The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-11
BY the Special Committee and
It Presented Data Bearing
Out Fact That Many Cities
Demand Il.
CORPORATION TAX is
CAUSE OF WRANGLING
But the Report of Committee,
Denouncing the Federal
Statute, Was Passed by a
Very Small Majority.

The Commercial club rooms last
night were the scene of some spirited
and heated debates on matters of vital
Importance to the city of Richmond.
Reports were heard from various COM
mittees and the session lasted until
almost midnight, the members being
occupied a greater portion of that
time in arguing questions pertaining
to the business interests of the city.
In regard to the report submitted by
the committee on Public Service Cor
porations. relative to the franchise
which is being sought by the Rich
mond Natural Gas company, to manu-
facture artificial gas, there was lively
discussion between the club members
before the report was finally referred
back to the committee for further in
vestigation. According to the report,
SO-cent gas with a discount of 10 per
cent, making the net price 72 cents.
was advocated. The franchise calls
for 0OAcent gas The members desir-
ed to know, what right the committee
had to base any price on the gas. as it
was not acquainted with the conditions
as they exist in Richmond in regard to
what it costs to produce artificial gas
in this city.
Defense Of Committee.
In defense Of this argument the COM
mittee stated that it had arrived at the
rate by drawing a comparison with
other cities, and had ample data at
hand to justify such conclusion.
at indianapolis four years ago by Sen
Rtor Cox, information was obtained
from all over the world relative to the
rate of gas in the various cities. This
information was obtained from Sena-
tor Cox for the benefit of the local
committee and it was largely as re-
suit of this knowledge that the rate
for this city was fixed at so cents. with
the ten per cent discount. 1t was
found that the average reduction or
decline in the price of gas during the
last ten years has been at the rate of
A.. per cent per annum. In other
words, if the same rate of decrease in
the price of gas should continue for
the next ten years as it has in the last
ten years. the price of gas ten years
hence should be 45 per cent less than
1t is at the present time.
List Of City Rates.
1t was found that in 81 of the prin-
cipal cities of the United States. three
cities have a 3OAcent rate: four cities
have a 5O-cent rate: six cities have a
GtAcent rate: five cities have a 10-cent
rate; thirteen cities have 1o-ceut
rate; eighteen cities have an SO-cent
rate; fourteen cities have an S5-cent
rate: nineteen cities have 9ocent
rate and seven cities have a 95-cent
rate.
The motion was made that the city
employ an expert to investigate the
condition of the Richmond Natural
Gas plant and make an estimate as to
what additional work is necessary to
manufacture gas taking into considera-
tion the fact that the natural gas is
used in the manufacture of the artifi-
cial gas. 1t Is thought that the opin-
ion OF an expert in the matter of what
It would cost to manufacture artificial
gas in this city, would be OF untold val
ue and Of lasting benefit.
A Right to Purchase.
1t was suggested that q clause be in
serted in the franchise prohibiting q
sale or transfer Of the plant or fran
chise without the consent of the coun-
ell. This clause will be inserted for
the protection OF the city, 1t is said.
and to prevent one corporation from
buying the concern and obtaining a
monopoly on the business. 1t is de-
sired that two companies be kept in
active competition and 1t is believed
that this is the only means to get
cheaper gas for the city. The report
ri the committee, which i composed