The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-09
Attitude of A. A. barnes Was Unlocked
for in View of His Previous Ex-
pressiOns of Opinion.
MAI. W. J. RICHARDS OBJECT
HE DESIRED To HAVE A LEGAL
OPINION FAvORING THE PUBLIC.
Intention of the Majority Manifest, He
Says, In Selecting the Committee
"A Sacred Duty.

The surprising outcome Of the meeting Of
the new board of directors of the Con-
sumers' Gas Trust Company is matter OF
general comment. 1t was anticipated that
five Of the directors would stand for the
interests OF the consumers and that four
would maintain the rights of the stock
holders. and that some action would be
taken leading eventually TO the continuance
OF the company a manufacturer OF art-
fcal gas. The result was the exact OPP
posite. Five of the board came out for the
stockholders as against any interests the
public may have, and the other four, under
the leadership of Major w. j. Richards.
were opposed impeded and their PROPOSE
tions and suggestions amended and modi-
fed, If adopted at all. The majority OF the
board made it very plain that the people
have little to expect, and that the affairs
OF the company will be wound up if they
have 1T in their power.
The attitude of Mr.. A. A. Barnes. the
new president of the Consumers Gas Trust
Company, in the board meeting was a mat
ter OF surprise to the four new directors.
1t had been understood by Major Richards
and those who stand with him that Mr..
Barnes would support the proposition to
due and to place them in the same position
with the rest of the public, in order to pave
the way for the reorganization of the COM
pany's affairs. 1t was also understood that
Mr.. Barnes favored the continuance of the
company as a manufacturer of artificial
gas. Major Richards and his supporters
went into the directors meeting counting
on Mr. Barnes's support. When it came TO
with Mr.. Frenzel. Mr.. Lyman and the old
regime. The result was that the new MEM
bers, representative of public sentiment,
found themselves in the minority.
MAJOR RICHARDSS OPINION.
Little else can be seen in the action of
the majority in voting to select attorneys
out Of the city to give an opinion as TO the
powers and duties of the company than a
purpose to secure legal advisers who will
return exactly the same opinion that was
given the trustees by Mr.. Hackney. Mr..
Smith and Mr.. Daniels. 1t is apparent
that the majority of the board desires an
opinion which will back them up in winding
UP the affairs of the company. There is
little in their action that is satisfactory
to the public. My WISH and the wish of
the gentlemen who voted with me, was to
have three men selected who would return
an opinion on the other side of the ques-
ton; who would differ, IL you please, with
Messrs. Daniels, Smith and Hackney.
believe that in this manner the true legal
status can be obtained. BY comparing the
opinion Of the one side and the opinion of
the other the people could draw their own
conclusions, obtain their own deductions
and settle the rights of the matter for
themselves. The majority evidently does
not want anything of that sort. They want
another set Of opinions which will say that
the stockholders have all the rights and
that the consumers have none.
when President Barnes announced the
committee to select the three lawyers my
name was announced first, and IL was my
understanding that l was meant for chair
man of the committee but when the written
list was prepared Mr.. SCOTS name was
placed first and he made the chair
man. The personnel of the committee nat
urally favors the majority. Mr.. John Z.
Scott does not hesitate to say that he stands
| with the old crowd He is besides lawyer
| and understands the legal phrases Of these
matters; Mr.. Atkins is not lawyer. | am
| not a lawyer myself. However, / have
taken my stand plainly. ard do not intend
| to spare any energy in fighting for the in
terests Of the public.
A SACRED DUTY.
| at regard it as more or less a sacred
| duty. 1t does not seem to me that in righ
and justice there can be two sides to the
| question. Obstacles have been raised anC
legal difficulties have been thrown in tn,
| way, but / do believe there is one of these
which could not be disposed OF without
| great difficulty"
| Major Richards was a very sick mar
when he attended the meeting Of the board
/ of directors, and was able only with the
| greatest difficulty to remain through the
meeting. He was much better YESTERDAY
| and expects to be out to-day