The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-03
ELECTRIC LIGHTING
COSTS TOO MUCH
HELENA INVITES CITY OFFICIALS
OF MONTANA TO MEET AND
DISCUSS RATES.
Tueday in Helena a special cor

AaSAaS III lIClSld d oISIldl tDlfi-
mittee appointed by the city council
to make an investigation into the cost
of electric lighting and the rate fol
power in the Capital city, made its
report. In addition to reporting thai
in its judgment the rate for light and
power was too high in Helena, the
committee believes. that the rates
throughout Montana, where electricity
is generated by the use. of water
power, are too high and it recon :
mended a meeting in Helena on April
% of representatives of all cities in
Montana who ma be authorized to
join the city of Helena in an applica-
ton to the state public service com
mission, provided for in senate bill
No. 10 of the last session, for a reduc
ton. The Helena council accepted the
report of its committee and author
lied the calling of the state meeting.
Yesterday the formal invitation to be
represented at the meeting came to
Mayor Rhoades and the city council.
Committees Report.
The following is a o p of the re-
port made by the special committee of
the Helena council:
ITO the Honorable Mayor and CITY
Council:
Neutrality-suspicious. special commit
tee. which was directed to make in
quiries with a view to securing lower
rates for electric lighting and power
services, beg leave to report that the
rates for such services in the. city OF
Helena are unreasona!bly high; also, as
We have been informed, the Helena
rates are much higher than at Great
Falls, Butte. and other cities where
electric power is supplied from exact
~ the same source. You committee
Is therefore of the opinion that steps
should be taken with a view to Sc
curing for Helena such power and
light rates as will be equal at least to
those of Butte, Great Falls and other
cities; and recommends that the city
attorney be instructed to present at
once an application to the state. com
mission, as provided for in senate bill
No. 10, which was passed by the last
legislative session, and that such APP
plication contain a request for such
reductions as they may be justified
by the facts which he will be able. to
prove. In view Of the cost of cleo
tricity as generated by water power,
your committee believes that all rates
in Montana are. high and that there
should be a general reduction. Your
committee, therefore, recommends that
it be empowered and directed to issue
a general call for a state meeting to
be held at Helena on Monday, April 2S,
1918, and that all Montana cities be
requested to send representatives who
will hn fully opthNpiooI - 1-,o~x
their respective cities, and to join in
an application for reductions in cleo
trio lighting and power rates. Also
that such application be presented
without delay and as provided for by
senate bill No. 10 of the Thirteenth
legislative assembly. Your committee
also recommends that the city clerk
be directed to give all possible pub
licity of the proposed state meeting,
and to invite particularly all city Of
ficials of Montana cities.
Your committee called on Mr..
Sharpe of the light company, but vas
unable to get any satisfaction from
him in regards to reductions in light
ing, he being satisfied to let it come
before the public utility commission
for adjustment.
Respectfully submitted,
&C. OLLIE Common,
"B. r. STREETS,
% {. H. HEAD,
III. S. HEPNER,
CITY Attorney,
Especial Committee
The notice of the proposed meeting
and the invitation for Missoula to par
ii ipate was received by the council
Yesterday, but no action was taken.