The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-08
NEW GAS ORDINANCE
NO PROBABILITY THAT 1T WILL PASS
THE COUNCIL.
George Hitx Tells the Council Com
mittee About Meters-Mu-
nicipaI Affairs.

The gas ordinance introduced in the
City Council about three weeks ago had
its first hearing by the committee on ju-
dietary last night in the city clerks Office,
and judging from the expressions Of MEM
bers and gentlemen who were heard on
the gas question the ordinance has no
show whatever of receiving a favorable
report or passing the Council.
The ordinance is practically the same as
the one brought before the Council last
winter with the exception that it has n
provision that the pressure at the point
OF consumption shall be two ounces and
when it falls below that % per cent. of the
gas Ellis shall be deducted and on any
day should the pressure be insufficient for
four hours at a time to supply sufficient
heat there shall be no charge for the gas.
The judiciary committee that is consider
ing the ordinance is composed Of Council
men Negley, Evans and Bernauer, and at
the meeting last night President Grail,
Ccuncilmen Wheeler and Spiegel, George
Hitz, H. C. Campbell, John Mcfarland
and others were present to present their
views on the question.
Mr.. Hitz. who resides at the corner Of
Fletcher avenue and Cedar streets and
uses a meter for natural gas, and the
meter was the only solution to guarantee
that the consumer shall pay only for what
gas he gets. He said his bills last winter
were less by meter rate, as the contract
price for the year was 1850 and the meter
charges for the year at 10 cents a thou
sane feet were $3.50. He said he did not
have enough gas during certain months.
hut was able TO purchase coal with what
ne saved by using a meter. He said ne
was so anxious TO use a meter that he
went to the Consumers Gas Trust office
and agreed TO pay for putting the meter
in his home, not knowing that the ordl-
nance provided for the company. to place
meters in houses when requested by con-
sumers. He later visited the office to set
tie. He was told there were no charges,
but when he asked for Bement Lyman,
the secretary, and told him about the
meter Mr.. Lyman had one of the clerks
write out a bill for $12 which Mr.. Hitz
paid. Mr.. Hitz said people who desire TO
place meters in their homes should compel
the gas companies TO do it under the old
ordinance. With meters, he said, there
would be no waste of gas and consequent
~ there would be more of the fuel.
The committee agreed, however, that
meters would not solve the question affect
ing the new ordinance. 1t was also agreed
that the principal point to be considered
was whether the gas companies could
furnish more gas and IL they could there
suOulQ ne IldIiudtnuS proceedings ittQ III
court to compel them TO live up to the
ordinance now in vogue, which provides
for a four-ounce pressure. Mr.. Wheeler
suggested that a person would freeze to
death a thousand times while waiting
for the case to come up in court. He said
he lived in West Indianapolis, and it
seemed to be the desire of the gas COM
panies to cut that suburb off from any
supply of gas.
Mr.. Campbell said the new ordinance
would not remedy the situation and be-
lieved that If the one already in vogue
were TO be tempered with or a new ordi-
nanc passed the situation would be even
worse than it is at present. He said the gas
companies would have to have thousands
of inspectors to investigate the complaints
that would be registered during the win
ter months on the shortage of gas. Mr..
Wheeler than suggested that If an in
spector sat in his house for four hours
curing a cold winter day he would surely
freeze and he refused TO board the in
spector while waiting for the gas pressure
To increase.
Mr.. Mcfarland said he was opposed to
meters and also to the new ordinance. All
three of the gentlemen who expressed
opinions on the new ordinance said they
had found no one who was in favor of it.
The committee adjourned after discussing
the ordinance in an informal manner to
meet again before the next Council meet
ing.