The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-03
CIRCULAR TO THE PUBLIC
GAS CONSUMERS LEAGUE SENDS OUT
FIVE THOUSAND COPIES.
Chairmen Of subcommittee Are Pre-
pairing Their Reports to President
M'Kay-Meeting Expected Soon.

AS the result of the recent meeting of
the executive committee of the Gas Con-
| sumers' League at the Commercial Club.
Frank w. Olin, chairman of the member
ship committee, has sent out 5000 circular
letters to the public, stating the objects of
the league and calling on the people to
| join the organization. The circular, signed
by the officers and chairman of the league,
Horace Mckay, president; c. E. Merrifield,
secretary; Carl II. Lieber, chairman finance
committee: Lawson NJ. Harvey, chairman
legal committee; Bishop O'Donaghue,
chairman public and legislative committee;
Charles c. Brown. chairman committee on
plans and experts; Frank w. Olin, chair
man membership committee, and Alfred f..
Potts, chairman executive committee, is as
follows:
The Gas Consumers League, composed
or men who have no other than the public
good to serve, has been formed to hold the
Consumers Gas Trust Company to the
primary object of furnishing gas at cost.
The league Is not organized for a day
nor for special occasion but a perma-
| nent bulwark and safeguard against all
present or future attempts TO divert the Con-
sumers' Gas Trust Company into a corpora
| ton for private gain, and TO give moral
| support and financial assistance, if needed,
| to the cause for which the majority of
the present board of directors are loyalty
standing.
4 n. d.
ards. H. G. Atkins. James w. Lilly and
/ Hervey Bates, jr., constituting a majority
/ of the board OF directors of the Consum-
| ers' Gas Trust Company, are working in
harmony to operate and continue said COM
pany for the benefit of the consumers of
/ gas in Indianapolis. They acting upon
| the advice of three eminent ex-judges,
Byron K. Elliott, Daniel Wait Howe and
| Lewis c. Walker, supported by the opinion
| OF fifteen leading lawyers, constituting the
| legal committee of the Gas Consumers
| Indianapolis.
According to their view, the Consumers
| Gas Trust Company has the right, and 1t
/ Is its duty, when natural gas is exhausted,
to manufacture and furnish artificial gas.
These directors, who are working for the
public benefit, are met by the opposition OF
other directors, some of whom are members
| OF the company known as the Eureka In
| vestment Company, which has been buy
| ing and pooling the certificates of the Con-
sumers' Gas Trust Company.
THE Eureka company has organized un-
der cover by dummy incorporators, and
was in fact a scheme of persons who kept
In the background. Its promoters hold
| the view that, when natural gas is ex-
| hausted. the certificate holders of the Con-
| sumers' Gas Trust Company will owe no
further obligations to the public. and that
| they will have right to seize and control
| the property, Notwithstanding the fact that
| the people of Indianapolis. patrons OF
| said company, have returned to the GER
| tificate holders every dollar due them, with
per cent interest added, except $125 per
share. which has been ordered paid. Be
side this, large profits have been made by
the purchase of certificates at less than
par.
ut is therefore felt that the members OF
this pool have neither legal nor moral
| sisted at every step. But, as they have "a
| stake estimated at not less than 81, 100000
II will require vigilance and united effort to
defeat the scheme. This and all similar
| schemes In the future are TO be met by the
Gas Consumers League.
1 THE property of the Consumers Gas
Trust Company Is worth not less than 81
100000. 1t has been paid for by the citizens
| of indianapolis. Every man who invested
or will be, paid In full with per ent. in
| terest. The people have kept their con-
| tract by paying for gas when there was
| very little supplied. The men in the Eureka
| pool and other certificate holders have been
| paid in full what they agreed to accept.
THE question Is whether the people OF
| this city will allow this property which they
estimatable value to them and their chill
| dren, to be appropriated by small body
of spectators and schemers. or will hold
| on to their own and fight for 1t.
You will find inclosed blank form OF
application for membership In the league
| which please sign and return to Frank w
Olin, chairman membership committee
care Commercial Club.
| IF you are already enrolled as mem
| Der, please have some other citizen sign
| and return as above Indicated.
The chairmen of the different committees
are preparing reports to be submitted &c
President Mckay. meeting of the gen.
eral committee will be held in the near
future, although the date has not yet been