The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-03

wish to say I am opposed TO the compul-
sorry use OF gas meters, and / am opposed
to any other proposition which Will In any
way increase the cost of gas to the con-
sumner. This is a straightforward business
proposition which affects every citizen or
indianapolis, irrespective OF party ANNA
lions and should not be introduced into
party politics. The principal argument in
V of the introduction OF meters Is that
IL will conserve the supply OF gas Tor years
10 come. That is really a good argument
but IL would apply witt much more force
IL the people in the gas belt and those In
all other cities were compelled to exercise
economy, which, ii is claimed, must De
done here. The consumption of gas In this
city is small, compared with the total USED
In this great State"
Charles E. Cox, ex-judge of Police Court.
was called upon. He replied and became
quite sarcastic before concluding. tie
thought the gathering small; that most OF
the people stayed at home, thinking tnelr
interests safe in the hands OF the council.
His presence, he said, was because silence
gives consent and there must be some pro-
test to the Council against the move. lie
said the mains had not been increased IN
size since their installation when the popu-
lation was $1,000. People as a rule don't
know he said, that they can now secure
gas meters If they demand them at the
rate of 10 cents per thousand. instead OF
80 cents, which the gas companies propose
to charge. They have more gas back tnan
they have furnished for the last two win
tiers and are going to furnish IL TO wealthy
citizens who don't care how high their
bills run, and those who don't have the
price will have to scratch around and nnd
a little of this Indiana block coal. This
gas is Gods blessing to the poor man and
let us enjoy it to the end. The only way
you can do that is to circulate these pc,
titions in such numbers that the Councl
will know the people are opposed TO 1t.
S. A. Shilling, councilman from sidney,
o., presented some figures regarding the
use of meters showing an increase in bills.
uhan daNraa 60 had hp6n nr0mlSRd. or ABOUT
200 per cent. He was followed by Harry
Hubbard, who said he knew of not one
man of the 500 in the shop where he worked
who was in favor of meters.
Albert Sahm, chairman of the Board OF
Works, said he had postponed an impor-
tant business meeting out OF the city 10
attend. He referred to the Investigator
made by the committee of the Board OF
Trade and made the statement that the
proper place for the proposed change In
the system to have been introduced was
in the Board of Works. Concluding he
said: IF the request for gas meters is
introduced there where 1T should be in
troduced I promise you you will never hear
another word about gas meters The as
sertion brought out great applause.
David Erdman related his experience In
Pittsburg, where he used meters for three
months, with an increase in the gas billls
from 1915 to 50 for the first month, $40 the
second and S29 the third month. He intro
duced the following resolution, which was
approved and ordered presented to the
Council by a committee, which was also
instructed to present the petitions on hand
containing about $500 names, together with
accommodating petitions:
Whereas, Ii is evident hat the natural
gas companies of Indianapolis. Ind, are
about TO combine themselves INTO a trust
and thereby conspire to deprive the mid
die and poorer classes of citizens of cheap
fuel by the compulsory use of gas meters,
and,
"Whereas. the Indianapolis Gas Trust
Company was created by the popular SUBJ
scription of the citizens of Indianapolis for
the express purpose of having gas fur
nished to them at actual cost, after the
plant was paid for, and,
Whereas, the Trust Company has for
years been managed e~xtravagantly, and in
spite of such extravaganza has paid s
per cent. interest on stock and has re-
turned TO the stockholders so per cent. of
their original investment, in consequence
of which we have a perfect right to ask
that the existing rates be lowered; there
fore. be ii
Resolved, That the citizens of Indian
apolis hereby enter our protest against the
compulsory use of natural gas meters and
that we petition the honorable members of
the Common Council not to countenance
regarding the enforcement of natural gas
meters"
The committee which will present the
resolution and the petitions is composed of
David Erdman, Charles T.. Cox. Louis E.
Haag. Charles A. Gauss and Patrick Ma
honey. William Patterson closed the meet
ing with the statement: There Is not q
man in the Council who will vote for this
ordinance unless he is corrupted"