The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-05-30
IS It UNJUST


Ownership and Oppose Attempts
to Take Control of their Electric
Supply from the People?
Editor Star: In the article printed
in the Ocala Banner, May IS, headed
IAN Unjust Criticism the Banner
says, Since its first issue it has stood
for fair play and square dealing and
hopes to continue On that platform
to the end" and Immediately goes
on to defend Mr. c. W. Hunter. presi-
dent of the city council. and the
Ocala Gas Company against the sup
posed unjust criticism that appeared
in the Star recently. Ny articles
were not intended TO criticise Mr..
Hunter, but simply to show up the
electric light proposition and exist
ing conditions.
The Banner says, lit is nothing
unusual for me mbers of the gas COM
pany to serve on the city council,
and cites when Judge Bullock was
mayor of Ocala, he was director in
| the gas company. Mr. D. E. McIver,
while member of the city council,
was also director in the gas COM.
pany While acting president of the
city council, Mr.. George Mackay was
also president Of the gas company.
While a member of the city council,
we believe, its president, Mr.. D. w.
Davis. was secretary and director in
the gas company. During the time
these gentlemen served the city and
| the gas company, the improperly of
their holding two positions at the
same time was never questioned.
Did the city own the electric light
plant at that time? Did these gentle
men draw a salary from the gas COM
pany? Did they depend on living
from the gas company? If so, they
| would have been subject to public
criticism. The conditions prevail
/ ing were entirely different at that
| time and cannot be compared with
L the present state of affairs. When
L those gentlemen served on the coun-
Gil there We're no resolutions passed
and adopted with view of buying
electric current. Evidently the city
/ did not own the electric light plant,
If so they could not have been in pos
session very long. OF course this is
Ia matter of record and could easily
be obtained.
/ No one has accused Mr.. Hunter,
as l know of. of having used his
official position to grant any special
privilege to the gas company. OF
course Mr.. Hunter is not so foolish,
the Banner says, but the records
show that he has done the very re-
verse of this.
| Quotes the Times-CniOn
The Times-Union, only a few
days ago. gave an account on it's
| front page, in which the statement
| was made. that Jacksonville was fur
nishing the cheapest electric service
for cooking purposes OF any city in
the United States. i. E., cents per k.
W. The Times-Union then went on
to say that the next city approaching
| it was Kansas City, which was fur
nishing electric current for cooking
| purposes for cents per k. W. Mr..
E. C. Bennett. member OF the coun-
Gil, called the Banners attention to
the article and made the statement
that Ocala was supplying her citizens
with identically the same electric
service for cooking purposes, not
withstanding the fact that the presi-
dent of the city council was presi-
dent of the gas company. and he
thought this deserving of some COM
imendation,
/ / want Mr.. Hunter and every mem
Der of the city council to have full
credit for what they do, and stand
by them as true citizen in all good
movements pertaining to the city's
Interests, but for no more. l want
to know if Mr. Bennett and Mr..
Hunter are responsible for the low
electric rate that exists in Ocala. Did
they vote in the council chamber to
i lower the electric rate? | am reli-
ably informed by ex-councilmen in
i the meeting that they did not. Why
should Mr.. Hunter be praised for
things he is not responsible for and
did not support?
Il As 70 Mr. Hunter and Mr. R. S.