The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-08-08
LOCAL LEGISLATION
Arbitrary Conduct of the Gas Com
pany is Oppressive to the
People of Ocala

FeOpIe OF OcaIa
At last evenings session of the
city council letter from Judge W. S.
Bullock requesting information on the
gas proposition was read and re-
ferred to the special investigation
committee appointed some weeks ago
to look into these matters. Judge
Bullock's letter follows:
City Council of the City of Ocala:
Gentlemen: l most respectfully
ask the council if there is any means
by which the city may exercise any
authority vested in the city by which
its citizens may be protected against
the arbitrary charges made by the
gas company doing business in Ocala.
The bills are from forty to eighty
per cent higher than two years ago.
The company is arbitrary and will
not give any one, so far as have been
able to ascertain, any consideration
or pay any attention to the COM
plants. Conditions are such that
many of the citizens of Ocala have
made gas connections and have to de-
pend on this means for fuel and to
that class of people they are at the
mercy of the corporation.
If there is now no ordinance of the
city whereby the city may have the
right to look into the charges made
by this corporation, or to supervise
the reading of meters, or to do some
act whereby the people may be pro-
tected, l respectfully submit that
some reasonable measure may be
adopted whereby the people of the
city may have some protection. Ger
tainly we are in a deplorable condi-
ton. Very Respectfully,
w. S. Bullock
Chairman Nash of the special com
mittee reported that efforts had been
made to have the manager and legal
representative of the company pres
ent at meeting, but thus far had
failed. A motion was carried calling
meeting of this special committee
at 8 o'clock p. M, August 18th in the
council chamber to discuss the gas
situation, and it was ordered that the
representatives of the company be
notified to be present.
Councilman Nash introduced an, or
dinance compelling the use in future
within the city limits of other than
shingles for all roofs, stipulating that
roofing must be made of iron or other
non-infiammable substance. This ord
nance was brought about by a mott
fcation from the fire insurance COM
panies that unless some such regula-
tion is made at once the rate would
be advanced 10 per cent. Referred
to the judiciary committee.
The light and water committees
report recommended that electrical
power be furnished Messrs. L. A.
Gable and J. c. Johnson at their
places outside the city limits provided
their places at their own expense ac-
cording to the rules governing such
lines within the city. In the matter
of request for reduction in the water
rent account of the Monopoly
Drug Store for last quarter, the COM
mittee recommended that no reduc.
tion be allowed as the alleged leaks
were on the property Of petitioner.
The suit recently begun against
Leonard Dozier for collection of paw
ing certificate was ordered temporar.
lily suspended.
R. L. Carter, chief of police, wa:
granted a weeks vacation. The mo.
ton to grant this leave did not carry
with it pay for the time lost, but a:
this is the usual custom, it will prob
ably be allowed.
A motion that the custodian of the
public library be allowed to take {
half holiday each Thursday Afternoon
during the summer was referred Il
the library committee with power II
act.
| Mr.. Watterson Tucker appeared
and asked the council for information
regarding the crossing of privat
properties with the drain sewer
from the Harrington Hall hotel t.
Osceola street. The matter was re
ferred to the sanitary committee, ant