Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-29
MAYOR MooRE'S VETO KILLS
THE CAS- GRAB ORDINANCE
His Message Pulverizes the Project by
the Weight Of irresistible
mir

MAYOR MOORE with courage has risen
A'1 to the occasion and protected the in
terests of the people by vetoing the Hall
gas grab ordinance.
There was never any justification for that
ordinance save desire to 60 to the relief
of rich corporation that professed to be
in financial straits. It was drawn without
any consideration of the great mass of facts
presented in the report of the Gas Com
( mission.
The gas company said it needed more
money. and Councilman Hall thereupon pro-
posed to give it twenty five cents more 70,
every thousand feet of gas that it sold and
to charge the people ten cents more.
There was no attempt to find out whether
this was too much or too little to meet the
needs Of the situation. 1t was nothing
but guess.
The Mayor in his veto message shows
that it was only guess. He points out in
detail the numerous findings of fact in the
Gas Commission report which were ignored
in drafting the Hall ordinance and the nu-
morous recommendations which were dis.
missed without consideration.
His summary of the commission report
will bring it to the attention of the general
public for the first time in such shape
that It can be understood. And when he
announces that he bases his dsapprova Of
the ordinance on Its failure to meet the needs
of the situation as disclosed by the experts
who made the report, he will carry the pub
lie with him because he has unequivocally
Al. l. r.
When he says that the ordinance lis not
in the interest of the city or of the
sumers of gas" and backs the statement
with indisputabe facts, his position is un
assailabe.
But he goes further than this when he
intimates that the Hall ordinance, instead
of being a temporary arrangement, might
for political or economic reasons" be re-
newed from year to year, and that the
negotiation of a new lease might be post
poned indefinitely so long as the gas company
was getting so generous gift from the city.
That gift, he points out. would not be
merely an increase of 81. 0O0, 900 a year IN
gross returns, but, with the savings made by
the substitution 6f the British thermal unit
| for the candle power unit, it would amount
| to $3.50. 600 a year over the gross income
during the last candle power year. while it
would decrease the revenue Of the city by
between 50. .OOO. 600 and SO, 900. 900.
The detailed exhibit of the financial CON
| dition of the gas company justifes the
| Mayors conclusion that the company can
carry on its business and perform its exist
| ing contract until a new agreement can be
reached on the general lines suggested by
the Gas Commission.
It is only logical, therefore. for him to
lay the injunction upon Council to make the
necessary arrangements without delay for
negotiating a new lease, which shall not
only provide for the protection of the prop
erty rights Of the city in the gas plant, but
which shall fix an equitable price for gas,
price subject to ISvsion downwdrd as "C'l
as uprdrd from time to time as conditions
change Nothing less will properly protect
| the public-taXpayers and consumers alike.
| This veto Is one of the most wholesome
| things that has happened in this city in a
long time. 1t demonstrates that there is in
the Office of the Mayor a man who is loyal
first of all to the interests of the people.
He has stood between the ignorant or un.
scrupulous politicians forming the gas ma
jority' in Council on the one hand and the
gas company on the other hand and has
| prevented the consummatiOn Of plan which
had in it the possibilities of despoliation Of
the gas consumers for the profit of a cor
poration.
The gas company favored the passage of
the Hall ordinance. 1t brought pressure to
bear from various directions upon the Mayor
to induce him to sign it, But he stood
firm for what he knew to be right, And he
has justified his course with such convincing
logic that nothing remains now for Council
and the gas company but to follow the course
which he has marked out