The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-22
ed for public arc lights in Bridge

cessary to an adequate investigation. While the investigation was ill pro- gress the United Illuminating Co.,, which furnishes the said public lights, made a proposal to furnish magnetic lamps at the rate of S73 year pro- vided the city will use $50 lamps. This rate is $5.47 less than the charge Tor the lamp at present in use, which Is of an almost obsolete type. The new lamp will give more light
 Despite it's greater efficiency the magnetic light is much cheaper to produce. It requires only occasional attention and it costs SS or s10 a year less to maintain it.
 But the price of $73 a year is SIS higher than the rate al which the magnetic lamp has been offered to Hartford by the Hartford Electric Hartford is upon the basis of $50 lamps, and the price is $6O, for lamps on overhead circuits and $64 for lamps on underground circuits.
 Because of the greater efficiency of the magnetic lamp, Hartford has felt Justified in reducing it's number of arc lights from 800 to $50.
 If the lamps were judiciously loca- ted, Bridgeport would proba bly, not need more than $50, being territorially more. compact and there is no reason why these should not be furnished at the rate offered to Hartford.
 It is quite true that some of the current used by the Hartford company is purchased of another company which owns a waterpower. but nev- ertheless the cost of producing the light. furnished to Hartford under the conditions of the contract entered 1n- to will certainly be greater than the cost in Bridgeport
 Although the price proposed by the Init 1nt inc more than the city should pay, and although $50 lamps is more than the city should require, yet, as the fiscal year is nearly at an end, and as ap- 'propriations are soon to be made, 1t is perhaps advisable for the city to accept the arrangement purely as makeshift, and close a bargain for Is months.
 But the investigation of the com pany and its relations with the city should be continued by committee equipped with abundant powers.
 The company has obtained, without compensation to the city, the sole right to enjoy the valuable privilege of selling electric light to public and private consumers. It is a monopoly and as such is bound to discriminate between customers of the same class, and not to charge more than req sonable price for its products.
 
 legislative committee on Judiciary seems to warrant the conclusion that dscriminat tion is practiced.
 A reasonable price is a price that will return only a fair profit upon the investment in the business repre- sented by the property used.
 We find that the value of the prop erty used, is or was irk9 1908, but $3O5, 900. This is the statement of the company made under oath to the as- sessors
 There is no evidential reason for assuming that the assessors have fall- ed in their duty, nor that the honor able gentlemen who represent the company have filed a perjured state ment of the value of the property.
 The neighboring city of Spring field has population of S6,0OO. The gross income of the Springfield Elec- tric Light company efor 1908 was s465,- 900, and it's profits were s2o5, o0O-
 Bridgeport is a city of 100, 600 popu- lation. It is not unreasonable to sup pose that the income of the Bridge port company is as large and its prof it's as great.
 But a yearly cleanup of $212,OO0 on an investment of $305,O00 would sure ly warrant an investigation ana call for reduction of rates.
 But the assessed value of the prop erty of the Electric Light company in Springfield is $1,47O,OOO and it paid taxes in 1908, s27,640.
 This indicates either that the plant in Bridgeport is miserably obsolete, or we are reluctant to arrive, that the property of the local company is greatly under assessed.
 In the latter case, if it should ap- pear that the Bridgeport plant, upon investigation, is worth $1,0O0,000, the increase over the present valuation would be about $700000 and the ad- ditional yearly income to the city, on the basis of a tax rate of 15.8 mills would be about 1,000 Or more than twice the sum represented by the de- cerase in the price of arc lamps.
 We are convinced that an investiga- tion of the company and it's methods would result in reductions to public and private consumers of electricity and in a considerable increase of the tax revenues.
 We recommend the passage of res- OlutiOnS as follows:
 Resolved, That his honor, the mayor be and is hereby authorized and em- powered to appoint a committee to consist of five aldermen, to investi- gate the cost of producing electricity for the lights furnished to the city of Bridgeporf and to also investigate and inquire into the question as to whether there IS any QlSCr1mlnatlOn against the city by said company is complying with it's charter duties and legal obligations in it's relations with said city, and be it
 Resolved That said committee be and it is hereby authorized and em- powered to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses by the is- suance of subpoenas and the admin istration of paths in the manner and according to the rules governing the same in courts of justice, and to com pei the production of all books, docu- ments and papers which in the judg- ment of said committee, be necessary or proper for the purpose of carry ing on said investigation, and be it further
 Resolved, That said committee be and is hereby Authorized and en- powered to employ a stenographer or other clerical assistance and such oth- CT services as it may deem advisable in the pursuit of said investigation, and be it further
 Resolved, That said committee be and hereby is instructed to report it's findings to this body, together with such recompendations as it may have
 Alderman Primrose moved for the adoption of the majority report as amended.
 Alderman Meyer moved as amend ment the substitution of the minority report for the majority report.
 Alderman Conlin moved a yea and