The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-01-18
swINDLINc BY FALSE METERS

In Lincoln, Neb., and in some other wester
titles consumers of gas recently discovered tina
n spite of reduced rates their gas bills wer
arger than when the rates were higher Thi
was a mystery that caused much agitation. TIL
gas companies asserted that the discrepancie
we're all in the mind of chronic dckers. In viey
If this controversy it is instructive to Obtain
,ther light than gas light on the subject. Her
s what Thomas Carl Spelling has to say in hi
,ook ''Bossism and Monopoly" lately issued
The rigging up Of gas meters and mech
anism for measurement OF gas and electricity
supplied is a fine art None but experts
understand or are capable Of understanding
their workings The people delude them
selves into the belief that a municipal ordi-
nance fixing maximum rates for these SER
vices Is barrier to extortion, except that
they believe the maximum SO fixed Is too
high. So patient and credulous are con-
sumers that they refuse to believe that
burdens are being paid upon them equal
to twice and sometimes five times the amount
which such ordinances sanction. And yet
not cent Is apparently charged, according
to the. mechanism furnished by the COM
panies, above the legal rate. II laborer
out OF a job is charged with stealing a coat
or a soup joint, the same consumer, and
even those of the same class as the ac-
cused, are ready in advance to assume his
guilt. Yet when their gas and electric light
bills are inflated to an extent that materially
diminishes the profits of business, or even
necesstates a curtailment of orders on the
butcher and baker, they must submit with
the best possible grace being in fear that
II they kick up row with so powerful an
institution as the monopoly in question: even
more serious results may follow than the
extortion or swindle thus practiced And
Of ID
tinues from month to month and from year
to year, the consumer tries to dvest his
mind OF the disturbing thought that men so
powerful financially and so respectable So
cially as the monopolists would lend them
selves to such AN outright scheme of grand
and petit larceny. The steaings of the
New York Lighting trust have been shown
up from time to time in the press Of that
city, A thorough exposure before a public
body OF the San Francisco Electric Light
and Gas company has occurred in but one
instance, and is of sufficient Importance to
warrant brief account here. 1t was con-
Quoted before the grand jury in April, 1906
general practice of managing the meters
and electric measuring apparatus so as to
give false registration was exposed care
fully prepared and verified report was filed
by an expert and many witnesses were ex-
amined. That the fraudulent imposition
was not occasional merely, and hence at
tiioutdolc W TIE uiSHOH6Sty VI Il lew EN-
poyes, but, on the contrary, was universal
swindled concocted and put in general opera
ton by the management, is evident from the
great number and diversity of the instances
shown as we'll as from the method adopted
which was such as could only be operated
with the connivance of those in charge of the
general offices of the company. Among the
most important of the witnesses was Henry
I. Sessions, an electrical engineer whose
business was the inspection and testing of
meters for patrons of the company and for
gas and electric consumers generally. His
testimony was carefully prepared and backed
up with data covering considerable period
OF time. He said that he had tested hun
dreds OF meters throughout the city and
had already compelled the return of thou
sands OF dollars to his employers ON showing
overcharges made by scientific proofs that
their meters were registered falsely. lie sub
mitted HIS scientific data and proofs show
Ing In some instances that the meters OF
the company had been made TO run as high
as los per cent too fast He also sub
mitted positive nroof that the company In
structed It's employees &c "hx" the meters