The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-16

Is inestimable. There can be no difference
or opinion in this respect, so that the
commonest kind OF common sense would
say husband II with the greatest care that
we may possess its advantages for the
longest possible time. Almost the very
reverse or this is the course quite generalv
pursued. Houses are thrown wide open in
emily weather, and sometimes even in win
ter. with huge fires in furnaces, stoves
and CRATES. Jumboes are left burning
n1ght and day In stores, stables and fac
tories, sometimes when the sun is shining
so bright as to almost obscure their bril-
nancy. In the hottest weather cook-stove
nres are left burning hours after the cook
ing Is done, and often from one meal to
another. How many fires in this city are
the result Of overheated stoves arising
from this worse than waste OF this precious
In former times. when fuel was expensive
In money and labor, these things did not
occur and % degrees temperature in the
mouse was considered comfortable, but
now 20 degrees is often considered cool,
and we sometimes find IL above so degreesi
is 1t right that some should waste what
others need? Certainly not.
But what is the remedy, since people
will be careless and wasteful?" Remedy?
Simple: Make it to their interest to be care
tul and saving; make them pay for what
they waste, as well as fo- what they use.
instead OF as now making many pay for
what they do not get. In this way the
In time, almost wholly stopped. Few peo-
pie forget TO turn of unneeded gas for
which they pay for the amount used. or
maintain useless fires when knowing II IS
attended with unnecessary expense. What
difference does ii make TO most persons
whether they burn ten thousand, Instead
or two thousand, feet when II costs no
more? In the face Of these very evident
facts and conditions there has been such
an cutlery against the use of meters that
two years ago candidates voluntarily
pledged themselves TO oppose their COM
pulsory introduction How foolish the OBJ
lection If their Introduction would be in
the nfnEnGF 90 eAA -4-.I~r IT. -
be so is fairly presumable from the fore
going. and in addition from the fact that
the companies have never done it volun-
tarily. II Is not 10 their interest TO do
so, for now they get their full pay in ad-
vance and furnish gas or not. With
meters they would receive pay only for
what they supplied. That the present ar
rangement is TO their advantage cannot be
disputed.
The true meter would reveal the exact
amount consumed by each consumer. and
he or she would pay for that, and no more.
This would be just and right. Right wrongs
no man. Right and justice are TO the true
interest or the people. II appears rather
anomalous that an institution organized,
established and capitalized by the people
for the people should be slow to adopt such
measures as are evidently in the peoples
the company seem 10 have been forgotten
by those in control. The spirit OF the Of
make no exeplanations." 'This Is orr bnsi-
ness, and we attend to II" we work with
those whose interests are with US" For
the Trust this is not equitable procedure.
it should look to the peoples interest with
out regard to the interests OF others.
With candidates the conditions are differ
emit They desire place; 10 get ~ they must
have votes; 10 obtain these they must
please the people, right or wrong. What
the people want they must be willing TO do.
They did not want meters, and TO secure
votes there must be a promise of opposi-
ton.
But why this objection to meters2 Why
this unreasonable prejudice so generally
prevailing? Without doubt IL is due 10 ig-
norance Of conditions and a conviction 81
greatly increased cost as the result. NV
goodness" exclaime one. Ito use gas in NV
cookstove by measurement would cost four
times as much as we now pay" This. I
think. is a very great mistake. for the
reasons:
First-If true, the companies would have
been urging their adoption. which they
have never asked, except ar doubled rate.
S~econd-Prior to the introduction OF nat
ural gas In this city the greatest care was
taken 10 ascertain a just and equitable
price. Two systems OF application were
found In use IN different piaces-the con-
tract and the measurement-the rates for
each as We have them being found equiv
alent In cost. and fair and equitable. IL
is not probable a mistake was made in
this particular after so careful and eN-
fenced an examination as was made. GER
tainly a very strong reason for believing
the prejudice unfounded. For convenience,
as giving rurnisher and consumer an sN-
act and definite knowledge OF price and
cost in each application. the contract sys-
TEN. as we have IL. was adopted. Corrobo-
rative Of this argument is the following
fact: Where the two systems have been
tried the change from contract 10 meas
urement did not increase the cost.
Third-It is know they have gas I'm Chi
cago, and IL is furnished wholly by meter
at 50 cents per thousand. and yet II Is used
there in preference 10 ordinary fuel. A
resident informed me that the fat he lived
I'm was warmed wholly by the use OF this
fuel. and that his cook stove cost him
only about so cents a month Surely. then.
there would be no additional cost by meas
urement at 10 cents per thousand. We
nav safely wager that the Chicago man
does not let his stove burn when not need
ed GAY or night. Then lst us have the
meters, save all We can and let each pay
for what he wastes or uses-no less. no
more. ONE OF THE
indianapolis. Nov. IA