The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-03-17
Want to Furnish Light and
Power to County, but Re-
fuse to Submit a Written
Bid as Others Do.
FEAR LOW RATE WOULD
BECOME A BOOMERANG
One Merchant Told that if He
Would Use the Light, Heat
and Power Company Pro-
duct He Could Dictate Rate.

Fearing to submit a bid to the coun-
ty commissioners because il would
fall in the hands of newspaper report
ers and the suicidal rates would be
made public, the Richmond Light,
Heat g. Power company still persists
I'm it's efforts to induce the commits
sioners to substitute its lighting and
power for the court house and county
Jail in place of the lighting and power
now furnished by the municipal plant.
Commissioner Clark stated yester-
day that Manager Lane of the Rich
mond, Light, Heat 81 Power company
had twice of late appeared before the
commissioners and offered to furnish
lighting and power at the court house
and county Jail at very low rate. Mr..
Clark stated that the commissioners
had not considered the offer made by
the trust company, for the reason it
baked on the instructions given by
the commissioners.
Written Bid is Wanted.
1--WE told the Light, Heat & Power
representative" said Mr.. Clark, that
If his company would submit a bid for
the contract of furnishing lighting and
power, the bid would be considered by
the commissioners. For some reason
it appears that the cAlpany does not
care to offer rate inAriting and sub
init it for our consideration"
The Richmond Light, Heat & Power
fears publicity, is the opinion of those
who are informed on the situation.
The board of works and all of the
city officials greatly appreciate the
stand the Palladium and Sun-Telegram
have taken in regards to the munich
pal light plant" remarked President
Merrill. of the board of public works
Yesterday 1T is high time that the
public should be informed as to the
tactics the Light. Heat & Power COM
pany is employing in its attempt to
drive the city plant out of business.
Mr.. Merrill stated that he believed
that the citizens of Richmond, once
their patriotism was aroused, would
rally to the support of the city plant,
and he intimated that the tables might
trust plant, that it would be the one
to retire from the field.
Any Old Rate Method.
Mr. Merrill stated that he had relia
BILE information to the effect that a
rev days ago one VI the
tives of the trust plant called on To-
cal business man. who is one of the
best patrons of the municipal plant,
and he was told by the representa-
tive that if he would use the Light,
Heat & Power lighting, he could die
tate the rate to be charged him. This
merchant told him that he was getting |
an excellent rate from the municipal
plant and that he intended to stand |
by IL, first, because he believed in mu-
uicipal ownership. and secondly. be- |
cause as a taxpayer he had consider |
able money invested in the plant. Mr.. |
Merrill states that the big majority of |
business houses and factories now use
lighting and power and |
that recently several very big con-
tracts have been made. A big North |
l. street jobbing house is the latest |
deserter from the ranks of the trust |
company. One of the biggest con-
tracts the city has made of late is /
with the Hoosier Drill company.