The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-17
Republican Party, He Says, Is Pledged
to Oppose the Proposition and
Should he Consistent.
JOHN R. PEARSON'S STATEMENT
RESPONSIBILITY RESTS ON CITY AD-
MINISTRATION, HE SAYS.
His Company Ready to Quit Natural
Gas Business-COnference Re-
garding New

Mayor Bookwalter met the Republican
members of the Council at his office yes
terday afternoon. All were there except
Councilman Cooper, who is out of the city.
The mayor told the members that he had
sent for them TO discuss two subjects with
them. One was the natural-gas question.
He told them he felt they should be made
to understand his opposition TO the or
dinance before the Council requiring the
use of meters, and that they should not
vote for it. He said he wished every man
to vote his honest judgment, but he felt
the party was committed against meters
and should not alter it's position.
The councilmen discussed the question
informally for an hour with the mayor.
Some expressed the belief that the subject
ought to be disposed of soon, in order to
relieve the position of the gas companies.
Another resented the action of the mayor
in advance of even committee action on
the ordinance now pending. From the dis
cussion, as reported by members, there is
little likelihood of the measure coming be-
fore the Republicans in party caucus, and
when it does come up for a vote each man
will be free to vote as he chooses.
John r. Pearson, assistant TO the presi-
dent of the Indianapolis Gas Company.
said yesterday that no time had been set
for the termination of the company's
natural-gas business in case the require
ment of meters failed. THE responsibility
in the whole matter" he said. now rests
with the mayor and the Council. The In
dianapolis company has sought TO demon
strate by every fair means the emergency
that faces the city. We have found it i'm
possible to continue business under the
present system, which permits the sur
reptitious and unlawful use of gas, which
allows wasteful use and provides no econ
omy, and we are ready to quit. L repeat,
the responsibility has passed from this
company and now rests with the city adj
ministration."
THE COMMITTEES ACTION.
Chairman Negley, of the on
contracts and franchises, before which the
meter ordinance is now pending action, left
the city yesterday, but before leaving called
a meeting of the committee to be held at
the city clerks office Monday evening at
7:90 o'clock. AT that time said Mr.. Neg
ley, u shall be ready to sign a report
recommending that the ordinance do not
pass. If three other member will join with
me a majority report against the ordinance
will be presented at the meeting of the
Council Immediately after the committee
meeting Mr.. Negley would not say that
he was sure three other members would
join him. Other members of the committee
say there will be no report upon the ordl-
nance at all and that it will not be brought
up before the Council.
An idea exists that the companies, If they
received the privilege of establishing the
meter system at satisfactory rates, would
depend on the Indiana field for an increased
supply. 1t is pointed out that this is not
true. as the syndicate that owns the Indian
apolis company and has large holdings in In
diana and Ohio, has leased large areas of
gas territory in Kentucky and West Vir-
ginia. with a view of piping gas into this
State. Already West Virginia gas is piped
into Ohio. The supply in that State is OBJ
tanned in a region where there never will be
a large population. 1t is found in a sand
stratum at an original pressure of as high
as 1900 pounds. Gas from this field is now
used largely to supply P~ittsburg: 1t is
shown that the expense of bringing this
supply here would be too large to be con-
sidered without an adequate meter rate.
John r. Pearson said last night the
stories that the new gas holder the Indian
apolis company is TO build north of Fall
creek is to be for fuel gas is absurd. He
says it will be used only for artificial gas.
He also said that the story that the Indian
apolis company would arrange to turn its
gas territory in this State over to the Con-
sumers' Trust was equally absurd.
NECESSITY FOR PESTHOUSE.
The other question the mayo brought up
was the pending ordinance providing an
appropriation of s13, 500 for the purchase of
ground outside the city limits and the erec-
ton thereon of a hopsital for contagious
diseases. The mayor called attention to
the continued prevalence of smallpox at a
time when it should practically abate. The
time to be consumed in passing the ordi-
nance, in advertising it and in planning
and building the hospital would, he said,
bring the new institution in just at a time
when a probably larger epidemic than has
before been known would develop. He i'm
pressed the members with the immediate
necessity for the passage of the ordinance,
which has been in the hands of the COM
mittee on finance for two months. The
members concurred with the mayors ex-
preston, although many of them had
hoped TO use the ten acres the city owns
north of Fall creek. where the old pest
house was, for the establishment of the
new one.
The city has already about decided on
the property it will purchase, the cost of
which will be about $4,000. This will leave
$1,000 for improvements and furniture. The
site selected has large area and a large
frame house and barn are on it.
-@-
GAS PRESSURE CASE.