Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-11-23
CITY COUNCIL
MAY REJECT GAS
CONTRACT PLAN
Move for New Franchise May
Be Called OFF in Light of
Developments.

Decision either to suggest certain def
mite amendments or to reject the whole
proposition will be made by the city
council before the end Of this week upon
the contract amending the franchise OF
the Citizens Gas Company, now up for
ratification. The contract binds the COM
pany to make 100000 worth of plant
extensions by Dec 81, 1921, and 81 ,75O, 900
worth as soon thereafter as possible. and
gives the gas company the right to ration
gas SO cook stove users will have prefer
( ence in periods of shortage up to July 1,
| 1921.
Leaders in the council, including Rus
sell Wilson, President Gustav q.
Schmidt and Jesse z. Miller, members Of
/ the special gas committee, are inclined
to question several points in the pro-
posed contract, and since the conference
on the contract, held last Thursday eve
ming, a decided inclination to reject the
whole matter has been developing.
SAYS PROGRAM
WILL BE CARRIED OUT.
| Following approval of the contract by
| the board of public works and Mayor
| Charles W. Jewett more than a week
| ago, ]. D. Forrest secretary and gen
eral manager Of the gas company, is
sued a statement In which he said the
| improvement program planned would go
through regardless OF what the council
| did to the contract.
This statement has caused n number
Of councilmen to state that II this is so,
whats the use Of going through all this
! fuss Of amending the franchise7" The
present agitation for better gas facilities
arose from serious shortage which
lasred for almost twenty-four hours late
In September. It was felt by city Of
/ tcials that something should be done to
| prevent further shortages.
| Investigation Of the company's plants
| disclosed that II would be impossible to
make additions to the equipment which
would increase the gas producing or
storing capacity for several months so IL
was decided that the best thing to do
would be to make some provision that
continuous supply for cooking, water
| heating and lighting should be assured
at all times, even IL It were at the ex-
| pense OF house heating and industries
during times Of shortage and TO get the
needed improvements as soon as possible.
IMPROVEMENTS
MORE IMPORTANT.
or these two moves the council is In
| clined TO consider the improvement pro-
gram OF vastly more importance. The
| councilmen point out, however. that the
contract specifying the improvements
does not include an ironclad agreement
that the improvements actually will be
made by Dec. 81, 1921, since the whole
program is made subject to the ability
Of the company to finance II.
Since Mr.. Forrest has publicly stated
| that the improvement program Is to go
kforward regardless Of what the council
does and since It is considered that this
is about all the contract promises. the
councilmen, are more and more inclined TO
believe the contract unnecessary.
Some OF the councilmen express fear
OF the sections In the contract providing
Tor the rationing OF gas. Mr.. Wilson
objects strenuously 10 the section which
( gives the board OF works the power 10
investigate when the gas company de-
clares a shortage to be In effect. but gives
the board no power TO do anything about
/ II. Mr.. Wilson has stated several times
/ he win not sign the contract as iong as
/ 1t reads this way He and some OF his
| fellow members say they would not like
/ TO be in the position OF having approved
! the contract should the gas company de-
clare a number OF shortages this winter
/ When citizens complained OF poor service
/ TO the gas company, the eouncilmen say,
| II would be possible for the gas com
pany TO say It was rationiug gas under
! express orders OF ths contract approved
/ by the council
/ COUNCIL FEARS
BEING MADE GOAT.
Boiled down. the council fears 10 would
be made the goat for poor gas service
until such time as the company sees At
TO make the proposed plant extensions.
! ana that - WnufA ha n q
Its stamp Of approval upon movement
for q higher gas rate by approving the
contract with the provisions that the I'm
/ provements are to be made subject 10 the
I company's ability to finance them
A definite stand viii be taken by the
council before the end Of this week, Mr..
Wilson, who is chairman Of the council
committee Of the whole considering the
[ contract predicted