The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-18
Minority Report
 For Investigation
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Continued from Page 1) company and it's relations with the city should be continued by a com mittee equipped with abundant powers.
 The company has obtained with out cOmpenSat ton to the city the sole right to enjoy the valuable privilege of selling electric light to public and private consumers. It is monopoly and and as such is bound not to discriminate be- tween customers of the same class, , and not to charge more than a reasonable prices for it's product.
 Evidence recently given before the legislative committee on judi ciary seems to warrant the con- clusion that discrimination is practiced.
 A reasonable price is price that will return only fair profit upon the investment in the buSl- ness represented by the property used
 We find that the value of the property used is, or was in 1908, but $305, 900. This is the statement of the company made under oath to the assessors.
 There is no evidentiaI reason for assuming that the assessors have failed in their duty, nor that the honorable gentlemen who repre- sent the company have filed a per jured statement of the value of the property.
 The neighboring city of Spring field has a population of 86000.
 The gross income of the Spring field Electric Light Co.,, for 1908 was $465,O00 and it's profits were $2O5, 5,OO0
 Bridgeport is a city of 100000 population. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the income of the Bridgeport company was as large and it's profits as great.
 But a yearly cleanup of $212, 900 on an investment of $305OOO would surely warrant an investigation and call for a reduction of rates.
 But the assessed value of the property of tHe Electric Light Co.,, in Springfield is $1,470,C00 and in paid in taxes in 1908, $27,64O.
 This indicates either that the plant in Bridgeport is miserably obsolete, or else points to a con- cIusion at which we are reluctant to arrive, that the property of the local company is greatly underas- sessed.
 In the latter case if it should appear that the Bridgeport plant, upon investigation, is worth $1,- 1000, the increase over the pres ent valuation would be about $7OO,0O0 and the additional yearly income to the city on the basis of a tax rate of 15.8 mills would be about $11,O00, or more than twice the sum represented by the de- crease in the price of arc lamps.
 We are convinced that an inves- nf fIo nd methods would result in reduc-- tions to public and private con sumers of electricity and in con- siderable increase to the tax rev. enues.
 We recommend the passage of a resolution as follows:
 Resolved: That his honor the mayor be, and is hereby author ized and empowered to appoint a committee to consist of the mem bers of the miscellaneous com / mittee and two others. to inves- tigate the cost of producing elec- 'tricity for the lights furnished to the City of Bridgeport and to al- so investigate and inquire into the question as to whether there is any discrimination against the :. city by said company is comply ing 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 empowered to compel the attendance and testimony of wit nesses by the issuance of sub- poenas and the administration of paths in the manner and accord ing to the rules governing the same in courts of justice and to compel the production of all books, documents and papers which, in the judgment of said committee, be necessary or prop CT for the purpose of carrying on said investigation, and be it fur ther .- Resolved: That said committee be and is hereby authorized and empowered to employ a steno- grapher or other clerical assist ance and such other 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 re- port it's findings to this body, to- gether with such recommenda- tions as it may have to make.
 JAMES J. CARLIN,
 EUGENE I. MEYER.