The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-11
They Were Read I'm the Meeting and
Were the Subject Of Strenuous and
Emphatic Den-acfatIon.
MAYOR CAST DECIDING VOTE
COUNCIL WAS DIVIDED, SIX FOR
AND SIX AGAINST.
Company Promises to Spend $4,000 In
Drilling New Wells - Decrease
in the Gas supply.
peciaI to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Aug. 10.-After one
of the most exciting sessions OF the City
Council in recent years the ordinance grant
ing the gas company the right 10 install
meters and increase the price per thousand
to 25 cents was passed tonight. There
were six votes in favor and six votes against
the bill, and Mayor Sample. with the Coun-
Gil chamber in perfect calm, voted for IL.
thus closing troublesome question.
The Council chamber was packed. and
the corridors filled when the question
came up. City Attorney Haywood read the
long and complicated ordinance, and votes
were taken, Washburn alone explaining his
vote In the affirmative. When the bin had
passed there howl in the hail. and the
rap for silence by the mayor was unavail-
ing. Captain Clark. of the police. quelled
the noise, and Mr.. flanagan, leader of the
Democracy. which party gave the bill pas
sage, presented an anonymous letter. which
he read. as follows:
II have clipping from an Indianapolis
paper which says that II the lynching habit
continues it will include as victims thieves.
embezzlers, grafters. boodlers (both UNDER
lined) and others of similar character"
ond ward leader a flow of epithets and
adjectives that simply astounded the house.
Mr.. flanagan said had he intended to vote
in the negative the receipt of an anony-
nous letter would have changed his vote
Dr. Washburn. who also voted for the bin.
said he received threatening letter. un-
signed. and he added:
Had the soul which inspired that note
eli datn al I'm ha1l ho
have been a disgrace to the place"
The majority report of the committee. in
favor of the bill, was accompanied by
communication from the gas company
which stated that il the meters were not
adopted there would be little or no supply
of gas this winter, and the meter system
would improve it, The company claims 20
have the right to cut of the gas in any
section of the city when it is thought the
supply will be improved. 1t showed that
the supply of natural gas had decreased
from 100000 to about 100000 feet In the
past five years.
The minority report stated that as the
city would be supplied at present until
September, 1904, there was no need OF
change now.
The new ordinance is in effect for three
years and repeals all other and conflicting
ordinances.
To-night's action followed long delibera-
tions to-day. For three hours this MORN
ing the, committees on natural gas and
ordinances. with the mayor, Richard B
Sample, and City Attorney George p. Hay
wood. wrestled with the gas question
Officials of the gas company were called I'm.
but nothing in the way Of a decision was
accomplished. the committees splitting and
deciding to present two reports.
Samuel L. Murdoch. secretary OF the gas
company. appeared at the meeting and
stated that the company had intended to
spend $40. 900 with which TO bore new wells
out unless the meters were installed this
winter the company could not afford 10 do
IT. One of the councimen made the state
ment that the alleged expenditure was an
effort on the part of the company to COM
pei the people to submit TO the meter propo-
sition through the means Of promise of
Improvement