Evening journal., 1913-04-11
PEOPLES co. WOULDALLOW
CITY TO FIX LIGHT RATES;
LOSE FRAN HISE If THEYSELL
To Consider Liberal Offer Street and Sewer Depart
menf Posfpones Action on Request for Lighting
PriViIege---CounseI for New Concern
Thoroughly Explains Business Plan.

100000. His company. he submitted,
was not earning anything like per
cent. on a replacement value. The
company last year he said sold
about 100000 kilowatt hours of cur
rent at an average Of 8 IL cents. The
profit, he asserted was around one
cent a kilowatt hour. To sell this
amount OF current. he added. 12,000,-
600. kilowatt hours had been generat-
ed, and the waste had resulted mainly
from the reserve current which had
been generated to maintain the ser
vice at high efficiency at all times.
Improve Present Plant
After a conference with Mr. Gray
Henry p. Scott explained that since
July. 1870 the Wilmington and Phil
adelphia Traction Company had ex-
pended 100000 on its property as
well as S2,500,000 on its present re-
placement value.
Mr.. Hilles declared that Mr. Gray
was speaking off the subject, that IL
did not matter what the earnings of
| the Wilmington and Philadelphia
Traction Company we're, but he
would be very glad if there could be-
an investigation of the actual cash
] y
The situation, he commended, would
be different II the Public Utility
Commission had the right to regu-
late the rates. For that reason Mr.
Hilles continued, he had come
to the meeting with something 10
allow the Board have which would
enable them to guard the public's in
terest. He admitted that the new
I r.r
common stock but this would not af-
feet the rates.
President Sparks spoke of the cut
rate war which would be waged and
he wondered how long the public
would get the benefit of the war. He
spoke of the interests back of the
new company saying they could buy
anything on the face of the earth
and II he had what they possessed
he would not be there. Mr. Sparks
then inquired of Mr.. Richards If he
had requested John S. Rossell and
Charles B. Evan to be present and
speak Of their alleged trip to Pitts
burgh regarding the reported sale of
the Peoples Company. Mr.. Richards
replied that Mr.. Rossell was in At
lantic City and Mr. Evans had ex-
n
rectors what he knew Of the case but
did not care to appear before the
Board. Mr.. Richard and Mr.. Hilles
said Mr.. Evans had told them Of the
visit
! Mr. Rudolph asked Mr.. Hilles how
I much money his company proposed Ia
invest Mr.. Hilles replied that he did
now know exactly, but that enough
would be invested to make the ser
vice efficient.
In response TO the invitation Of
President Sparks for any one present
to speak on the proposed franchise
Fred II. Steinle asked that a letter ht
had written the board be read. This
letter favored the granting of the
franchise because the present com.
pany was alleged to be a monopoly
because competition is the life o
trade, because his bill had been ad.
I vanced 100 per cent. within three
years of an increased consumption
of 10 per cent, and because there was
no redress for unsatisfactory service
Mr.. Steinle asked David l.. OFT o
the present company what his rate
had been three years ago. Mr.. OFT in.
! formed him it must have been three
or three and one-half cents. Mr.
Steinle disagreed. and said It was
nearer 5 or cents. Continuing Mr.
Steinle read the amounts of his cleo.
trio light bills for some time back anc
started to talk about his gas bills
when President Sparks interrupted
him, saying:
! Give us all the electricity yol
have, but leave out the gas"
: The meeting then adjourned, Pres.