The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-17
MAR0TT URGES
NON POLITICAL
GAS co. BOARD
aiuabIe Property Would
Be Wasted, He Thinks,
Unless Safeguarded.

Need for non-political manage
mcnt OF the Citizens Gas Company,
20 insure successful operation by
The city utility board, was cited to-
day by George J. Marott, who or
gamzed the Citizens Gas Company
y 1905.
The city has valuable equity in
the gas property. 7 hope that if it
Us taken over, 1t can be operated
without political Interference. I
nave no faith in the economy Of
operation under a political man
dgement," Marott said
The plant has millions OF sur
plus assets above its liabilities, all
Of which easily can be wasted by
improper management. The mill
lions OF surplus VIII be Of no ad-
vantage to the people unless the
plant is conducted by experienced
trust officers. such as the company
has enjoyed.
If the Citizens Gas Company
ever becomes a football for poll
ticians, its value and advantage to
the city are lost. I hope the legisla-
tUe has insured a on-political
board, Marott declared.
Utility District Authorized
The legislation authorized crea-
ton OF a utility district to operate
and manage the plant after it is
taken over by the city. Mayor L.
Ert Slack is awaiting nominations
from Circuit Judge Harry o. Cham
berlin and city council before nam
ing the board. Redemption Of the
common stock has been started by
gas officers.
In 1905. when a plan was under
way to turn the old Consumers Gas
Company lines over to the Indian
apolis Gas Company, Marott saw
that a monopoly would be created,
resulting in higher gas for Indian
apolis citizens.
With his associates, he opened Of
fees at 81 East Court street and
started a city-Wide movement Tor
60-cent gas. Marott employed
twenty statesmen to sell the Citizens
stock. at a total personal expense of
$4,000 in putting over the project.
He had difficulty in obtaining public
support when he started, but finally
succeeded in arouSing public Senti-
ment favoring the trust plan.
He had $4,000 buttons, I am for
6O-cent gas" distributed at mass
meetings and before civic organiza-
tons to arouse city-Wide interest.
Byron c. Quimby, of Massachusetts.
filed suit IN federal court on behalf
of the Indianapolis Gas Company
interests, opposed to Marott's plan.
Sold for $4,000
The 1872 miles of gas mains, seventy
of which were under paved streets,
were sold to the Citizens concern
Tor $4,000, through a United
States court order. The natural gas
supply had become exhausted, max
ing the Consumers property useless
TO its owners.
Battling strong opposition, MarOtt
and his associates appealed to the
old Commercial Club and the Board
of Trade for support. Through
leadership of Edgar H. Evans, the
Board of Trade got behind the
movement.
The Commercial Club was without
funds, SO NIarott gave the late AL
fred Potts, then club president, three
checks totalling $1,000 to support the
movement. Marott has his check
stubs, along with a scrap book of
newspaper clippings of the cam
paign.
Fight Is Won
Basing their fight on the motto
OF the late Theodore Roosevelt,
Take your case to the people"
Marott finally won support of the
middle class. The stock was sold
as a profitable investment and
public benefaction."
Louis A. Coleman, law partner of
John w. Hoffman, mayor when
the city granted the twenty-five
year franchise to the Citizens COM
pany, was employed by Marott to
draft the first franchise. William
Ketcham and John Cochran were
other lawyers who received $4,000
each for services.
Mayor Hoffman ran on a cheap
gas" platform, which resulted in his
election and granting of the gas
franchise. He is special counsel for
the city in the present fight to en-
force the city'S option on the plant.
DD0TCCT pAUINH p0UTE