Commercial Club drafted resolution to raise gas rates

NATURAL GAS AND

COMMERCIAL CLUB

Organization Tables Resolution

Favoring a Change of Muncie

Com­pany’s Franchise.

Last night's session of the Commercial club was a busy one and one of unusual interest. Until nearly midnight the members lingered in the rooms discussing matters of importance to the city at large.

The gas rate question was discussed pro and con. It was the opinion of some of the members that the gas com­panies should be allowed to increase their rates to about 25 cents;%.25 per thou­sand feet. A number of the other mem­bers believed that the rates should not be tampered with. The following reso­lution was drafted by members favoring an increased rate but the matter was tabled until the next meeting of the club.

Resolved, That it be the sense of this club that a committee be appointed to communicate with the city council, re­questing that body to remove the restrictions from the Muncie Natural Gas company and the Heat, Light and Power company, permitting them to charge a rate for natural gas equalling that paid for hard wood at the rate of $2.50 per cord.

Messrs, James Bingham, O. B. Ban­nister, Eugene Kelley, James Boyce, Ralph Hemingray and others made statements favoring an increased rate while C. L. Medsker, J. W. Litte, L. Herrmann, W. W. Orr and others were against an increased rate.

It was announced immediately after the meeting opened that the gas and telephone questions would be discussed but the latter question was almost lost sight of because of the animated dis­cussion of the gas question.

The question of locating the proposed new home of the Commercial club at the northeast corner of Main and Jef­ferson streets was discussed and it practically was decided to locate it there. A frontage of 54 feet will cost the club $10,500 or a frontage of 94 feet may be had for $18,000. T. J. Ault. H. C. Zeigler, L. J. Shlesinger, E. F. Tindal, R. C. Peterson and T. E. Bracken were elected to membership in the club.