Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-03
The Lighting Bill Hearing.
SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE GIVEN BE-
FORE THE LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
THURsDAY.--HEARING NOT CONFLICT
ED AND ADJOURNED TILL TUESDAY.

The hearing on the bill authorizing
the South Paris Village Corporation tt
establish a lighting plant was opened a.
the state house at Augusta Thursday
afternoon about 2:30, before the Lega
Affairs committee to which it was re
ferred. The bill has excited consider.
able comment, and the committee room
was well filled throughout the entire
hearing.
Hon. James S. Wright opened the case
for the petitioners, and presented com.
plete history of the development OF
monopoly lighting in the villages OF
Norway and South Paris. He then out.
lined the case of the petitioners, and
stated that they would show, not only
that the lights furnished by the Oxford
Light Co. had been unsatisfactory in
point of service in previous years, but
that the proposed schedule of prices was
higher than in other towns similarly
situated.
The first witness called was Y. D.
Bolster, who testified that the prices
were from 20 to 25 per cent higher than
in other towns. Mr.. Bolster presented
an extensive tabulation of the various
rates as reported by various companies
doing business throughout the state.
He was croSs-examined somewhat by
Hon. Herbert NJ. Health of Augusta, at
torney for the Oxford Light Co.
ness. He testified to the extreme varia-
tons in the rate paid by different con-
sumers, ranging from IS cents to 10 cents
per month for a l6-candle-pOwer light.
He spoke also of the inefficiency of the
service.
Alton c. Wheeler, being called next,
testified to the report of II. 7. Sands,
superintendent of the Lewiston and
Auburn Electric Light Co., who had
prepared extensive estimates on the
situation at South Paris. AS secretary
of the committee appointed by the cor
poration to investigate the lighting
situation, Mr.. Wheeler presented further
a computation, based upon the estimates
of Mr.. Sands and upon the present
revenue received by the Oxford Light
Co. from South Paris, which showed
that the entire Indebtedness contracted
by the installation of municipal light
ing plant would be paid up, free and
clear, in ten and one-half years, in the
natural course of events.
Walter L. Gray was the next to testify,
and spoke of the general inefficiency of
the street lights. S. p. Maxim and A.
c. T. King testified in confederation of
this testimony.
The petitioners having rested here,
Mr.. Heath opened the case for the Ok
ford Light Co. He called Hon. George
E. Macomber to testify to the excellence
of the plant, the unusually good quality
of the service, and the poverty of the
organization, which does not pay much
more than the interest on its debt. He
offered to sell the entire plant to the
South Paris Village Corporation, but
failed to make it clear just why he
thought South Paris wanted plant that
even under his experienced finauciering,
is an elephant on the hands of certain
distinguished gentlemen of the state.
w. J. Jones, formerly superintendent
of the Oxford Light Co., was called by
Mr.. Heath and testified to various minor
points previously touched upon.
These witnesses were cross-examined
at some length by Mr.. Wright. At this
point, though the hearing was only about
half concluded the hour was late, and
some of the committee having engage
ments for the evening, it was decided to
adjourn the hearing to Tuesday, March
8, at p. NJ, when it will be concluded.