Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-29
COMMITTEE GIVES
LIGHT RATE DATA
Federated Improvement ASSoCia-
ton Representatives Issue
Statement to Voters

Light rates in many cities have been
under the scrutiny of a committee rep
resenting the Federated Improvement
association of Los Angeles. Much data
bearing on rates for electricity has
been gathered. The committee has
portant facts it learned which have
direct bearing on the question now be-
fore the voters of Los Angeles. The
statement follows
The only question as to the issue Of the
pending light rate fight is whether the people
go out to the polls and vote on the coming
Thursday. Those who favor the 7-cent cleo
trio light rate and fail to vote for it In effect
will cast vote for the power trust and
against their own interests.
We have before answered the questions of
the power trust and in particular have pointed
out that the tabulated statement Of COM
parative rates for electric lights in other
cities Of the United States, compiled and
mailed to us by the power trust, were not
only unfair and misleading, but a parody on
the rate situation in Los Angeles.
Now, at this late hour. comes this combine
for Compromise" after the honorable city
council and mayor had fixed the rate at
cents per kilowatt hour If the rate had been
fixed at cents then the power trust would
have come in with a compromise offer of
cents; and If the rate had been fixed by the
have offered a compromise at cents, accord
ing to- business methods And 1t Is but
natural and in keeping with their policy
that when the 7-cent rate has been legally
established and fixed by the city authorities
the power trust should now want to com
promise on Scent rate, to squeeze
an additional cent.
But let us see what kind of a joker this
compromise offer is. and whether or not any
offer along this line from the power trust is
entitled to any credence and consideration.
THE REFERENDUM
The power trust wants the situation con-
fused by its said compromise offer of cents,
while at the same time and only yesterday.
it filed its referendum petition for a Scent
rate (Which cannot be voted next Thurs
day.. Accordingly car it be that the citizens
of Los Angeles are TO voluntarily receive both
an Scent and a 9-cent rate? Which is
rect? Besides, the power trust in filing with
the city clerk yesterday its petition for a g.
cent rate did so for the purpose of entangling
the situation and in the hope of obtaining
some technicalty upon which to prevent the
operation of the 7-cent rate, which will
vote for on Thursday Such inconsistency is
in entire keeping with their policy toward
the public. Therefore, If Thursday you
defeat the 7-cent rate you will be caught in
the legal meshes fixed for you by the power
trust to continue the present 9-cent rate.
Let make a brief recital of the conduct
Of this power trust In the past toward other
municipalities in California, and observe how
contemptuousy ii regards public rights and
Riverside, about 10 years ago. was one of the
first cities to install municipal plant. After
buying electric Juice in Wholesale quantities
from the Edison company, Riverside dis
tributed said electricity to its domestic con-
sumers, and after paying the wholesale rate
to said Edison company, and after securing
city street lights at about one-thrd Of the
prices formerly charged by the Edison COM
pany, and the electric light rates reduced to
about one-half for the domestic consumer, the
city still made a net profit of about $4,000
hi oeIO .f,.er too otfr nf
Riverside, and so the power trust endeavored
in every way possible to misrepresent, dis
tort and prevaricate in regard to the facts
of the Riverside plant, and continues to do
ing its malinformation in papers controlled by
it throughout the country and in which it has
paid advertising space.
About five years ago the city of Santa Ana
voted bonds for the installation of a munich
pal light plant, and the entire proceedings
were knocked out and nullifed by these tao
tics of the power trust.
AT SANTA BARBARA
About the time a movement was
started in Santa Barbara for the establish
ment of a municipal plant and for a reduction
and the lowering of rates, and the same in
huence at work there, and a compromise offer
there of about cents disslpated the munici-
pal light plant of Santa Barbara merchants.
The history of the Pasadena fight is too
well known for repetition, and the citizens of
the Crown city are entitled to much credit
in battling in the courts and in the field of
politics the onslaught of this power trust.
1t Is therefore, needless to refer to Stock
ton, Oakland, San Francisco and other cities
of the north to learn of It's treatment of the
public, and what its promise amounts to
and what we may expect from it.
AS to new construction in new tracts the
power trust threatens that II will not carry
these forward at its own expense THIS is
nothing new For more than two years it
has been charging the owners of new sub
divisions about $50 pole for carrying cleo
trio light wires into these subdivisions.
Therefore another argument of the power
trust is misleading.
Not only should you come to the polls, but
you should get your friends and your neigh
bors all to out strong tomorrow and vote
for the proposed ordinance, which is for the
f-cent electric light rate.
1t is another great chance for the American
sovereign to exercise his right Of suffrage by
sustaining the good work done for him and
the innumerable domestic consumers of Los
Angeles by supporting the city council and
mayor and the numerous improvement asso-
Citations of the city of Los Angeles in their
fight for 7-cent electricity.
1t is up to you. Mr. Citizen, and up to
you alone, and we will expect you to show
your appreciation of our efforts in your behalf
by voting strong and early.
ROBERT G. LOUCKS,
N. S. FRYE
Committee Federated Improvement Association
of Los Angeles.