Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-05
ASHBY BARRAGE
SLOWS UP QUIZ
ON CAR SERVICE
Also Tells COuncilmen About
y Gas Shortage and Coke
Business.
SPIKES INQUIRERS' GUNS

Like Horatius defending the bridge
against the invading hordes Of Lars
Porsena, Corporation Counsel Samuel
Ashby, official mouthpiece Of the Jewett
city administration, last nlgft stood
against the forces in the city council
who would like to conduct q real inyes-
tigation to determine why the city does
not have sufficient gas.
Single handed, the chief legal adviser
OF Mayor Jewett fought a valiant battle
against the proposal of President Gus
tav c. Schmidt and other members of the
council that that body conduct an in
vestigation to determine a number Of
facts pertinent to the continuation Of
good gas service.
Ashby told the council that the public
service commission is the only body en-
powered by law to act.
He won because nobody present ad-
vised the council otherwise.
QUIZ AT THIS TINE
Is NOT WELCOME HERE.
The Jewetts forces apparently do not
want to see the council dig beneath the
surface to investigate reports such as
that j. ID. Forrest. secretary and gen
eral mansger Of the Citizens Gas Com
pany. is interested In the Domhoff Joyce
Company or Cincinnati, sales agents for
the coke produced by the gas company,
and that certain great Industries la the
city are using as high as million cubic
feet Of gas per day. instead OF only TO
per cont OF the total production, as
company officials state.
That the corporation counsel's victory
is only temporary Is assumed from the
statement OF President schmidt;
II do not think this case is as hope
less as the corporation counsel states u.
"ff the council had the power to grant
a franchise. Ii certainly must have the
power to take Il away
The council. for the present, viii not
conduct an independent investigation.
A committee appointed on motion Of
Councilman Russell Wilson, accompa-
led by Mr.. Ashby will confer with the
Public Service Commission.
Mr.. Schmidt is.chalrman and SIR WIN
son ard Councilman Jesse =. Miller
members OF the committee.
Mr.. Ashby was not only the defender
Of the gas company bridge" buf also
acted as barrier for the Public Service
Commission, the "service-at- cost" plan OF
street railway operation, the inaianr polls
street Railway Company and other plane
aud parties who came In for attention
The council st the outset, wss Ga 4
thoroughly investigatlve mood.
The council wss not qnife so investl-
gatfvs when the adrelt Mr.. Ashhy got
through, his loag training In the courts
apparently giving him the stamina 20
keep arguing until long after the COWS
have not only sone home bur almost I'M
III they were ready 20 start out again.
CARNEFIx REsOLCTTuN
STARTS RATTLE FORCES.
Mr. AAhby hsgnu hts psuoDth move
ments 70 prevent too close or careful In
curry into mntters which might cause
embarrassment TO interests which the
Jewett, administration evidently is doing
everything In its power to protect When
Councilman Louis W. Carnehx present.
ed resolution as follows:
Whereas, the street railway Plant
In Indianapolis Is wholly inadequate
TO serve the present needs Of the
people OF said city in tracks, equip
ment and operating force. and
~ hereaS. whites Is approaching
Continued on Page Four)