The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-16

gress of the case up to this point, that
the question of reasonableness of water
rates for particular system, in any par
ticular community, and especially the
question of resonableness of these rates
as compared with other cities, is very
complex problem. Even the question of
reasonableness standing by itself must,
of course, involve all elements of natur-
al advantage and disadvantage at the
particular place, in the procuring and
supplying of water and distributing it
through the streets of city. Now,
when the comparison is instituted with
other cities, think it is almost impossi-
BILE to say that one city can be a parallel
to another in this respect. In the first
place, as has been seen in many respects
there is a different method of charges
different items of charges are made
different Observation-Disclosures in
this respect rather than any difference OF
rate. In addition to that, as has been
said, no comparison is Instituted here
with cities which are furnished by pri-
the purchase of the works, or the build
ing of the works has been a municipal
undertaking; whereas here in Portland
the entire capital has been furnished by
a private company which furnishes water
to the city free for certain public pur-
poses.
II do not wish to say word as to the
merits of the case at this point. only
wish to call attention to the difficulties
of the problem and to the details into
which we must enter if we are to pro-
coed in the way in which the hearing is
proceeding at present-because, OF
course, we must enter into details as to
all the items of these cities which have
been presented to the court, to show our
side of the case: we have also given
notice to the counsel on the other side of
certain other cities with which we wish
to make comparison"
1.-THE Portland Water Company at this
stage of the case has nothing to conceal;
everything in our office-books, records
and papers-have been open to the board
of commissioners and to their counsel
and their experts, for eight months, I'M
der the order of the court. SO there is
no fact to be Dissolved here that is not
known to the other side, nor does the
Portland Water Company start in antag--
onism to the City of Portland, the board
of water commissioners, or to the coun-
sci on the other side in this matter. That
is not our attitude. We expect revision
and satisfaction of these rates. The cor
a reference for this purpose and what
ever reduction of rates results from
ADJUST Revision and Modification
of them we are prepared to accept.
Now have said this much in pre-
Hminary way to the inquiry whether
there is not some way to assign limits by
mutual consent to this investigation.
And the only suggestion l can make in
regard to it, that has occurred to me
during the progress of the investigation,
is this: If | understood the learned
counsel who opened the case on behalf
of the city, the question of reduction 80
be made here-what changes should be
made in these rates-is one that has re-
ceived the consideration of the board OF
water commissioners and of the counsel
on the other side, and I understood him
to state that they had prepared a sche-
dule, which in due time they should
present to the court, showing the rates
which they claim should be established
by the decree OF this court. Now, it is
not my part to interfere, and l do not
wish to interfere with the proceedings
on the other side, OF to be guilty of any
interruption; l only wish to make the
suggestion that if now, or at any other
time when they see fit, counsel will sub
NIT to us for our personal examination,
to go no further unless they desire it,
any such schedule as that which they
have prepared, and which they propose
to submit to the court for examination,
to my mind it would be strange if we
could not agree upon something. The
parties here are disposed to treat this
matter fairly and to investigate it fairly,
and to reach correct result. If counsel
on the other side have definite PROPOSE
ton to submit to the court, | only sug-
gest on our part that we should be very
glad to have an opportunity at the
earliest time that is consistent with their
own ideas relating to the management Of
their case, to examine it and see how far