The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-14
Residents and Business Men
Wondering When Authors
ties Will Reduce the Pres
ent Charges.
HOLD THAT THEY
CAN BE REDUCED
Supt. Johnson Says that
Changes to Equipment
Precludes Reduction in
Rates This Year.

Will the city ever lower the light
and power rates TO compete with those
of the Light. Heat and Power COM
pany?
This question has been asked and
repeated by laboring men and busi-
ness men year after year. since the
construction of the city light plant.
Each year the plant has been increas-
ed in point of capacity and equipment,
but when city officials or those in
charge OF the plant are interrogated
in regard TO the lowering of light
rates an evasive answer is forthcom-
ing.
Nimrod Johnson, superintendent OF
the plant, was asked today il the city
had any intentions of lowering the
rates. He said it had none so far as he
knew superintendent Johnson inti-
mated however, that such action was
impossible, at least at present. because
a new unit is 10 be installed within the
near future.
Mayor Zimmerman has often made
the remark in council and board OF
public works meetings that a large
number of the "so-called boosters of
Richmond are pikers" because they do
not patronize the city light and power
plant
Laborers Suffer.
1t is said that the majority OF city
light consumers belong TO the laboring
classes. Many shop men who have
taken the city light for years are clam
moring for lower rates. They declare
that when they were first solicited to
patronize the city's plant thew were
given to understand that within a COM
paratively short time the rates would
be lowered TO the level of those of the
l.. II. & p. company.
Il have taken the city's light for
years" said one laboring man today,
and l have paid considerably more
money for light bills than | would
have paid if / had patronized the 9TH
er company. l took this light because
wanted to support the city as much
as possible. II was through public
spirit and I believe every man should
do this. But believe the city should
show some consideration to those who
have helped build and maintain its
plant"
There is an agitation on foot to
urge the city officials TO take up this
matter. Those behind the movement,
the plans of which are, as yet tenta-
tive, contend that If the city would rel
duce its rates that 1t would secure
more patrons and in this way increase
in net profits.
Competing Rates.
The rates of the Light. Heat and
Power company for lights are nine
cents per kilowat. with a discount of
twenty per cent and ten per cent up To
fifty kilowats. For from fifty TO 100
kilowats the rate is cents, with a
discount OF twenty per cent and ten
per cent.
The rate of the city plant is cents
less twenty per cent up TO fifty kilo-
watts and for from fifty TO 100 kilowats
the rate is s cents less twenty per
cent.
The power rates of one company are
about the same as those of the other,
il is understood.
Requests made by a number OF
persons interested in the welfare Of
the city, that the city pay for the light
ing of the streets out of the general
fund, were totally ignored by city Of
ficials. The street arc lighting is
not paid for. This is burden 10 the
light plant according 10 the superin-
tendent, and IL is unfair TO patrons
of the plant, who practically pay for
the street lighting and also OF parks
and public buildings, This amounts TO
quite a sum each month.
Persons in a position to know de-
clare that the refusal of the admins
tration TO comply with these requests
is an attempt TO bolster up the city
treasury and to make political capital
out of this at the next municipal elec-
ton when DR.. W. W. Zimmerman in
tends to make his sixth race for may
or.