The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-11-26
SOLICITOR ANSWERS
CHARGE Of SANDERS;
MAYOR CONCURS
To the Citizens of Canton:

On the floor of the council chamber
last Friday evening, November 20,
Counilman Sanders, as a part of his
defense and excuse made the state
ment that when the mayor and | called
upon him the afternoon of November
II, that told him (Sanders) that the
ordinance of the Canton Gas Light q
Coke company was all right, or in sub
stance to that.
| In reply to this grave charge, must
| in Justice to the mayor and myself
give the following statement of fact:
| On the afternoon of November IL,
about 800 p. M, the mayor and my
self called at Mr.. Sanders place of
| business for the purpose of ascertain
| ing his views upon what action the
council would take concerning the 22
cent rate regulation ordinance for the
East Ohio Gas company which would
be up that evening at the special ad-
| iourned meeting of council I had
heard rumors which left doubt as to
what council intended to do. 1t how
ever was absolutely necessary for the
law department of the city to accurate
ly know whether this East Ohio Gas
ordinance would be passed in order
that the proper legal papers for the
contemplated litigation could he pre-
pared with the object in view of pre-
centing the East Ohio Gas company
from shutting off it's gas from the
consumers of this city, as it had
threatened to do if a rate other than
the one it demanded was provided.
When we arrived at Mr.. Sanders
place of business, we found with him
several other persons and not desiring
to discuss in the presence of these
other persons the purpose of our visit
and disclose the plan of preventing the
gas from being turned off, we waited
until these visitors left. "
Mr.. Sanders, the mayor and myself
then went over the rate regulation or
dinance for the East Ohio Gas COM
pany, which was drawn up by the law
department There was also a dis
cussion of the probability of the COM
pany turning off the gas and l ex-
planned to Mr.. Sanders various steps
necessary in my judgment to protect
the city and that if the East Ohio
Gas company's ordinance went
/ through, it would be necessary to Of
fer certain resolutions empowering the
solicitor to act and take such legal
steps as the premises require. Var
ious minor matters were talked Of.
told Mr. Sanders that, in my judg-
ment, the ordinance regulating the
price of gas for the East Ohio Gas
company, as drawn by the law depart
ment was correct.
1 During the entire conversation, the
franchise ordinance of the Canton Gas
Light & Coke company was not men
toned | was not worried about this
coke company's ordinance, for l be-
lieved that the objections l had pre-
pared and would suggest at council
that evening were sufficient to prevent
its passage and would so appear to
every member of the council
| came to the conclusion that the
rate ordinance for the East Ohio Gas
company would probably be passed
The mayor and myself hurried to the
mayors office to make arrangements
for officers to guard the shut-offs, and
l returned to my Office to complete the
preparation of the legal documents to
prevent the gas being shut off. That
same evening, the evening of Novem-
ber II, the council met in special ad-
| journed session to consider the rate
regulation for the East Ohio Gas COM
4 pany and the franchise ordinance for
the Canton Gas Light & Coke COM
pany. Council passed the ordinance
for the East Ohio Gas company. Sub
seuuently three resolutions which
had prepared and given to Mr.. San
ders at the council meeting were pre-
sented by Mr.. Sanders, relative to the
East Ohio Gas company's ordinance,
empowering the solicitor to commence
litigation.
| want to call particular attention
4 to the balance of the council proceed
ings on this evening in question, that
is the evening of November II. At this
council meeting l submitted and read
written report on the franchise or
dinance of the Canton Gas Light &
Coke company, and Mr.. Sanders was
present at that time. My report spe-
officially pointed out numerous objec-
tions in this ordinance, calling the
attention of council to the fact that
no definite rate was provided for nat
ural gas, under all circumstances; the
absence of a clause to compel the
company to continuously supply gas;
that there was no provision made for
meters and other defects. The entire
report being, | believe, matter of
record. This report was no sooner
made when the chairman of the Or
dinance committee moved to take a
recess of ten minutes for the purpose
of considering the objections and sug-
gestions of the solicitor. Accordingly
the council took recess of ten min
utes and the ordinance committee re-
tired. In about ten minutes council
again went into session and the or
dinance committee returned. It's chair
man reported that IL had considered
the objections and suggestions of the
solicitor and found insubstance thai
the report of the solicitor was not
entitled to any weight, and that the
ordinance was entirely satisfactory
It made this report though every OBJ
lection and suggestion of the solic'
itor was vital and to the point.
The chairman of the ordinance com,
mittee then moved that the rules be
suspended and the ordinance be pass
ed in the ordinary manRer.
The statement of the chairman OF
the committee that his franchise for
the Canton Gas Light & Coke COM
pany was correct and that my written
and o,so aacFfono mana ,.tar3b