anything more than the single service they are applying for and the cubic feet of gas that they use, they will file charges of criminal harrassment and threatening against us in that we are carrying on illegal operations."
"Well, if its a fight they want," Higgins snapped, "it's a fight they'll get! I'll see they're billed fully this month for every access they have on the damned mountain, and if they don't pay, by God, we'll seize their property!"
"No, you won't!" the lawyer snapped, "you will charge them only for the single service they will establish. You will charge them for nothing else precisely as they say for the gas they use, nothing more. And I'm quite sure they'll use more than the minimum each month. So there'll be no problem about it."
"What?" Higgins screamed, "You're going to let them run right over us?"
The lawyer shrugged. "Not only that," he answered, "but when the fifteen people associated with them switch over to hydrogen gas in town, you will cease billing THEM!"
Higgins stood dumbstruck. "Why?" he finally managed, "In the name of God, why?"
"Because they'll fight all the way to The Supreme Court, and in these papers they've already declared that they will expect full reimbursement for any funds they've had to pay out while the local process is taking place. We'll spend millions fighting them, then we'll lose, The Supreme Court will declare our charges unconstitutional beyond our legal rights, as they already have in three other states. We want to keep it out of the courts as long as we can, because we can't win. And if we have to make massive refunds, the company's bankrupt. Our only course of action is to slowly phase out the minimum charges, continue on with what business we can keep."
Higgins could not believe what he was hearing.
"But we're going to stop the legislation!" he argued.
The lawyer shook his head. "We'll be defeated," he moaned, "we don't know how. They've got the votes. The senators and representatives aren't cooperating any more. Don't cause trouble right now! just quietly let them have their way."
"All right! All right!" Higgins moaned, "But I can't believe this! We're the most powerful business in this state! We can't fight them?"
"It's getting harder and harder for anybody to fight them," the lawyer answered, "every time you think they can't possibly win they do. None of the old tricks seem to work any more. They just roll right over you! I can't figure it. It makes no sense but it happens. Well, I've got to go. follow instructions. Do as you're told. But don't expect any executive bonuses this year. Nobody will be getting any. Good bye!
Higgins stood there in a daze as the lawyer left. Then he went out into the office and told the accountant to cancel all the bills to the mountain, except the one service they were having established. "The spoiled brats have to have their way!" he snorted. "The precious children do their thing. Damn them! Damn them all!"

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