Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-09
GAS INSPECTORS
OFFICE ABOLISHED
W0MANS LETTER STlRS UP
TROUBLE
Demands That Something Be Done TO
Better Conditions or That City
Assume Municipal Con-
troll Of Plant

The position of gas Inspector, which
was established about year and a
half ago by the city council, was
abolished by that body yesterday
afternoon. For the major portion Of
the period the inspectors report to
the council consisted of statements
that one or two or possibly five meters
had been inspected.
Three days ago the Inspector was
delgeated by the mayor, the city at
torney ana the board of public works
TO find out Just what was the matter
With the equipment of the gas COM
pany and why the service which they
were giving was so very poor.
The council was not notified of the
new work of the inspector and when
the report of that official consisting
. of a statement that two meters had
peen inspected and 81 collected was
read to that body, on motion of Coun-
Gilman Smith, the office of gas inspec-
tor was abolished
According to the members of the
council the gas inspector has accomp-
Ished nothing of practical value since
his advent to office and to stop the
drain of $125 n month on the city
treasury, the office was abolished.
During the year and a half the in
spector Is said to nave accomplished
nothing he was permitted to hold his
position, but as soon as he was placed
in position to aid the gas consumers
of the city by finding out why the
gas supply was no better he was sum-
marily discharged by the council.
Letter Starts Excitement
The agitation in the council regard
ing the gas supply was started by a
letter written to that body by Mrs
A. E. Parker, 518 East Twelfth street
Mrs. Parker wrote an appeal to the
council to remedy the gas conditions
in some manner and recommended
municipal ownership of a gas plant
Her letter which stirred up all the ex-
citement and caused the council to
abolish the office of gas inspector was
as follows:
ITO the city council:
us there not some redress that can
be expected from the outrageous
charges and service of the Los Angeles
Gas and Electric company? My gas
bill has just come in, amounting to
$2S.15. Last month it was $17.35 and
for the greater part of the past two
weeks ] have had absolutely no gas
for lights or cooking and have had to
depend on delicatessens and wood
heating stoves to cook a meal.
II have an apartment house and
during all of last winter my highest
bill was S21.25 and this outrageous
charge, considering the poor quality
of the gas furnished and the most of
the time being without even a glim-
mer, is something that 1 think the
city council should endeavor to stop
by municipal ownership of the gas
plant.
Less Cas-; Higher Bills
1.-THE gas company gave as an ex-
cuse that the lower the pressure of
gas the higher the meter registered.
This l cannot understand, as the most
1.a. 1,A - Ia,,-t ,k
all, and according to their theory. the
less gas you burned the more your
bill would amount to.
IT wish TO add my protest to the
number I understand have already
, been sent you, with the earnest hope
that something will be done in the
near future to put stop to the gas
company's robbery of the people who
have to deper d on them for light and
heat. MRS. A. e. PARKER.
1913 East Twelfth street,
After the decision was made that the
position of gas inspector be abolished
Councilman Houghton made a motion
that the council appoint a committee
of private citizens to organize gas
company and build a plant by issuing
scrip good for gas. He asserted that
he could raise $150,OO0 for such pro-
ject in three hours There was no
second to his motion.
After the conclusion of the council
session Councilman Harmon stated
that he believed that the mayor would
not approve the repeal of the ordin-
ance providing for gas inspector and
also said that when the matter next
came before the council he would in
sist that no fee be charged for in
specting meters. His argument was
that more meters would be inspected
if no cost were attached than is now
the case.