The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-06-11
THE DANGER IN SIGHT.

The gaseous atmosphere having beer
cleared, after fierce contest before thu
City Council, between legal lights prom
inent in their profession and esteemed
as citizens of manly worth, tine field ma.
be surveyed with calmness and delibera
ton.
The issue, from The Caucasian's view
has been plain, and without hesitation
aligned itself in this fight on the side Of
the people, as it did when it stood sin
gle and alone as one of the Shreveport
press in safeguarding the interests OF
the issue preciritated by Hon. Andrew
Queries, when mayor, which led to the
reduction of rates for the electric lights
as prevail today.
Having no interest or concern in
either of the corporations in controversy
over desired privileges, The Caucasian
has never been blinded BY the issue, not
withstanding the cry of Standard Oil
and Implications and insinuations which
could not be sustained and were sug-
gested with the view and intent of arous-
ing prejudice, which, if maintained,
would in time be detrimental to the peo-
pie.
Il IS always prudent for the people to
be on guard when the cry of wolf is
raised BY corporation fighting another.
The cry wolf is suggestive of sinister
motives and Of diabolical intent. 1t is
not only misleading, but may stampede
the crowd to the side crying wolf
AS far as The Caucasian is concerned,
il stands for the consumers, the people
who must pay for all they get, and view
ing dispassionately the situation as it is,
we warn the people to beware, as there
v danger III sight.
= What is the dangerl may be queried
BY the unsophisticated.
The Caucasian will make it plain.
For days the citizens Of Shreveport,
OF al classes, have been reused into a
conmotion of miseonception, intensified
by reports rejecting on the Council and
on individuals seeking gas privileges
from the city. Ii was charged that the
Caddo Gas q Oil Company, of which
S. 5. Hunter IS president, in conjune-
ton with the Shreveport Gas, Electric
Light & Power Company, were resisting
the grant Of franchise to the Atkins
company, which was disproved by the
plain statement Of Hon John D. Wilkin-
son IL addressing the Council yesterday
afternoon, who declared emphatically
that the Atkins company should have
franchise, but the Council should fix
the minimum rates in their charter SO
as to avoid all misunderstanding in the
future Indeed, this feature of the ar
gunent had been fully outlined in The
Caucasian. which pointed out that the
only safeguarding of the people rested
IN the fixing, in plain words, the maxi
mum rates for domestic, public and
purposes.
The Atkins company resisted this
proposition, alleging they could not
float their bonds 10 advantage if re-
strieted from 4 ascent to a ascent rate
% consumers II vas on this issue that
he fight was hot and was misleading, |
Was i the intention of the Atkins
company to supply gas for domestic pur-
loses q for manufacturing purposes7
ne Atkins rates for manufactures
s. or was, cents per. 1000 feet. Men
4 exper ience declare there is more profit |
\ supplying manufactures at 8 cents
han domestic consumers at as cents
herefore il Is fair to assume that the
Atkins company was deliberate in fixing |
he IS cents for the reason that no citi-
esi would want to secure service at as
ents when il could be obtained at the
scent rate. Naturally the opposing
ounpany would not yield the point aud
insisted that the maximum rate be fixed
q al the companies as was outlined in
BE- Sundays Caucasian and 10 which
he Atkins company finally agreed IN
arr
Now. IN this lies the daager:
I'd be thoroughly advised on this sub
scs The Caucasian sought deliberately
ae information from the representa-
ve Of The Caddo Gas & Oil Company
I'D the Shreveport Gas. Electric Light
Power Company IN these words:
"a has been suggested that your com
any viii not accept the amendment to
bur charter when il Is ratified by the
onnen. and that, to use trite express
n' that all this gaseous contention IS
grand stand play I
And be answered thus: I'VE will |
inform strictly 70 The writing, as it is
.nding before the Council. We will
rfy OF every stipulation 81 our agree
emf literally, but # i u weighed down
amendments which Ne could not ae-
p, then We would II self defense have
decline to sisn the agreement :
Assuming that lie proposition 81 the
|ddo an \ GaS Cosnpsry, NJ viii Nv.