The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-12
Councilman NegIey Instructed by
Resolution TO Vote Against the
Ordinance Pending.
FEW SPEECHES OTHER WAY
CROWD IMPATIENT WITH ARGU-
MENTS IN METERS FAVOR.
Gas Companies Charged with At
tempting TO Hold Up" the
City's Poorer Citizens.

DlSuOus, the majority or First ward cIl-
zens who attended Councilman Negley's
mass meeting in Flashkamp's Hall last
night declared themselves opposed to the
introduction of the meter system at any
price. Nearly 300 constituents of Mr.. Neg
ley packed the hail, and, judging from the
uproarious applause that greeted every
speaker who condemned meters and the
unrestrained disapproval that was flung at
the few who suggested that meters at some
price might be wise, at least three-fourths
of those present were against meters There
was no lack of interest manifested. Near
ly everybody wanted a chance to talk, and
a times only the firmness of the chairman
and the smiling diplomacy of Mr.. Negley
himself prevented chaotic upheaval In
terruptions of speakers were frequent-par-
ticularly of the handful who had kind
things to say Of the meter system-but in
the main the meeting may be regarded as
a fair expression of opinion on the meter
question as it obtains in the First ward.
BY that expression Mr.. Negley, if he hold
to his pledge, will have no other recourse
than to vote against the ordinance now in
the hands of the Council committee on
contracts and franchises.
The views of the majority were set forth
in a resolution presented by Joseph Hoff-
bauer, OF 1415 Hillside avenue. On the
question of the adoption of that resolution
the hottest debate of the night conferred.
A number Of the speakers INDUCED in per-
sOnalities, flinging little sarcastic hits as
to self-interest, but the many condemned
the attitude of the few, and an attempt
was made to confine the discussion to the
asr 81
reasons which impelled speakers to sup
port either the one side or the other. After
a long statement of views by citizens of
the ward. the resolution was passed by a
roar of ayes that made the wooden building
shake. The resolution is as follows:
THE RESOLUTION.
Whereas, For eight years the gas COM
panies of Indianapolis have been trying to
force the use of meters for natural gas
On the people, each time with the cry that
the gas was failing, yet at the same time
one of, the said gas companies has always
had gas and has been Boosting of trans
porting the same to Chicago, and it is a
known fact that factories are getting gas
from the same territory; and.
Whereas, The Consumers Gas Trust
Company reported that il had on hand Oct.
81, 1901, $16S, goo. and ii has received since
then, at a conservative estimate, 500 600,
and IL proposes under the ordinance now
pending TO invest such sum in meters;
therefore, be it
Resolved That il is the sense of this
meeting that such money should be used
for the purpose of drilling more wells and
laying more lines in order that it may sup
ply its patrons with a sufficient supply of
gas instead Of investing it in meters in
order that it may not supply more gas
but get more of the peoples money; and
our councilman vote and do all in his power
on all occasions against any ordinance look
ing TO the compulsory use of meters for
natural gas"
The meeting was opened with a speech
by Mr.. Negley explaining the purpose OF
the call He said: This meeting is called
for the purpose of giving the people of the
First ward a chance to express their views
on the question of natural gas meters,
which means compulsory use Of meters. No
time should be allotted to any one who is
who is simply an agitatOr from the outside.
The people Of the ward are quite competent
to settle their own questions in their own
way. When this matter came up before
announced that L opposed meters, and my
constituents took me at my word, and !
was gratified to find that few even ques-
toned me as to how l would vote At the
last city election / again pledged myself
against meters, and again they took the
view that l was sincere. / say once more
tonight that / am still opposed TO meters
of the citizens of the ward are for meters.
AS the chairman of the meeting Mr.. Neg
ley introduced John V. Coyner as one who
was neither an opponent nor a partisan OF
the ordinance, and, therefore, well calcu-
lated to preside impartially. Mr.. Coyner
said that he had never used gas and was
not familiar with the points of the Ques-
ton. He limited the time of speeches to
five minutes. The chairman neglected 70
rule that no speaker might speak twice
and several pronounced enemies of meters
1plrn d nv q of a = Y
had more than one emphatic say. 1t was
noticeable that friends of the meter were
not urged to give their views more than
once.
MAYOR CAUGHT A TRICKSTER.
About this time Mayor Bookwalter en-
tered the hall, and, edging his way through
the crowd, found a seat in an inconspicu-
Gus part of the hall. He did not escape
the notice of one person, however. little
later in the meeting, when the arguments
were flying thick and fast, this person, with
an eye on the mayor, said loudly: Il am
through with the Republicans. have been
a stanch supporter of the ticket, but this
meter question has finished me. L am done
! with the lot" The mayor turned in his
| seat, and In the utmost good humor said
Look here, my friend. / know you. You
| are a Democrat from Haughville, and have
| voted the Democratic ticket ali your life
Amid a howl of laughter the champion oil
/ principles sat down discounted The mayor
| sat through the meeting, paying careful
attention TO the many speakers. At the
| close he made the observation that senti-
! ment in the First ward seemed against the
/ meter ordinance.
The speeches, that came fast, were moi
i confined to a discussion Of the resolution
/ but treated Of everything along gas-Ques-
\ ton lines. \ number took a shot at cor
/ porations In general, and a few insisted
/ that the whole meter question Is but an
/ other attempt Of the rich man to take from
\ the poor working man the little that he
/ has. Many of the speakers had an impas-
| stoned eloquence that left no doubt of theil
/ sincerity, whatever the correctness of their
/ conclusions. They dealt for the most part
/ in words of few syllables but their Ian
/ guage, while sometimes not exactly coher-
! ent, was sufficiently plain not 10 be mis-
/ understood, Frequently they expressed dis
| taste by syblllant Kisses and rOars Of ''Sit
/ down Sit down. Usually the WOuld-bt
/ speaker sat without more ado.
Amos Marshall took the first shot at the
meter ordinance. There Is enough gas
/ he said, If they would only give liz 10 US
| But these fellows in the gas company are
shrewd They have found out that they
| can pipe their supply TO Chicago and get
50 cents for IT, How long would il be if the
/ meter system were put in here that they
/ would be asking for another ordinance
| making the price % cents in INDIANAPOLIS?
Hoffbauer then presented the resolutions
! which Drought 70 MS feet NJ. l.. ClawsOn
one OF the Few friends OF the meter In the
/ house. We ought TO come here with plair
/ horse sense" said Clawson. Don't come
\ here with your minds filled full of un.
! reasoning pFeJuolce. What We want TO dC
i Is 10 get at some way to increase our gas
/ supply. We want more gas for all the
| people. We want To let our councilman
| know how we stand and to back him VI