The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-09-23

tprofit for rs cents per 1000 feet. Con-
ltinuing, he said that some time ago the
Bridgeport Gas company had been fur
Inishing the same kind of gas which the
New Haven company was now making
to the large consumers for % cents per
1000 feet, and to the small consumers
for so cents per 1000 feet. He then said
that about year ago the company sold
Iout to another company in the same
town, and that when the two CONSOLE
dated the price of gas went up. The
speaker then said: 81 was talking to
lone of the stockholders of the New Ha-
lven Gas company the other day and he
said that the plant was worth $4,000, 0OO
If this is so the city assessors do not
know their business, as they only as
Isessed a taxation on this property last
year to the amount of $1,200,000. They
Twill probably discover their mistake
this year and assess it the full S6,0O0,0O0
This will benefit the city to the extent
lof about 100000 more in taxes, but if
they take the word of the gas house
Ihirelings when the time comes it will
lremain the same.
ST think it is worth, at the most, be-
tween 100000 and 100000, and the
lcity ought to get it for at least that
amount and have good investment"
William Gilfillan then made a. very
linpassioned speech, saying in part:
l"What's the use of harping about the
buying of the old trash belonging to the
lGas company when the city can build
an entirely new plant for very little
money? What right has the Gas COM
lpany to control the streets of New Ha-
lven, which belong to the citizens, and
Hay it's pipes where it likes? The peo-
lple's rights are being outraged by the
treatment which they are receiving at
1.-THE hands of the Gas company. The
lstuff which it is selling for gas is also
an outrage. My house is sight from
burning it. A continued use Of 1t would
ruin most anything My meter even
has become clogged up, which would be
an impossibility if the gas was all right.
Whats the use of talking about the
lgiving away of gilt-edged rights which
belong to the people and which should
be of some benefit to the people? The
lGas company has no right to tear up
1.-THE streets the way it does. This talk
lof not being able to bond the city Is
iIhumbug. I lived in Syracuse during the
thine they We're having their controNer-
lsy about water, and the people finally
demanded municipal plant and got It,
1.-THE city now has the plant paid for and
lis making money by the ownership. /
make a motion that the committee be
authorized to recommend that the city
build a new gas plant Of its own. Why
1does not some corporation take con-
tract for the city sewers? Very likely
because there is no money In 1t.
Mr.. Gilfillan then made another mo-
ltion that the matter be put TO a vote
lof the people at the next election in this
lefty.
i Lynn w. Wilson was the next speaker.
He said: 1t does not rest with the alder
linen what shall be done. 1t rests with
the people. The law is that the alder
linen must pass Judgment on the matter,
hut it is the peoples interest which has
got to be looked out for, All they can
do is to leave it to the public and give
them chance to do what they consider
wise in the matter and ! think this
i committee is honest enough to give
i them a chance. The two questions OF
Importance in this matter is what could
the city buy the plant for and how
would it profit by it? A legal decision
i has recently been rendered by one Of
4 the highest courts in this state that a
i franchise right has not legal value. II
i the city wanted to buy the plant it
Il ought to purchase 1t for its actual cost,
II regardless Of its franchise WORTH He
i then by a series of figuring attempted to
show how. if the city purchased the
lplant and bonded itself to do so. 1t
lcould get its money back in from sew
enteen to twenty years. at which time
Z the plant would have paid for itself and
the city would own it outright and have
1t as source Of revenue. @ IA;
4 Mr.. Gilfillan again took the floor. He
said: 81 have learned since last spoke
that we are living under system of
bosses and that they have fixed the
laws so that the people cannot take
possession Of what rightly belongs to
them. If rs per cent. of the people will
stand by me in this matter / will
+ change the entire organic law of the
Estate. The people have been and are
being outraged by private corporations.
The city owns the streets and they have
4 a right to do as they choose with them.
We will elect people to the legislature
next time who will not be governed by
politicians and bosses so that the peo-
pie are kept in a sort of slavery. Each
person has his own individual rights,
and a combination of those rights
should govern"
James Malone then told how success
lful municipal ownership had been in
Cleveland, O.. .r'..
Charles Gay then spoke again. He
said: 1.-THE gas company cannot charge
for the franchise which it has nor can
Int get the same amount for the old plant
which it could if it was new. / do not
think that ii could possibly claim over
81. 100000 for its present interests. If
the city will only take the plant it will
discontinue the robbing of the. people
and the public will get good gas. I
think that $650000 is a reasonable as
sessment and the CITY ought to buy it
flor that" Az, ~ IL, Il y. 49, %s
One or two others spoke briefly, after
which the meeting was adjourned until
next Thursday night at o'clock when
liz will be continued, ..
4