The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-07
John IL. Pearson Says the Indianapo-
lis Company VIII Not Consider
Anything Less.
CONSUMERS COMPANY POSITION
THE TIME NOT RIPE FOR AN ABsO-
Lutte ULTIMATUM.
Labor Unions Adopt Resolutions
Against the Introduction of Com
pulsOry Meter System.

Through prominent officials both the In
dianapols Gas Company and the Consum-
ers' Gas Trust Company announced yes
terday that their proposition to the mayor
and Council to furnish natural gas by
meter measurement only, at a rate of %
cents per 1000 cubic feet, is not open to
compromise, and that the 25-cent rate is the
lowest that can be accepted by the COM
panies Speaking for the Indianapolis Gas
Company, John r. Pearson made the direct
statement that unless his company is
thorized to charge % cents per 1000 cubic
feet President Hastings would adhere to
his determination to withdraw from Indian
apolis May l.
For the Consumers Gas Trust Company
John P Frenzel, while not desirous of be-
ing quoted to the effect that the Consum-
ers' company would refuse absolutely to
make lower rate than % cents intimated
strongly that the matter had been figured
so closely that the company could not seri-
ously consider any other rate. Both Of
fcials declare that the communications TO
the mayor and Council are perfectly sin
cere. contain nothing misleading or am
biguous and were arrived at only after a
most thorough study of the gas situation.
business in indianapolis, but that figures
compel them TO believe that nothing less
than a 25-cent rate would be acceptable to
their stockholders.
AGAINST LOWER RATE.
would the Indianapolis Gas Company
agree to fix a lower meter rate than %
cents?" John r. Pearson was asked yes
terday. THAT is to say, If the question
pulsory simmered down to the point as to
whether your company would make. for in
stance, a 2O-cent rate, would it be ac-
cepted?"
'I have no hesitation in saying no." said
Mr. Pearson. From my knowledge of the
attitude of President Hastings and the
demands of the stockholders / am conf
dent that nothing less than a 25-cent rate
could be accepted"
Suppose that a Council committee were
to be appointed TO arbitrste the rate ques-
tion with a committee from your COM
pany. and the whole matter came down TO
a question of agreeing on what rate should
be charged would there be a possibility OF
Mr. Hastings's decision being changed2"
mo again" said Mr.. Pearson. 'The
company has figured the Question Of rate
down 10 what 1 consider the lowest under
which il could maintain business In In
dianapOlis. I want to say that the letter
we sent TO Council is not a bluff i'm any
sense of the term: il is a plain matter-of-
fact statement Of what we consider our po-
sltion and just needs. The company has
figured closely on the rate: IL has not gone
into the question in haphazard fashion.
We ask the officials and the people i'm a
I business-nke way to give meters a a
rate which we know positively is not ex-
/ cessive
''If it is a fact that in a number of
/ other cities gas companies give the con-
sumers a rate of % cents, why would II
not be possible for the Indianapolis COM
pany 10 do the same p
THE AVERAGE METER PRICE.
"In the first place, the reply, 'I
/ know that the average rate charged in
I other cities is. more than 20 cents or more
I than - cents. for that matter. You Will
/ find that I'm other places where very low
rate is charged the supply IS far more
than we have here. or else there are other
local circumstances that enter into the
/ matter. IL we are 10 be put 10 the great
/ expense Of furnishing meters free 10 the
i consumers. as we propose 10 do. that item
+ in itself would entail upon the company
so much expense that nothing less than a
/ 25-cent rate could be thought Of
Il am at a loss 10 understand" ne con-
tinued why IL ~ that people will pay
/ 81 a thousand feet for artificial gas for use
in their cook stoves and then complain at
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