Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-20
Veto, SI.D Gas Bill,
Citizens Tell MAYOR
Continued from Rage One

Continued from rage One
Mayor. His gray hair and ruddy COM
r!exion contrasted sharply with q
cream colored suit of light material
and a. dark purple tie. He said he rcp-
resented 25,000 persons.
Il don't intend to make n lengthy
speech" he. began. 81 wns here yes
| terday and noticed the great array of
talent. and I regretted they were here
for the corporations interest instead of
that of the common people,
But we had man seated in the
chair. We had our representative, the
Mayor elected to guide tho destinies of
the city. We had the right man In
Mr.. Moore"
Mr.. Lennon Twas interrupted by
hearty applause. He continued:
Il want to appeal for the working
man. Go to Baldwin Locomotive
works, Mr.. Mayor. or the Midvnle Steel
works. the Idle mills Of Kensington and
ask the men hunting work what they
think about it. Ask the American
Legion.
''It is unconstitutional to break a
lease. Yesterday it was admitted by
one Of the speakers for the company
that the ordinance was defective. l
will 60 home and report to my neigh
bors, gas consumers and taxpayers, that
we have in the Mayors office man who
can be trusted to look out for our in
terests."
First Opposed to Report
The Mayor asked Mr.. Lennon IL he
had examined the Gas Commissions re-
port and what his opinion was of the
recommendation for a body to super
wise and regulate the gas works.
''At first our association was opposed
to all Of the Gas Commissions report, "
Mr.. Lennon replied. Later we felt
that several features of 1t might be of
lasting benefit. Our association is op-
posed to changing the lease. l made a
contract last year and lost money. Why
shouldn't the Z. G.. l. live up to its
contractT'
The Mayor here reminded the speaker
that the gas works Is to be returned to
the city in seven years. He said it was
important that the city should know
what it has so the city can operate the
plant in case the company fails to sign
new lease when the present agreement
ends.
THE only thing the city has at the
present time" the Mayor continued,
'is the Bureau Of Gas which tests the
candlepower. Isn't 1t time to begin ne .
gotiations looking to the protection OF
the physical interests of the gas
worksT"
Mr.. Lennon replied:
THE company is supposed to keep the
gas works up to date. The Mayor should
have some supervision, l think, through
O committee or commission, so the city
l., oo,,1J ha YNrotnctnI "
But this ordinance has no provision
for commission" said the Mayor,
holding up the ordinance. He asked for
suggestions from Lennon who replied
that the ordinance should be vetoed.
Submit something along that line to
Council, Mr.. Mayor" added Mr.. Len
non. The gas commission report is
| too favorable to the U. G.. l. at this
time. 1t is to be regretted, but il
seems that every committee favors the
L. G.. /. They all seem to be looking
to breaking the contract"
Mr.. Lennon stated that the gas com
missions report might be referred to
some other committee or commission
so that plans for a regulatory body
could be drawn up. The regulatory
plan in the report, he said, favored the
company.
You, Mr.. Mayor, are the bulwarb
between corporate greed and the peo-
ple's welfare" Mr.. Lennon concluded
I'VE believe that the city is on guard. u
Letter Hits Rise In Price
Mr.. Lennon read this letterx
"At a meeting of the Forty second
| Ward Democratic Executive Committee
representing nearly all the divisions Of
| the Forty second Ward. 1t was unani =
mously decided to 60 on record as being
| opposed to any measure to either lower
the quality or raise the price of gas.
If necessary, we pledge ourselves to
carry the fight up to the municipal cleo
ton this fall and make it q campaign
measure.
LOUIS J. HERMAN, Secretary,
$500 North Broad street"
The Mayor listened attentively to the
letter and remarked, with a smile:
"Of course, Mr.. Lennon, there is
nothing political in this
iNo sir, If there was, they wouldn I
have sent it to me-" Mr.. Lennon said
He continued that he had given large
number of complaints and gas bills to
the chairman Of Councils Utility Com
| mittee for use at committee meetings,
but that the chairman had not used
them. Councilman Montgomery Is
chairman Of the committee.
II can't permit any reflections on the
legislative body Of the city," the Mayor
rejoinad, still smiling. Councilmen
Weglein, Burch, Patton and Cans,
seated a short distance away, straight
ened in their chairs.
Speaks for 40, 900 Business Men
Z. F. Ziegler, who spoke for the
United Business Mems Association, said
he represented seventy seven business
organizations with a membership OF
10000.
The president Of the L. G. l., he
said, stated yesterday that last year
was the company's leanest year, due tc
the fact that crude oil cost thirteen
| cents a gallon.
The company, Mr.. Ziegler continued
apparently figures its profits on a basis
Of OH at six cents q gallon, although
oil is now drug on the market.
Yesterday" he said, I'VE were tolc
by the greatest array OF corporate in.
| terests ever assembled here that thu
city needed relief. have been advised
by a big man that the losses sustained
by the company In 1920 were due Il
the efforts of the L. G.. I. to boos
carfaes in New Jersey where the u
&. ]. owns stock in the Public Serv.
ice Co.
why should we pay for such thing
as that and the building OF bull pens
| for passengers? DO we have to TAXI
care Of the losses sustained by sub.
sidiary corporations In other StatesH
Mr.. Moore asked Mr.. Ziegler what
warrant he had for saying the company
| In, lnF 20 Nn-