The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-25
reading was "cost of production"

that it could Neadily be seen that the cost of lighting was $2.z6 per lamp more per year than in 1906 and pre- vented compliance with section .l2 of the contract which stated that the company would reduce the cost or electricity in case of cost of pro- duction. He said the cost of. labor had advanced. Engineers who used men have been advanced from $z to $2.14 per day, dynamo men have been increased from $1.8 per day to $2.3l and trimmers from s1.75-to $2, an aver The state said, Of course the com pany has enjoyed an increase in the volume of business.'' On the top Of | all this it is said that the company was considering the installation of a new system which would cost $5O,OO | Coal he said had advanced in price 1 from s3.5O to $3.S5 per ton. | Judge Beers informed the committee that a new type of lamp called the he Bridgeport before the resolution was introduced in the common council creating the present committee. | MT. Judson wanted to know 1T the new type of lamp was not introduced during the recent electric light "ag1-
 tation'' at Hartford.
 Judge Beers said there had been no been a discussion and that the lights had been ordered in December prior to the "discuSSion.'
 MT. Paul replied that there had not.
 The new lamps he said were in an ex- tperimental state and were being used l in the center of the city. He did not know how much it was going to cost Ito operate them. He said there were just 49 of them in use l "I want to ask you a legal ques- tion. Judge Beers said MT. Judson. The judge said that he might insist that the question be accompanied by a retainer.
 'Is it not implied in the contract be- tween the company and the city that
 the company must furnish adequate service 2''
 q couldn't say" replied the judge.
 wouldn't you concede that it does.' .''
 asked MT. Judson.
 | q wouldn't concede anything" an-
 swered the counsel for the electric | light company.
 | Mr. Judson said that if that was
 Judge Beers attitude he did not see
 any use in questioning further. | Chairman Day said that figures pre- | Sented by Judge Beers were of no use
 unless accompanied by the method of | figuring.
 l Alderman Bul1ard said that the fig l ures did not seem to differenciate be- tween the cost of producing energy for
 arc lights and incandescent lights. Attorney Judson asked Judge Beers if he was aware that the methods of
 the United Illuminating Go. in Bridge
 port had been obsolete for two years
 according to the reports of the public
 service commissions of the states of New York and assachusetts.
 "I don't believe there are any such reports replied Judge Beers.
 'I have them here" replied MT. Jud- son.
 Il If so the reports are untrue" re- piled Judge Beers.
 Mr. Judspn next proceeded to exa-
 mine Manager Paul. The latter said he did not know how President Eng fish
 Elmer H. Ravens of the committee asked how many men the company lemployed at the Congress street plant at night. MT. Paul did not know.
 MT. Judson wanted to know the rela- tive proportion of energy supplied by the company's two plants. MT. Paul did not know.
 When this question was asked MT Paul leaned toward Judge Beers as though he was looking for advice. MT Judson asked: Did I hear someone say sub-rosa. you needn't answer ?? He added that it was not every wit ness who was privileged to have the advice of counsel before answering questions. Judge Beers objected to the
 remark of MT. Judson and said it was very unfair to say that he was coach ing the witness.
 'I have seen him talking to you,' replied MT. Judson.
 | "But I am not answering him." re- torted the judge.
 l MT. Judson then suggested that Mr. Paul be placed under oath and be made subject to the consequences of
 not answering the questions put to him.
 Under oath MT. Paul could not tell how much coal was used by the com lpany in day. He did not know how
 many hours a day the arc lamps in the city are operated. but he could find out by consulting the report sheets.
 He did not know the cost of producing electricity per kilowatt hour, but MT. English would know.
 MT. Judson wanted to know if the company was supplying electricity at three cents per kilowatt hour against the city's contract price of and 8 cents.
 | Judge Beers said that the question
 was not pertinent as it dealt with the private business of the company Chairman Day said that as he un- l derstood the matter the law treats public service corporations differently than a private corporation and he be- lieved the question was a proper one Col Havens wanted to know if there was any larger customer on the com
 pany's books than the city Of Bridge