The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-08
CHARGES AGAINST
FACTORY OWNERS
Claimed That They Do Not
Want Sale of Light Plant
Because of Low Rates.
EXAMINATION is FAVORED.
THOUGHT THAT THE INNER
WORKINGS OF THE PLANT
SHOULD BE PLACED BEFORE
THE PUBLIC.

A local business man IN replying to
a communication signed by Nv. ". S"
and which appeared in the Palladium
last Tuesday, states that those who are
kicking SO hard against the proposed
sale of the municipal lighting plant to
the Richmond Light, Heat & Power
company, are factory owners who Sc
cure a greatly reduced rate from the
city for light and power for their fac
tories and for their homes. The citi-
zen referred to, further states that so
long as this condition of affairs exists
the factory owners do not care a snap
Of their fingers whether the municipal
plant is being operated at loss and
that it is the cause of keeping the tax
rate at a high figure The reply to
the Wv w. S." article is as follows:
Editor of Palladium:
Replying to the communication sign
ed by w. w. s., printed in your paper
Tuesday evening. May ). would say
that w. w. S. pictures a very deplora-
BILE state Of affairs for the city if they
should sell their light plant to the
Light, Heat & Power company, or any
other corporation.
Does w. w. s., or any other citizen
really believe that a franchise, wherein
the maximum rate was established
could ever be broken or got around
Can he name one single instance where
the maximum rate, established by a
franchise was ever raised? There is
no case on record of corporation ever
succeeding in raising the rates estab
lished by its franchise.
The communication of w w. S
casts a reflection on the legal talent OF
our city. We certainly have a number
of lawyers in our city, any one OF
whom could prepare a franchise that
would be impossible to break, especial
| ly on the rate question.
w. w. S. in his communication is
giving his views from the standpoint o.
a factory owner, which between the
! lines reads as follows:
Fellow Citizens and Taxpayers-Yot
!
! light and bear the expense of maintain
ing the city light plant so that we fac
! tory owners, (the favored few can ge
our light and power for our factories
and our homes. at greatly reduced
rate. We know that the expense O
operating the city plant has been. anC
will be, the cause of raising the ia!
rate. but our saving in operating ex
pense. on account of very low rate a
which we secure current for light anc
power purposes at our factories. will
more than offset the extra amount, i
any, that we would have to pay, due t
the increase in the tax rate.
Do not permit an investigation of tn
books in the office of the city ligh
plant, for that would show the publi
just how we were favored at their eX
pense, and we would be compelled t
pay our proportionate rate for ligh
and power.
w. w. S. plainly states in his com
munication that the interests witt
which he is connected has been main
tanning it's own separate power ant
light plant" but he does not say tina
we use current from the city plan
for light and power" which is vel
known.
Inasmuch as an official of the Light
Heat & Power company. Mr.. E. E
Witherby. has stated in public that
the city electric plant was losing mon
ely, and he could prove it." let us Civ
him every opportunity to do so, let IL
cooperate with him. and find out
there is any truth in his statement
If an examination of all the book
of the City Light Plant. by recognize
expert accountants, should show tina
The city was losing money, l for on
would vote to sell the light plant
Turn on the light. have an investiga
ton and find out where we stanC
Yours very truly.
A CITIZEN