The representative., 1899-11-30
THEY BLACKBOARD US;

But Follow in Our Footsteps.
The Populists in 1892 advocated free
silver. Both the old parties in that
campaign denounced and ridiculed us
for it. In 1896 the Democrats adopted
free silver and the Republicans said
they were in favor of it, too-if Johnny
Bull would only consent! But as the
revolution of 1776 never occurred, we
were still tributary provinces of Great
Britain, and tied to Queen Victoria s
petticoat string, and couldn't legislate
| for ourselves!
Then we advocated municipal own
[ ership of public utilities, and great
many sanity creatures held up their
hands in holy horror and vowed we
| were little better than Anarchists.
And now comes the St. Paul, Globe,
the Democratic organ Of Minnesota, and
speaks thusly in recent issue:
The successful operation of municipal
ownership in many European cities
places it beyond doubt that the example is
not likely to be lost on the American peo-
pie.
Thus far the great difficulty in the path
Of the friends of municipal ownership has
consisted in the financial inability of cities
to secure the necessary money available
for the purpose of the undertakings now
conducted by private enterprise and in the
constitutional inhibition against increased
taxation. These difficulties have, at least
in one instance, been successfully over
come.
For some time after the discovery of ma
tural gas in Indianapolis the supply was in
no NJ
ard oil concern was the first to get pos
session Of the public easement involved,
which, for some reason, it transferred to
another corporation. The law required
at very low rates. These rates the COM
pany refused to accept and insisted upon
their being doubled. This involved a diff
ference of about s100000O a year in the
gross receipts which the controlling COM
pany would receive. The people of In
dianapols took the matter in hand. 1t was
realized at the outset that any opposi-
tion company that might be started would
be likely to sell out. This led to the
adoption of a plan by which the subscrib-
er to the stock in the new concern agreed
to place that stock in the hands of trust
ees, who should have an rrevocable proxy
to vote for directors. 1t also provided that
any surplus above s per cent interest
should be returned to the stockholders until
they had received the full amount of their
furnished to the citizens of Indianapolis
at cost.
A wise choice Of trustees was made The
legislature made valid the plan adopted,
and within a few months after the stock
had been subscribed the people of Indian
apolis were receiving their natural gas at
prices not exceeding one-third the price
Of coal. Pumping stations had to be built
at an enormous cost, and yet with in
creased expenses from year to year, amount
ing to $4,000 900, the trustees have sue
ceeded in paying off a bonded indebted
ness of $1,500,00O, and have reduced the
amount due to stockholders until at this
time less than 100000 of the total issue
of $605, 900 of stock remains unpaid All
Of which has been accomplished while saw
ing to the citizens Of Indianapolis 81 OOO-
900 year. Within few years, il the gas
supply holds out, fuel gas will be sold to
the people Of Indianapolis at COST The ex-
pense of the undertaking will have been
met, and the people will be in absolute con-
troll OF their own gas supply. This, too,
will have been accomplished substantially
without the expenditure of single dol
lar of public funds.
Is 1t not extraordinary that pack of
lunatics at Omaha, in 1892, should fur
nish statesman-like policies to the great
and wise men of both old parties?
Now would be good time to inter-
ject some profound remarks about
PETERS beard. I'D.