The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-03
Charge Made that All who Favor Me-
ter System Are "Cappers" for
the Gas Companies.
CITIZENS PRODUCE FIGURES
MESSRS. BORST AND HITZ AND 9TH
ERS FAVOR METERS.
Say the System Is the Most Economical
Way to Use Gas-Munici-
pal Affairs.

A new word has been introduced into the
vocabulary of the gas question. AT the
public meeting held last night by the Coun-
Gil committee on contracts and franchises
for the purpose of giving whoever desired
an opportunity of presenting arguments for
or against the introduction of the COM
pulsory meter system, the word appeared
explosively and with great frequence
Speakers who took the view that meters
are bad from start TO finish declared that
all friends OF the meter are "cappers" for
the two gas companies. Several declared
that anyone who has the temerity to ap-
pear with arguments for meters is work.
ing directly in the interests of the COM
panies. Two or three, whose logic was
somewhat obscured by the smoke of their
cratorical passion, asserted that the news
papers are "cappers" for the Indianapolis
Gas Company and the Consumers Gas
Trust Company. The word 'capper" was
used with relish and seemed far more in
favor than thief" 'scoundrel, rascal
and other terms of opprobrium directed at
those who desire the introduction of
meters.
The meeting last night was fairly well
attended. Councilmen Negley, Sourbier,
Cooper, Mcfarland, Wahl and Meyer, of
the committee, directed the discussion and
Councilmen Rhodes, Shea, Warweg, Berry
and Expert listened with close attention to
the various views presented. Probably LOG
persons, representing all the wards of the
city, had seats in the Council chamber.
Fourteen speakers took part in the discus
sion Seven had arguments to show that
meters would benefit the public and prolong
the gas supply; seven declared with vehe-
mence that no good could come from the in
PRODUCTION of the compulsory meter system
and that it was but subterfuge of the gas
companies to get more money from the peo-
pie. Only one or two of the speakers had
anything more valuable than theories or
views to bring to the attention of the COM
mittee. One, however. George F. Borst, a
well-known druggist, came armed with a
mass of gas receipts and bills that rein
forced in black and white his personal
opinions.
BORST FURNISHED FIGURES.
Mr.. Borst stated that he had used gas
in this city for thirteen years. The first
year he burned il under the flat-rate sys-
tenn He gave the committee a statement
of what it cost him by that system to
maintain seven fires and from dozen to
fifteen lights His annual bill, he said,
under the contract system was S12450. The
second year he began TO burn natural gas
under the meter system. That year. at
the l0-cent meter rate. his bill was $51.S2.
or considerably less than half what il was
under the fiat rate The next year his bill
was $5151; the next, S5706; the next, $3.50;
the next $50 30; the next, Sf944: the next,
SOL .SS the next, S5972; the next, $500; the
next, $40S0; the next, $30.16: the next, SIS.
That brought him up 10 this year, he said,
and since Jan. ], 1902. his gas bills have
footed up to about 81. i present these
figures for themselves, said Mr.. Borst.
II believe that with meters people could
burn gas cheaper than they do now. L am
a firm advocate of the meter system be-
cause / have had experience with il.
The committee much impressed with
Mr.. Borsts statement as 10 his experience
under the meter system, and examined his
tion. Several persons in the rear of the
hall murmured that they believed Mr..
Borst was connected In some way with the
gas companies, he could not have been
able to make such a showing for meters.
George Hitz, a baker. of the South Side
also spoke from the light of experience in
the use OF meters. Il have been burning
gas three years by the meter system" he
said, "for the reason that l did not want
to pay for two kinds OF fuel-gas and coal.
| wanted TO have the satisfaction of paving
for what | got. The first year my gas bills
ran about $2S; the second year about so:
last year they amounted to hardly anything
because | used little gas. | think that IL
people were wasteful with gas even II me-
ters were used IL would cost more than
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