Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-01
License Tex on Electric Company
Wit hat be Increased II
Old Rates are Resumed.
CONSIDERED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Final Arguments From Captain nerke.
ley for Merchants, and General
Manager Butler, for Company, are
Heard-Proposition viii be submit
ted at once.

a comprOmiss In tile electric light
nnd power matter was agreed npun
by The finance committee oil the com
Gil last night. after n lengthy Discus.
sini, in executive session.
The committee proposes 20 make
no changes IN the present license tax
upon electric light companies, pro-
vidsd the Citizens company will make
It's rates what they were before the
recent change. and will give rate
of from 10 3 cents per lilo watt hour
on power. The proposed new rate on
power was suggested by Mr. w. W.
$. Dutleih general manager of tho
Citizens company, therefore the only
question now before the committee Is
whether or not the company will re-
cind It's action IN increasing the rates
10 large consumers by reducing dis
counts
The committee mt; last night with
Chairman Read ANA Nlessrs. Robin.
son, WEST. raNis. Ford aud Dr.
Iloskins present. Mr.. Butler
appeared as tile representative Of the
railway and light companies, ana Cap
lin G. G. Berkeley was present us
counsel for The Joint committee of tbs.
i Merchants Association and Chamber
Of Commerce.
Profits OF Company.
Captain berkeley made Drlei
statement, summarizing his argument
nj Inst week and Offering some new
fncts for the consideration OF The
committee. For The purpose of show
ing that the Citizens Company has
! for years been making large proiita
he submitted the Following figures, oh.
( tsiheu from the corporation commits
non: Net income for 1903 Digit ant
ice). S370i5.22: 1904 tlighD. So 2aNv
&C., captain anii shai In 1904. dur
Ing The fight with the Consumers com
nsny, the Citizens company was max
ing rite of cents lfr klio watt hour
( for current, and that the recorde
Z showed that the company made Il net
profit OF $4,000 during That year. lie
Went on To say that Il had been
I proven that the company was making
enormous profits on the light bust
ness, ana that lie believed the neoplo
should share In these profits. lie
declared that the rates charged else
whsre had nothing to 10 with the case
b'tause NtSspoi,t News should not
80 wrong simply because other cities
DO.
Figures Misleading.
Mr., Butler said thlt The net proflt
fig;f-es in the reports TO the corpora :
n M Toe Ion,
they Were arrived at simply by the
a deduction OF actual running expenses
from gross income. He said that when
money spent In improvements, taxes.
etc. and the deterioration Of property
= value weiis allowed for there would
be n very different showing. He IN.
vited the committee TO examine the
companies Looks for the purpose OF
3 ascertaining he truth of his state
ments.
M. Nj. III. Insh made statement
IN regard TO the discrimination In
rates. MIR. Batter said that he found
that condition existing upon his ar
rival here. and immediately called IL
to the attention of tbs directors of the
company with the view OF having II
corrected. Ho went on to say that he
did not believe special rates should
have been allowed anyone, and was
s glad that the condition had been cor
rooted.
MIR. Meyers Explanation.
MIR. Alex Meyers replied 10 the
statement that Meyers Bros, had
s been allowed a rate of abou. &c cen,s
Der Hilo watt hour for power saying
that n rate OF . cents. with a discount
of 20 per cent. on bills over a certain
amount. had been allowed Meyers
Bros. when that firm at great ex-
nensa. changed its elevator so that tho
light system OF the city would not he
in'erfercd with iy The running of the
elevator.
The committee went into executive
session ahont 10 o'clock. anu discuss
en- the matter for more than an hour.
me pronosition agreed upon will be
submitted 10 the electric company nj
Sonce