The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-27
TO FIGHT A LIGHT MONOPOLY.
The Merchants Will Cooperate.

on the new schedule of
Make Complaint OF rates, a CALL reporter
High Pates. visited them yesterday.
but they were not by any
means of one mind in regard to the action
of the companies.
II. Summerfed of Summerfeld & Co.,
Market street, said 81 consider the rate
far too high. and 1t shows exceedingly bad
policy for the electric light company to
increase the price at the present time es-
pecialy.
Business generally at this time of the
year is on the decline, and storekeepers are
compelled to economic in every possible
way.
''Onr lighting bill is a heavy item In our
expenditures, and the companies show very
little consideration for us and other mer-
chants in jumping upon US with such an In
creased percentage in the cost.
1--WE burn twenty-three arc lights and
have been paying the regular schedule rate
charged by the company of 81 so each per
week. What was our astOnishment and
Indignation, therefore. TO find quite lately
that one of our neighbors. who burns only
two arc lights. has been charged at the rate
Of 81 p. or Tx per cent less than We have
been paying for our twenty-three.
81 think. TO put It mildly, that this is not
q square deal, so far as we are concerned.
IF the company enforces the new schedule
we will cut down our ere lights to one-half,
which will be to the company's dissdvan-
tage and not to ours.
The reduced number will not in the
slightest degree interfere with the proper
lighting OF our store.
CAS- long as the charges are reasonable
we are prepared to patronize the company
to the fullest extent. and at the same time
benefit the citizens who promenade this pcr-
ton of the street during the evenings"
Alfred Ljlienfeld. manager of the Chicago
Clothing Store, KearEy street, spoke
strongly against the increase.
"The increase" he said. 'n the price of
the arc lights by the electric light company
is an imposition which should not and dare
not be tolerated by the business community.
"Some eighteen months ago, when the
Electric Improvement Company was In
direct opposition to the other company, Mr..
Rowe called on me personally and offered
to cut the then existing rates of the I'M
proyement Company 25 per cent aud sign
contracts for one, two. three or four years.
II then refused. preferring to encourage
the opposition company.
The rates at that time were 50 30 for
/ lights burning from dusk till midnight. and
a discount Of % per cent would have meant
81 81. The price now. as l understand it,
is SIS 80.
"As far as we are personally concerned.
we are under contract to the Electric In
proYement for one year for arc lights.
should any attempt be made to increase
the price Of our incandescent lighting we
would at once resort to gas, as would every
consumer in this block.
The business men are fully determined
to see that justice is melted out to them,
even # they have to suffer a little incOnYe-
nience for the time being
IAN that is wanted is unison and we are
bound to win in The long run as we are
battling for cur Just rights and endeavor-
ing to crush what We think a huge impOsi-
ton"
julius Raphael of Raphael Brothers.
Kearny street, was of quite a different
opinion and spoke iavorably Of the electric
! light people.
81 win express my views in few words"
be said. 'Ihe proposition now made by
the company is not an unfair one.
'TO those using largely the incandescent
lights the price is even lower than hereto
tore.
"The only material difference is the ad-
vance in the arc lights, and that can be
largely regulated by using different circuits
/ and by the discounts allowed US, which the
company has DONE the difference in price is
not so marked as the majority OF he croak-
ers state.
'tAn Injustice is being done the company
by great many people desiring TO show
their animOsity or with the desire of rush.
ing into print so as TO bring notice to them
selves.
The company has acted fairly by US. and
we have no complaint against thom.
THE difference in price now and that
maintained heretofore is so little that the
large consumers DC not feel the rise whatso-
ever"
l.. F. Kast of Kast & Co., Market street,
/ said: Il have been away
/ for some weeks and have What kast
just returned.
Il found the notice Bays OF the
! from the electric light Advance in
/ company with the new
schedule Of rates waiting the Rates.
| me, but | have not vet
/ had time to 60 thoroughly into the matter.
From a hasty glance, however, 1t seems
| TO me that the price has been put back to
the same figures Of the first cut made by the
company.
Eve have contract with the company
at the rates now charged and as We got the
| benefit OF the reduction since February last
we see no particular cause for objecting to
the present schedule"
The reporter called upon another large
! firm on Market street. The senior partner
! received him courteously. aud willingly
/ gave all the information, but asked that
their names should not be mentioned, as
| they did not wish to mix themselves up
with the electric light company's fight.
Il will show YOU" he said, "our contract
with the company and other papers which
| will speak for themselves"
After this had been DONE he sald
Il have shown you a contract made with
US on January %, 1892, in which the rates
are identical with those the company pro-
| pose to charge now.
That on February the company Issued
| notice making a reduction for arc lights
from S3 to 81 week for lamps burning till
midnight, and 10 per cent reduction In bills
| for incandescent lights.
! THAT these concessions were made to
customers Notwithstanding existing con-
| tracts which bound the customers to pay
higher rates through the entire year.
And that now the company has simply
| raised the rates to what they were previous
to February 8. 1892.
I'VE have, therefore. no cause for CON-
plant against the company.
''If any one should doubt the authenticity
of tnese statements you are at liberty to use
our name"
S. Gump OF S. & g. Gump. Geary street.
said: I'VE have our own dynamo and are
therefore not interested in the fight with
the electric light company.
81 would advise all large houses to do as
we have done and they Will find it much
cheaper in the end and much more salts
! factory, as the same mOtive-power can be
| utilized to work the elevator"
1--WE have nine lights in our establish
ment," said John g.
Eagleson threatens Eagles0n of Eagleson &
90 p.tor, r. Co., shirt manufacturers
on Market street, "but if
Gas-Lighting Soon. we are going to be taxed
as the circular says eight
of them will have to go out. Gas will give
US all the light we require, and it will cost
US no more than at the old electric-liaht
rates.
THE electric-lght com bine is cutting its