The Indianapolis Journal

The Co-Operative Scheme.

The meeting called for last night by William Patterson, the lawyer, brought about forty persons to the Criminal Court room, where the co-operative idea in supplying natural gas was lauded as the only relief from monopolies. Carlin Hamlin presided, and Mr. Patterson, in a long speech, denounced the ordinance that had been introduced in the interest of the Indianapolis company. He said a great deal not pertinent to the question, and then proceeded to show how easy it would be to get gas into the city if every citizen would give to a common fund the price he pays for coal. In time the cost could be so reduced, after the plant was paid for, that everybody could have gas for practically nothing. Nobody else had much to say, and Mr. Patterson presented a series of resolutions, in which the Indianapolis company's ordinance was bitterly denounced as creating a monopoly. The objectionable features, as Mr. Patterson saw them, were detailed. This was followed by a resolution calling on the Council to let the present ordinance remain unchanged. Another resolution favored the co-operative plan as set forth at the meetings held by citizens some months ago. The series was adopted and the meeting adjourned with the understanding that those present would unite with the Board of Trade in its meeting Monday morning to discuss the co-operative idea coming from that body.