The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-14

WHICH SIDE Is GOBBftGs
Mr.. S. f. Hastings. president of the In
dianapoIis Gas Company, seems to have
adopted a policy of defamation towards
this city and its people Although a resi-
dent Of New York. Mr. Hastings, in the
name of his company, enjoys two valu-
able franchises in this city for which he
has never paid the city anything-one be-
ing the free use of its streets and alleys
for the distribution of artificial gas at a
rate which for many years was exorbitant,
and is still too high, and the other the
free use of the streets and alleys for the
distribution CT natural gas, which for some
sumers at ordinance rates without being
delivered. In these circumstances it would
seem that Mr.. Hastings ought 10 treat the
city and its people justly if not generously.
Instead Of that he is defaming them
Last Sundays Journal contained a letter
signed by Mr.. Hastings and sent from the
New York Office of the gas company to all
the stockholders giving the alleged reason
why the company was for the present
compelled to defer the payment of a divi-
dend. 1t is probable the directors might
pass the payment of several dividends and
still leave the stockholders largely ahead
on the original investment. The reason as
signed for not paying a January dividend
was the alleged diminution Of the supply
OF natural gas caused by the waste incident
tn Of
the refusal of consumers to take gas by
meter measurement, thus insurng an
economical use of gas and prolongation of
the supply. The letter was intended to
put the patrons of the company on the
defensive against a charge of reckless
waste of gas and TO put the company in
the light of an innocent and injured party
The letter was read at the annual meeting
OF the stockholders on Wednesday, and Mr..
Hastings made the further statement that
the company lis being Systematically rob-
bed in Indianapolis" Such charge as
this sent abroad in the press dispatches
cannot be allowed to pass unchallenged.
There are two sides to the charge of rob-
berry. 1t is the opinion of large proper
ton of the people of this city that the
term robbery applies far more accurately
to the operations of the company during
the last few years than it does to anything
its patrons have done The latter have
merely been trying to get part of the
gas they were paying for and which the
company was bound by contract to furnish,
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full ordinance rates for the little pinch of
gas it has furnished the same as if ii were
furnishing an adequate supply. Admitting
that there has been considerable waste of
gas, and no doubt the practice of boring
out mixers does prevail to some extent,
1t is not perceived how this could have re-
duced the revenues of the company as long
as 1t continues to collect at the old rates
for a greatly diminished delivery of gas,
and to collect from nearly twice as many
patrons as ii had at the beginning A great
many people would like to have Mr.
Hastings explain where the diminished
revenue comes in when less than half the
quantity of gas that was formerly delivered
is now being delivered to nearly twice
as many people at the original rates.
When the gas company accepted the ordi-
nance of 1887 it entered into contract
with the city and people to comply with all
the conditions of the contract One of
those conditions was and is that 'the rates
herein provided for domestic purposes
shall be based upon pressure of four
ne inc Of he
sumption" That condition has not been
complied with for several years past. I'M
less the extraordinary flow and pressure
during an hour or two of every night can
be called a compliance. When Mr.. Hast
ings comes before the court of public opin-
ion he should come with clean hands. Be-
fore he charges that his gas company is
being Systematically robbed in this city let
him explain why for some years past ii
has failed TO comply with its contract TO
maintain a four-ouncc pressure at the point
of consumption and has continued to
charge all its customers ironclad ordinance
rates for a small fractional part of the
gas formerly furnished. No doubt it costs
the company considerably more TO obtain
and deliver gas now than IL did ten years
ago, but when it is charging the same price
for a very small proportion of the gas
furnished ten years ago and collecting bills
from many thousands more customers who
are supplying the deficit of gas with other
fuel. its president is in no position to talk
about the systematic robbery of the COM
pany by the people.