El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-21
SWEENEY SAYS
CHS COMPANY
FAITHLESS
Declares Officials Promised
to Reduce Cost to Con
sumers and Failed
CITY COUNCIL
HOLDS HEARING

That the gas company officials have
broken faith in their promise to him
to reduce the price of gas. was the
declaration of former mayor Jos. o.
Sweeney to the city council Friday
afternoon
Henry NJ. Walker and T. C. Standish
also appeared before the council as a
committee from the Central Labor
union and asked for a reduction in the
gas rate
Former mayor Sweeney said he was
merely there TO explain the part that
he had taken toward securing cheaper
gas for the city and he said ne did not
think the gas company was living up
to its promise to him just before his
retirement from office
All members Of the council were
present and listened to the arguments,
but there were no representatives OF
the gas company on hand and nothing
was done IN the matter However, a
meeting will be held with the gas au-
thorities when their attorneys return
to the city.
During the presentation of argu-
ments for cheaper gas, Walker said
that gas can be produced cheaper in
FL Paso than in any other city In the
state and yet the rate is higher. San
Antonio" he said, furnishes 90 cent
gas. Fort Worth has natural gas Aus
tin charges $3.50 per 1000 cubic feet
with a 20 cent reduction and pays for
common L. Dor s1-75 per diem, while the
rate Of labor in FL Paso is sL35-"
Chairman Hewitt, of the councilmanic
committee, asked: How many con-
sumers have they?" But none could
tell and he took the stand that this
would make considerable difference
Sweeney's Statement
Former mayor Sweeney said: This is
not my fight I am here to state con-
ditions The franchise was granted
the gas company with the understand
ing that it should make a maximum
charge Of $40 per 1000 cubic feet for
gas, this rate to be changed by the
council when it should see fit and
there should be a discount Of 20 cents
per 1000 cubic feet when used as
fuel The people Of FL Paso are getting
only 10 cents discount
IF this franchise is right then the
gas company violated It not only while
I was in office but before that time"
Mr.. McGhee said: The rate was fixed
at $40 and they have reduced it
cents"
sweeney said: a am the only man
living except Geo s. Goodnow, presi-
dent and 7. J. Jones, local manager
of the gas company. who knows Of
the agreement made to reduce the rate
TO SI35"
Mayor Kelly here interposed: ct is
not the purpose of this council to de-
fend the gas company We are here
to get at the bottom Of this
The Proposed Reduction.
now and Mr. Jones called upon me at
the time I was preparing my final
message I told them we ought to
have sl.20 or s1.25 gas, but they finally
agreed that we should have S1.35 gas
in SO or 60 days.
at that time they were making
water gas, a most dangerous kind,
which caused the asphyxiation of eight
persons
Mayor Kelly then said: 'I have been
working with Mr.. Jones ever since I
took office and he has been securing
data for his people to determine if
they can give US cheaper gas. When
they refuse to act, then it will be time
for the people to force them to. But
they have not yet refused. I am not
defending the gas company; I am sim
ply stating conditions They have not
shown bad faith
Sweeney said: 'They showed bad
faith with me; they promised a reduc-
tion IN so or 60 days; they did not
give it."
Kelly replied: THAT was with you.
not me"
Sweeney: But you are my successor.
They are not giving s1.35 gas, but hold
a threat of 10 cents over you and If
you do not pay your bill promptly you
do not get this discount, so the mini
mum price Of gas IN reality is still
$50 7 think the maximum should be
fixed at S1-35 and the city council has
as much authority to do that as it has
to reduce the rate from $40 to S1.5O.
Sweeney Forced Them Down.
I'VE forced them down to S1.40 be-
fore I went out Of office. told them
they could do it voluntarily and there
by gain the good will of the people,
because the council did not want to
appear to be applying the lash to cor
porations."
H. NJ. Walker. after explaining the
cost Of labor in FL Paso and other Tex
as cities. said: I'VE get bad gas.
use it in my own house"
Mayor Kelly said: How do you know
it is bad? Did you ever test itg'
Walker: mo, but I know it is bad
in my house."
McGhee: That's an old house, and
If you dig up the pipes, you viii find
coal tar in them. for the old gas com
pany did not filter its gas"
Alderman Hewitt then produced re-
ports made by the plumbing and meter
inspector of Ell Paso showing that not
once did the quality Of gas run under
500 units, which is considered a stand
ard. and & ran as high as ga units
These tests were made on different
days at different places.
Sweeney said: Il have heard that the
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