The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-31
.JEMISON'S MONOPOLY
Is ROUNDLY SCORED

pose that If we do not carry out our I'M
dertaking within the time fixed by the
council, our franchise shall be null and
void, and that the amount of money paid
shall be forfeited to the city, and we
agree enthusiastically that each of the
stockholders of this company will forever
struggle in poverty before we will volun-
tariy allow his company to obtain this
or any other franchise issued to our COM
pany, and that the city shall declare 1t
void II we do.
We understand Mr.. tensions reasons
for referring to this company as a fake
After his long familiarity with the pro-
duetive workings of his Railway Light
and Power company, either our COM
pany or any other legitimate enterprise
must seem to him most Lame and impo-
tent. We cheerfully admit on the record
that his concern is no fake. Any public
service monopoly that can reduce the
rates for gas and electricity and by the
same act double the monthly bills for
those necessities is real and substantial
and does credit to It's guiding mind. We
desire to remind that gentleman, how
ever that the Newman syndicate. al
though possessing large control over the
fortunes of our local citizens, has not yet
corralled all outstanding capital, and
that it is barely possible for us to finance
our proposition without taking our stock
to the Newman tank or seeking Mr.. Jemi-
sons appreciation. He must not confuse
the desire of his company to acquire all
the legal tender now issued by the gov
eminent with the actual fact that some
of it is yet owned by outsiders who may
be ready in their mad haste of self-de-
struction, TO finance a competitive enter
prise. We desire to disabuse Mr.. tensions
mind of the impression that he represents
the syndicated responsibility of Jefferson
county.
Finally, to prove to the motley fools of
this city that his company Is a branch
of the United Charities, he points with
pride" to the voluntary reduction made
by him in the price of gas and electricity
This is reckless humor. 1t Is known of all
men that these so-called reductions were
made under duress by the Board of
Mayor and Aldermen. In the same man
ner his company Is voluntarily paying
some $3.50 as a license tax; most cheer
fully assumed by his company to avoid
the levy of reasonable tax upon his
franchises which would have netted some
hundred thousand dollars annually to the
city. Marvellous generosityi The rate on
gas was reduced from 81 65 to 81 under
compulson. He also benevolently reduced
the illuminating power of the gas some
90 per cent and with the other hand
raised the bills levied upon the consum-
ers. He also boasts of reducing the rate
on electricity The fact that the citizens
of Mobile (where competition exists pay
less than one-half than the citizens of
Birmingham for electricity, though man
ufaetured at a higher cost, will give some
idea of Mr.. Jemisons generosity. North
Birmingham, owning its own plant, sup
plies electricity for about one-third of the
rate charged by Mr.. Jemison's benevo-
lent and protective association. Every
time Mr.. Jemison gives birth to a mag
unanimous reduction of rates, the burden
on his customers seems to increase If
any further reductions are contemplated
there ought to be an independent line of
railway in our midst to enable the in
habitants of Birmingham to escape the
wrath to come.
ter is published for the purpose of show
ing the public the insincerity and hypo-
crisy of any protestations coming from
the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company. We met Mr.. Jemson on
Fifth avenue and he was overwhelmed
We are now before the City Council with
our petition and have no sort of fear
that Mr.. tensions effrontery will abash
that board In its desire to award us an
Immediate franchise into this city, for we
are still of the opinion that the council Is
neither owned nor subject to the dlcta-
tion of Mr.. Jemison. The third appeal he
makes is to the publia and we challenge
Its manifest insiieerity A MONOPOLY
hose unoonscionable greed causes it to
be attacked from the pulpit by men of
God is in no position to appeal to the
people to assist it In sitting competition
If Mr.. Jemison desires any further state
ment of oLr opinions as to his sincerity,
we will enlarge upon the foregoing to his
entire satisfaction.
TIDEWATER DEVELOPMENT CO.,
ssa j. M. Dewberry, President.