Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-24
Calls For Dollar Gas in 1911,
Instead of Three Years La
ter.-.$1.1O at Once
DISCUSSION OVER COMMITTEE
Mayor is Called Upon to Adopt Both
Committees Report and Proposed
Ordinance = City Makes Formal De-
mand by Resolution for Expert to Go
On company's Books.

opinion that the special committee APP
pointed to investigate the rates on
gas and electric lights has not yet
fulfilled it's mission, and has not ascer-
tanned all that was expected of 1t In
! order to permit the council to vote
intelligently, discussion that grew
spirited at times developed in the adj
/, journed session Of the city council
Monday night.
| The special committee Monday night
!; made a report on Its findings. and the
, fight arose over the adoption Of the re-
port. Likewise was the same kind OF
a contest waged over the motion to
formally adopt new compromise ord
! nance. calling for dollar gas In 1911
instead Of 1914, as the company pro-
posed.
| In each instance the vote Of Mayor
Ingledue was necessary to decide the
question, the council being divided half
and half.
! nc AOtnNutSS0oS tNCPOTSs
! The committees report was innocent
enough, and on it's bare face would not
/ give any evidence of promoting any
discord. Chairman Mcdonald read the
report, which declared:
It's belief that gas and electric light
rates to be excessive, and should be
reduced.
That the committee cannot agree on
j fair terms with the gas and electric
! light company.
The recommendation Of the adoption
! Of the annexed ordinance fixing gas
! rates.
1 Further time on the electric light rate
ordinance.
! The report was signed by all of the
members Of the committee with the
exception Of Gregory.
/ Gregory Explains Position.
! Mr.. Gregory explained why he had
not signed the report. He agreed with
| 1t in the main, but he did not care to
affix his name to a report that declared
4 that the committee and the company
/ could not agree on fair terms. He took
! this position because he did not be-
! lieve the committee had done its full
duty. He did not believe the gas COM
I pany had been given a fair chance as
yet, and until the company's books
were looked into, and the cost of pro-
duction ascertained, he did not think
! any member of the council knew
whether the city was entitled to dollar
gas or not, or whether the council
could legally make an ordinance COM
pelling dollar gas. Neither was Gregory
sure whose report was up for adoption,
| one written by the committee, or by
the mayor and city attorney. AS one
! member Of the committee he declared
he had not been consulted.
| Devine on Same Ground.
| Devine took the same ground. He
did not think the committee had yet
. fulfilled its mission, and he did not
believe the council could, or should be
asked, to vote on any ordinance intel
| ligently until the city council knew the
cost Of the production of gas.
company's Change Of Heart.
According to both Devine and Greg
DRY the gas company has changed its
tack, and instead Of Directing to the
city examining its books, 1t is now
willing to permit an examination to be
| conducted. DR.. Devine stated that
President Jones had informed him that
he would be willing to permit the city
to select an expert to examine the
company's books, and would be will
ing to pay for the examination. Mr..
Gregory stated that Mr.. Jones had told
him that he would show the commit
tee the company's books, but that he
did not want the figures made public.
On the adoption Of the committees
report the vote was as follows: Ayes
Good Herman, Mcdonald, Psenicka,
and Young; nays-Clark, Devine,
Gregory, Jay, and McMains. The chair
voted aye.
Proposed New Gas Ordinance.
The proposed new gas ordinance was
then offered by Mr.. Mcdonald. 1t was
brief and to the point, and its pro-
visions call for the following:
Beginning Jam I, 1909 and turnout
| the year 1909, a rate for gas not to ex-
coed s11o per thousand cubic feet.
Beginning Jan. 1, 1910, s1.05 per
thousand cubic feet
Beginning Jan. 1, 1911, 81 per thou
sand cubic feet.
Beginning Jan. 1, 1912, and thereaft-
err, not to exceed 81 per thousand cubic
feet.
The ordinance is to become effective
Jan. 1, 1909. The penalties for viola
tions are minimum fine of $40, and
maximum Of $780,
On, the vote to formally adopt the
ordinance the vote stood exactly the
same as on the committees report, and
Mayor Ingledue cast the deciding vote
ON the adoption. The ordinance will
come up for further consideration at
the next meeting of the council.
Formal Demand for Expert.
Acting on the suggestion of City At
torney Northup, after DR.. Devine's
statement quoting President Jones on
the matter of examining the company's
books, Mcdonald offered a resolution
that was unanimously adopted. The
resolution authorizes the city attorney
to enter into stipulation with Jones
& Hovey, permitting the city of Mar
shalltown to select an expert to go into
the company's books and ascertain the
physical value of the company's prop
erty, the company to bear the expense
of the experts services.
Ratifes Bridge Agreement.
The city council Monday night rat
flied the report of the special committee
appointed to confer with the board OF