Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-11

all Of these were recognized and brought
forth at the other public meeting. Fur
Their reflection and discussion has served
TO emphasize these objections In the
minds Of the board Of directors of the
company.
There are. in the plan offered for
consideration, inherent difficulties. in
CAPABILITIES and inequities. 1t is funda-
mentally wrong to penalize the consumer
who has always been 4 conservatOr Of
gas. The plan suggested operated 10
do this very thing.
Moreover, the apparent necessity fer
protecting large and legitimate users
of gas for Industrial purposes against
great Increases In the cost of gas. in
and OF itself called for discrimination
against domestic consumers, which is
obnoxious TO those who see the prOtec-
ton of the domestic user Of gas as the
first requirement in any plan adopted.
Those IN control OF the affairs OF the
company have no desire other than 10
render an effective public service at the
lowest cost. While 1t is true that the
plan proposed was for conservation pur-
poses, yet IL was frankly stated at the
othS- meeting that large additions 70
the company's plant must be made IN
the next two years to develop a more
effective service, and that It was highly
important that this be not overlooked
and means provided therefore; that II
the plan proposed produced additional
revenues, these should be set aside to
provide additional equipment and needed
extensions without capttaliZing the same
against the public.
And 1t must not for a moment be over
looked that these additional facilities
must be provided in the near future. The
temporary ability Of the company to fur
nish gas service at 60 cents. due 10 the
present good market for coke and by
products. will never furnish an adequate
basis for financing the betterments which
must be provided in the next two years
and the time will come in the early fu-
ture when the people OF this community
must pay a price for gas somewhat com
mensurate with what they are paying for
their other daily necessities.
FOLLY NOT TO
RECOGNIZE FACT.
This is not matter of consideration
today, but It would be folly not to rec
ognize the fact that II the gas situation
in this community is to be permanently
met in a satisfactory manner means to
obtains required additions must be pro
vided. And the public should not be mis-
led as to the real situation.
However, the question before US today
is the proposed plan for conserving gas
irrespective of their conduct or their CO.
operative efforts to relieve the situation.
On behalf of the directors of the com
pany 1t is submitted that the plan car
can not command the public support and
therefore we can not but object to it and
ask that 1t be not adopted.
Conservation is greatly needed. Unless
practiced by the large body of con
sumers, we will surely have periods OF
acute distress. However, unless some
plan can be devised which will in fact
be and appeal to the general public
as fair and equitable. 1t will be better to
go through the winter as did a year
civ 10 d
vising the public from time to time as to
the facts, cutting off willful offenders,
and rationing the supply when It be
comes necessary.
In the near future the company should
make it's plans for a general enlargement
of it's equipment and seek such rate for
gas tits only product not controlled by
the law OF competition. S Will enable
1t to finance the cost Of such enlarge
ments The entire equity in the com
pany's property belongs to this com
munity, and nothing can be done. If hon
est and wise management prevail, which
will not be in the public interest.
MEETING IN
SENATE CHAMBER.
The hearing yesterday. which was be-
fore Chairman E. /. Lewis and Commits
sioners Fred Bates Johnson and Glenn
VanAuken, was held in the senate cham
Der that there might be room for all
those attending it,
In opening the hearing, Mr.. Lewis ex-
planned briefly what had been done at
the hearing Monday of last week, and
the purpose of yesterdays hearing
He explained that nothing had been
settled as to a plan for conservation of
gas during the winter and touched on the
sliding scale of rates for gas that had
been discussed and the tentative sched-
ules Of rates filed at his suggestion by
the gas company.
All these steps, he added, had been
tentative.
Among the suggestions offered yester-
day was that there be an educational
campaign through civic bodies that the
public might be acquainted with the sit
uatlon and public conscience be aroused
against the use of gas for heating pur-
poses.
Another plan suggested was that an
order be made by the commission, or
possibly through action of the city coun-
Gil, against the use of gas for heating
purposes.
1t was suggested that if a serious
shortage develops a system Of ratIoning
could be applied whereby sufficient pres.
sure for cooking would be maintained
only during those day hours when meals
are prepared.
The opinion also was expressed that