Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-16

A few members of the city council
have presented ordinances, proposing a
schedule Of rates for gas, electric lights
and power which are commendable
from, the standpoint of basis for
compromise argument made for
them by the councilmen proposing
them-but which are not low enough
by long ways if we are to consider
what Is a fair rate to the people of
Marshalltown and yield Jones & Hovey
no more than per cent returns on
their capital which return the United
States, supreme court has declared to
be fair.
The Times Republican has every re-
spect for the good judgment and high
purpose OF the men who have thus pre-
sented am attempt to enact low rates
for our public utilities and this news
paper Is willing to concede to them
some justification for their desire to be
eminently conservative in adopting or
dinances which give promise Of being
tested in court but the Times-Repub-
lican claims to be posted on the ques-
tA0iA VI AotSS dIo diSO uPoii Inc S<NSSSS
earnings Of the present utilities COM
pany and with this information would
not have fear of being able to convince
any court that a much lower schedule
of rates would be fair
Four Cent Power General.
For instance, go where you WILL the
prevailing rate Tor electric power is
cents per K w in all private owner
ship plants operated by modern man
agement. It would not be so if it were
not profitable. At Richmond, Ind. and
DanviIle, Va, we know of municipal
power plants selling power at cents
fat which pile up such a surplus after
paying per cent interest on the entire
cost, providing for depreciation. etc..
that the city trea surers tell their city
councils that they "can not possibly
have any use for such large revenues"
These things being true why let Jones
& Hovey charge any more than
cents? Why provide by ordinance that
Jones & Hovey. can charge the small
power consumer UP. to $3.50 per month
a rate of cents?
Seven Cents Flat For Lights.
Likewise with the electric light rate.
The Times Republican has published
the story of an electric light plant I'M
der private ownership in an Iowa coun-
ty seat town less than 100 miles distant
in which electric lighting current is
sold at cents up to 40 X. w. and B
cents thereafter at a big profit on
volume of business only one-fourth as
large as Jones & Hovey's business
Why then should we provide by ordi-
nance that Jones & Hovey can charge
10 cents up to so K. w. and cents
thereafter? Mr.. Gregory says that it
beats Jones & Hovey's present rate of
IA cents and cents mile and is con-
sentative. In this he may be right but
it is still too high. Eight cents and
cents or fiat rate of cents would
be fair rate.
90 Cent Gas About Right.
Again with the gas. Towns as large
as Marshalltown shruout the middle
west haveS$1 gas now and have had
for several years. Some of them are
beginning to agitate for still cheaper
gas. At Lansing, Mich town of 90
600 people, they have had 80 cent gas
for two years and will have so cents
gas in 1918. At Ann Arbor. Mich. 15.-
600 population. they have 81 gas up to
10000 cubic feet and 80 cent gas there
after At Cedar Rapids they have
proved to two courts from the COM
pany's own books that 80 cent gas is