The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-01-20
VITAL FLUID PERMEATES THE
COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN
HUGE QUANTITIES.
Monster Petition, Facts and Figures
Presented to the Board by
Dr.. Crop.

That the patrons OF the NOrtn"e
ern Gas and Electric company in Wal
la Walla are compelled to pay exhorbi-
tant rates for gas and electricity was
the contention of DR.. J. F. Crop, at
the council meeting last night. when he
presented to the council a monster pc
tition bearing the signatures Of nearly
500 people asking that a maximum
rate for gas and electricity be fixed,
and also facts and figures from indi-
viduals and gas and electric companies
of p towns and cities of the northwest
showing the rates charged for these
conditions in other cities, to be from so
to 100 per cent. less than it is alleged
the local company is charging at the
present time.
To use a homely expression, the doc
tor was loaded for bear when he was
given permission to address the coun-
ell on the subject Of Walla Walla en-
deavoring to secure lower rates on gas
and electricity. In his left hand he
clutched a formidable roll that was
passed over to Clerk Reynolds and
proved to be the petitions signed by
nearly 800 people. With his other hand
the doctor fished a mass Of papers
from an inside pocket and with a clear
right Of way he poured facts and fig
ures into the council and a score or
more Of open mouthed spectators for
dealt with what the local company
was charging it's patrons for both gas
and electricity and with the rates
charged in other cities for the same
service. In every instance he said the
local rate was from so to 100 per cent.
.gher than was charged elsewhere
either in the big cities like Portland.
Tacoma. Seattle or the smaller towns
like Pendleton, Dayton. Yakima or
| even the little town of Milton where
made for Is candle power incandescent
lights. In Dayton the rate was about
the same and he commended that the
former proprietOrs of the plant had
become rich within the past ten or
twelve years.
In his own case the doctor said that
| the Walla Walla hospital. of which he
is president. was paying over $50 per
month for 20 incandescent lights as
compared to $50 per month for the
| same service under the old company.
1t had resolved itself into the fact of
either using oil lamps at the hospital
or forever closing it's DOORS The rate
was exhorbitant and the heavy toll
could not be met. The doctor closed
his arguments by filing the following
petition for the leasing of the old race
and water power of the Isaacs COM
pany for the purpose of installing an
electric plant:
Il hereby make applicable to lease
the old mill site, raceways and
riparian rights heretofore ac-
quired by the Walla Walla Water COM
pany from the late H. p Isaacs and
now owned by the city Of Walla Walla
for the purpose of manufacturing cleo
trio light and power to be furnished
the citizens of Walla Walla at mini
mum rates.
The petition was referred to the
water committee to report at as early
a time as possible
Pres. Anderson Talked.
President Isaac Anderson of the
Northwestern company entered the
council chamber while the matter was
under discussion and at the close was
requested to set d date on which he
could meet with the committee on
street lights to which the petitions had
been referred. He explained that he
would leave for Boise City this after
| noon to be gone for ten days and on his
| return would be plea sed to take up the
matter IN detail. He denied in toto
| that the Northwestern Gas and Elec-
trio company had in any shape or form
| raised It's rates on either gas or cleo
triclty. while in many instances the
i rates had been reduced. The North
western people he said had invested
their money in Walla Walla with the
expectation of making money. but to do
! this they had to create a demand for
their commodity which he commended
could hardly be done by raising rates
! to an exhorbitant figure as it has been
alleged.
Mr. Anderson made the sensational
statement that of the signatures to
| the petition presented by DR.. Cropp
that 1873 were of persons who were not
using either gas or electricity nor
| never had been. Between 95 and 100
were paying less than IS per month";
some as low as so cents.
There was some discussion as to
when the committee on street lights
would be ready to report to the whole
council. 1t was necessary several
members thought to secure data as to