The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-01-12
HEAR ANOTHER ECHO
OVER GAS PROTEST
City Officials Told That Wild
Ow Was Denied Gas
Service.
MUST PAY FERRET
Robbins and Bond Consider
Court Action With Rue
full Faces.
MUST PAY FERRET

Another echo of the protest over
the deposit rule established by the
Light. Heat & Power company for its
natural gas service was heard this
morning at the meeting of the board
Of publ works
Charles Johanning appeared before
tenants, a poor but worthy widow,
was not financially able to make the
required $5 deposit and had been
threatened with having natural gas
service shut off.
AS landlord. Mr. Johanning
stated, he was opposed to posting
deposits for his tenants but he would
willingly stand the expense of secur-
ing an injunction to prevent the gas
company from refusing its service to
the widow who tenanted one of his
houses and he told the board he was
ready to contest the company's right
at any time. City Attorney Bond ad-
vised Johanning to take this action if
it were necessary.
The city attorney said the city
should not be expected to take such
action in various individual cases.
He also told Johanning that the de-
posit rule was now in the hands of
the Public Utilities commission.
Wants Streets Flushed
John McMlnn, one of the board
members, informally suggested to the
other members and Mayor Robbins a
plan for having the paved streets
Of the city flushed by the fire depart
ment at frequent intervals during sea
sonable weather. This plan has been
adopted at Dayton. he said, with very
satisfactory results. The other Of
ficials appeared to be impressed with
this plan and it will be taken up later
with Fire Chief Miller.
The question of the traction COM
pany blOckading an alley at its
freight station was again brought up
for consideration and the board will
make an investigation.
With rueful faces the board mem
bers, Mayor Robbins and City Attor-
ney Bond considered the action of the
Indiana supreme court awarding Ere
mont Clifford, former tax ferret, a
$4,000 claim against the city OF
Richmond for collecting SS,6O7 from
the estate of the late J. l.. MORRISON
for alleged omitted taxes, tOtaling, it
is alleged. $166,0Oo,
THAT claim could have been com
promised for $400 or $500 several
years ago" remarked City Attorney
Bond, but it has gone through sew
eral courts at great expense to the
city and now we must pay out $4,000
more"
Blow to Administration
This money will have to be appro-
priated by council. The ruling of the
supreme court comes as stiff blow
to the new administration which to
make both ends meet Will have to
practice the strictest economy
throughout the year
President Bavis of the board of
public works requested the controller
70 submit a report at the next board
meeting showing the total funds
available for street and sewer i'm
provements this year.
Mr.. Bavis also suggested that mas
much rs there was an ordinance pro
Viding for the covering of all manure
boxes it would be a wise move for the
city itself to observe it. All fire de
partment houses will in the future
have such boxes covered.
! Complete Water Extension
The board has ben notified Of the
! completion of the water main exten
sion in West Richmond and that its
| hydrant rentals on this extension
would date from January 6. City At
| torney Bond suggested that the con
trOller as we'll as the engineer keep a
| record of all hydrant rentals SO that
! in the future there would be no repe
| titiOn of the mistake in paying for
! hydrants which never had been 10
! Gated.
! Board Member Maratt reported re
! pairs on park buildings, the city Jail
4 market house and crematOry. The
crematory will resume operation to
| morrow. Mr.. Bavis advised the con
! struction of small office at the mar
kct house where the official weights
and measures could be properly kept
! The board was also notified that
/ leases on stands at the market house
| had expired.
Plans for the extension OF the so
called Holzapfel sewer which empties
| into the river the Carpenter mills
have been completed and the board
will make an investigation. Petitions
/ for few alleys were presented to the
board. The mayor stated he would
announce the date for holding cabinet
meetings at the next board session