The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-01

Consumers Of gas, so-caped, in Menu
phis are paying premium for the In.
ferior imitation which IL being pumped
to their homes by the Memphis Gas
and Electric company. Universally the
gas bills received by the consumers for
the month of February are outrageous
ly high. Some are double the normal
figures, and others even thribble. To
cite the climbing charge made upon one
consumer Is sufficient. to show how exg
pensive II is for Mefnphians to fDRR tts
ferior gas and breathe noxious fumes
This consumure's bill from Aug. ~ to
Sept. 20, for both gas and electricitys
was $43s. Hls bill for, Nov. 20 70 Dec.
20 was $3.50 for gas alone; from Dec. 20
to Jan. 20, &e0 for gas alone; Jan. 20
to Feb 30, $9.32 for gas alone,
Indignation reached a pitch Of inten-
sity higher than any 1t has vet attained
among the consumers when they re-
ceived their bills .Friday and Satur-
day. They have been patient, but there
was but one Job, and their supply Of
that arniable commodity has run out.
The consumers have indicated that
the sthreateaed stateInent from the gas
scnFnf Vi nGgt pf0pttiate athAna
They do not want words; they DO not
want excuses. What they want Is gas
not the kind which in American slang
is also known as "hot air''--but good
gas, which will give a maximum of heat
and Is nonpoisonous.
Leo Goodman, commissioner Of public
utilities, was approached by The News
Scimitar Saturday with the hope that
he would say something to the people
which would reassure them and show
that his department is looking out after
their interests and working for their
relief He declined to talk on this sub
ject for publication.
The average citizen who consumes
gas-so- called--is not 80 reticent, how
ever. Ask him what he thinks of the
situation and he will begin to give off
words more decidedly sulphurous than
the fumes which the gas--so called
gives off in the kitchens Of the house
wives of the city.
The question of forcing the gas com
pany to improve the gas supply Will
be put before the Memphis and Shelby
County Medical society on next Tues
day night, according to a statement
made Saturday by DIR. Willis c. Camp
bell, president of the society.
This 3 regular meeting OF the so
ciety, and, coming as soon as 1t does,
will preclude the necessity Of called
meeting. Had the regular meeting
been farther off special one would
have been called to consider the men
ace. ut is an urgent matter-the gas
supply" DR.. Campbell said Saturday,
but as tho regular meeting Is 80 near
there would hardly be any advantage
in calling a meeting,
Something ought to be done, and
done promptly" Or. Campbell said,
during the course OF his conversation
on the matter. I'VE don't want to be
suffocated."
The suggestion that the wives and
mothers who do their cooking don gas
masks to protect their nasal and bron-
chial organs has created a great deal
OF interest 1t Is said that some moth
ers are considering writing to their
sons abroad asking them to bring their
gas masks home with them for moth
err to combat the stove as he COM
bated the Hun.
However, they expect their men
folks to get some better gas somehow
before they have to take to hiding their
comeliness behind the hideous gas pro-
tectors. A gas mask Ia an ugly thing
1t will be unbeeoming any way 1t is
worn, and most women had just about
as soon die as take to them.
Mayor Monteverde stated Saturday
morning that he had as yet received
no word from the gas company rela .
tive to his latest demand for better
gas. He expects a reply Monday.