Year: 1878

GueinS the Price Oh Gas.


The following will serve as reply to the
article OF T. c. L. and others that have ap-
peared in the Dispatch:


Mr.. Presidential a meeting OF the
Council held on the 9th day OF November
last had the honor to introduce resolu-
tion in favor Of the reduction Of the price
OF oas to the individual citizen. AS en-
deayored at that time to embody succinctly
in the preamble and resolution the leading
reasons for the proposed reduction, should
now be centent to submit the resolution to
your action without debate, but as the
Council has implied q desire to hear my
views on the subject by postponlnS its con-
sideration on account Of my illness at the
time OF last regular meeting, and as some
objections have been raised to the proposed
measure, l. beg leave to make few re-
marks in its support. In the flrst place, 1t
NAV be stated as 4 seli-evident proposition
that the gas-works were established solely
for the purpose OF supplying light to the
city at large and to the individual private
consumer. 1t was clearly never intended
rs q financial measure for raising taxes
from one portion OF our citizens for
benefit conferred upon the entire popula-
ton. 1t was evidently never contemplated
that the city government should IN thls or
anv other matter become speculator, or,
rs may say, forestaler or huckster, to
exact profit or revenue for furnishing an
article Of prime necessity to the citizens at
n price far beyond its actual cost, and to
throw the whole burden OF its manufacture
and diffusion uDon certain portion OF the
people. / have no doubt that many OF you
arc cognizant OF the fact that there are
many persons owning large estates in
l,,iI w hnCn
city one cent for placing around their
property its protecting guard OF light
bearing sentinels, or for illumlna-
ting their path through the thick
darkness OF night, and thereby guarding
them from the approach OF the thief, the
ruhian, and perhaps the assassin. The
wealthiest citizen, who may own whole
squares OF buildings, may easily escape the
payment OF single penny for illuminating
the streets and public buildings, and for
throwing its guardian rays around his steps,
provided that he substitutes kerosene
lamp or candle to tighten bis private dwell
ing. l know three brothers, owning more
than one hundred thousand dollars worth
Of buildings in this city, who, by burning
kerosene, have never contributed cent Tor
all the years OF benefit they have derived
in their persons and property; whereas
poor artisan or seamstress, who .Srom ne
Cessity prolongs the day into the silent
watches of the night, and finds the gas
light indispensable to their labors, are taxed
not only for their solitary burner, but, with
all other private consumers, have to pay for
every gas-light throughout the length and
breadth of the city; for every light that
shines in the courts OF justice, the public
offices, the armories, almshouse, hospitals,
prisons, and even the city stables. But it
is unnecessary to say more on this head to
prove that in the very nature OF things the
cost Of the manufacture OF gas by the city
could never have been intended as class
tax or source OF revenue. to be expended
for other purposes or to lessen the taxes OF
the. .non-gas-consumcr Such monstrous
scheme would have been strangled in>its
birth; but it was necessarily and OF right
intended to supply Il necessity at the
lowest possible cost to the city and
the citizen. Every citizen enjoys an
invaluable comfort and safeguard from
gas-light outside of his dwelling or
place OF business, and he is in honor and
in Justice bound to pay his part OF its cost.
But it has been said that all citizens were
taxed to inaugurate the manufacture OF
gas, and to have to pay their part OF the in
terest on the bonds issued for the conStruc-
tion Of the works. at first view this is
plausible objection to our scheme, but 1t
will not bear a moments examination, and
the answer TO it is this: That the gas-con-
sumer was not only taxed also as citizen
and property-owner for the original outlay,
but he is 80 taxed to this day. He likewise
has been alone taxed for many years
for extending the limits Of gas-illumina-
tion and for keeping the works and its
connections in repair. Examine the an
nual reports of the Committee on Light
and you will perceive that the private
citizen not only pays all the cost and en-
pense for the manufacture and diffusion OF
gas, but he also pays large surplus into
the treasury that is otherwise expended.
Look at the report of the City Auditor for
the last fiscal year (1S76) and you will per-
ceive the following balance OF receipts and
disbursements:


Received for gas. Sl5o,176 IL
Received for coke. 1926 20


Total. ............................ sl59,4s2 80
Disbnrsed for coal. .$39,01O II


Disbursed for expenses. S0,3S7 81





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