The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-29
GIVAN REVEALED 100000
JACKPOT WEISS ASSERTS IN
TESTIMONY BEFORE PROBERS
Mayors Act Upon Nye'S
Assurance He Will
Sponsor Probe.
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Continued From Page One)
in announcing to them the North
Dakota Senator's decision.
A proposed amendment, which
would have made the artificial gas
industry also subject for the
senatorial probe, was rejected when
it was pointed out that few, if any.
artificial gas manufacturers engage
in interstate commerce and thus are
not subject to Federal regulation.
Prosecution to Be Asked
Another resolution tentatively dis
cussed by conference leaders which
would have asked the Department
of Justice 20 investigate and prose-
cute all gas officials suspected Of
violation of the antitrust laws and
other Federal statutes was not pre-
sented at last nights meeting.
Mr.. Smith explained that the mu-
nicipal leaders feel that the sena-
tOrial investigation would be more
effective in bringing the alleged evils
Of the alleged gas monopoly to the
public eye. He said, however, that
the mayors and others who re-
quested the Nye inquiry would de-
mand the immediate prosecution of
any gas company officials shown
guilty of unlawful acts by the SEN
ate committee.
The conference also voted to Or
ganize on a permanent basis a
cities alliance composed of officials
of the 18 cities represented at yes
terday's meeting and of other cities
interested IN obtaining natural gas
at low rate. Member cities will
cooperate in compiling and dis
seminating information concerning
gas problems. They also hope to
establish a "yardstick" rate for
natural gas similar to that used by
the Federal government in the Ten
nessee Valley Authority.
Alliance Names Officers
Mr.. Smith was elected chairman
Of the alliance and Mayor Daniel w.
Hoan, Milwaukee, was chosen vice
chairman. Mayor John w. Kern
will serve on the executive COM
mittee with Mayor Neville Miller,
Louisville; Mayor Henry w. Worley,
Columbus; Mayor Russell Wilson,
Cincinnati; Charles N. Hay, corpo-
ration counsel, st. Louis, and Mayor
George w. F'reyermuth, South Bend,
An executive secretary will be ap-
pointed later.
Mayor Kern, who was obliged to
leave before the night meeting, said
that he was gratified with the re-
suits of the conference, and prom
ised the full support of the Indian
apolis city administration to the
Senate Investigating Committee and
the cities alliance.
I was deeply impressed" Mayor
Kern declared, "by the sensational
charges made at the meeting con-
corning the monopolistic activities
of the great gas companies. The
information revealed by speakers to-
day will be very valuable to us in
our effort to acquire the Citizens
Gas Co. property"
Kern Views Supported
Mayor Kern's statement was
echoed by the other members of the
indianapolis delegation. Those who
accompanied him to Columbus were
City Attorney Floyd j. Mattice,
Henry L. Dithmer and Fred jung
claus, president and vice president,
respectively, of the city utilities dis
trict.
At the meeting yesterday after
noon Mayor Kern and the Indian
apolis representatives heard bitter
denunciations Of the utility COM
panies which were said to control
almost the entire natural gas pro-
duction and distribution in the
United States.
Particularly bitter attacks were
made on the Columbia Gas and
Electric Co. by Mr. Smith who said
that the company had repeatedly
refused to furnish natural gas to
Detroit and other cities, claiming
that there was an insufficient sup
ply at the company's pipe line
sources when other information in
dicateS that billions of cubic feet of
gas are allowed to 60 to waste in
Texas and other fields with the ex-
PLANTATION that there is no market.
Refers to Users Concern
Frank P. Parish, Chicago, presi-
dent of Missouri Kansas Pipe Line
Co, now in receivership, declared
that his company had been forced
to the wall by the Columbia group,
which had attempted to die
tate to it where it might and might
not sell gas. He said that Co.
lumbia refused to permit him to
sell natural gas to certain mu-
nicipal plants in Kansas because
1t was against the company's policy
TO sell to municipality owned dis
tributors."
Mr.. Parish said that a Columbia
owned pipe line, which crosses Indi-
ana and might supply gas at a low
rate to many Indiana cities. now is
carrying less than one-tenth of its
capacity.
He mentioned the Users Gas Co..
whose appeal for a franchise in Mar.
ion County was blocked last week
by an act of the Indiana General
Assembly. is merely blind for one
of the great gas companies. He said
however. that he could not furnish
definite Y1roof for +1,ic Sfafao7aof