The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-24
GAS PROPOSITION
GOES TO COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT FRANCIS HOMER GIVES
EXPLICIT STATEMENT OF
COMpANY's PLAN.
GIVE BETTER SERVICE
MAKES No CRITICISM OF PRESENT
MANAGEMENT. But SHOWS
WHERE MAY BE BETTER
IMPROVEMENTS.

After hearing plain, clear and
succlnct statement from President
Francis Homer, of the southern das
and Electric Company. OH the dues-
ton of the lease Of the city gas wori<''
the subcommittee on Utilities OF tuy
Council last night referred the whole
matter to the general committee. with
the request that all parties interested
or concerned be heard at special
meetings of that body.
A large number Of citizens inter-
ested in the question were present.
The crowd was so large that the com
mittee sat in the Council Chambera
Chairman atkinson and Committee
men Nielsen, Jefferson, Powers and
Pitcher, the full committee. were
present
Alderman Nielsen suggested that as
the proposition was a most important
one, and that the full committee
would have 10 hear the gentlemen in
terested it would be good to adjourn
TO n time to be fixed, Sc that the COM
mittee might hear the discussion in
COMMITTEES or the wlnfe,
Gives President Hearing.
II was pointed out that as President
Homer had come from distance. 1t
would be proper to give him an OPP
portunity to make his statement at
this time. and Mr.. Nielsen withdrew
his remarks.
President Homer's remarks we're TO
the point. He stated that his company
stood ready to take over the plant ana
give the people Of Richmond better
service and better gas at a lower rate
than that now in force.
He~stated that he was not criticising
81 81 ,.fo -
city.
But" he said, we all know that
councilrnen, who are men with other
vocatlons and business, have not the
time TO devote to the work of con-
Quoting a gas plant. nor any other
municipal proposition as far as that
is concerned. They do the. best they
can, which Is much. under the cir
cumstances."
He called attention to the annual re-
ports Of the superintendent OF gas.
Every year much is asked for, whtch
the Council cannot give. He referred
to the reports from the department be
tween the years of 1895 to 1912. The
superintendent Had tn everysone of
those reports asked for vast improve
rnents. Every year the city Council
had told him there could be nothing
doing.
This would not occur said MIR.
Homer. If the plant we're being con-
Quoted By persons not identified with
the city government. We would de
vote our time TO the improvements IN
the plant and In the service. And we
would accomplish what the people have
desired for many years Counciimen
are not expected to give their time to
the study and discussion of the many
things necessary in the conduct or a
large business like this"
II the plant is turned over, with
the limitations which Council should
require, said Mr., Homer, there would
he difference.
I'VE would not be relieved of the
supervision of Council. That body
would act as landlords and you kno"
what that means. We would have to
come up To our contract
More Cash For City.
MIR, Homer declared that If the
city accepted the proposition made
by his company 1t would make more
money. would get better and cheaper
gas, and the service would be far pet
Ter because there would be a COM
merctal feature. which would iIicres<
the demand and the consumption.
and these would aid in giving the nee
essary impetus to the plan.
The speaker read letters from a
number of leading citizens endorsing
the scheme. All of them said that
private conduct of the plant would
Iproduce better results than could be
expected from municipal control
THOSE who had written letters of com
Imendation Of the plan We're; Cap
Itaih W. Gordon McCahe, Charles 4.
Tt, Il NJ
If. Britt and Oliver ]. Sands.
The proposition made by the COM
lpany carries with il, under the char
ter. a reference of the plan TO the
people. After a vote has been taken
.upon the question, the City Council
can then frame the ordinance, which
makes the whole project law. II
passed by both branches of Council
and is signed by the Mayor.
The Utilities COMMITTEES meets In
regular session next Tuesday night
AT that time 1t is probable that n
date will be fxed for public hear
ing on the question.