizens of Birmingham. The only thing to be accomplished after that will be the completion of the new gas company and the furnishing to the citizens good, as well as cheap Illuminating and fuel gas.
 After this ordinance goes into effect the members of the board of aldermen seen yesterday seemed to think that the old gas company would be permitted to take up their old pipe and put in new, and thus allow them one last effort for existence.
 document has already been drawn up by the city attorney and signed by the officers of the old gas company to the eff feet that if a permit is granted them to lay their new pipe this small concession on the part of the city will not effect the legal relations now existing between the city and the gas company. This Is similar to the agreement now existing between these two parties in regard to the use of gas in the public buildings.