The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-17
WATER FIRM ASKS
INCREASE IN RATES
TO PAY HIGH TAXES
Company Files Thirteen Ex-
ceptOns to Recent Order
of Public Utilities Commis-
sion in Local Case.


the Richmond City Water Works COM
pany to the recent order of the Indi-
ana Public Utilities Commission ax.
ing local water rates and rules gov.
erning the service in the petition pre-
sented yesterday by the company's
attorneys. Notifications are asked. to
those features of the order to which
the company takes exception
Principal notifications petitioned
for are: Increases in rates to provide
for the additional tax the company
has just been assessed, which amounts
to approximately $1,000 more than the
commissions estimate of taxes the
company would have to pay and the
establishment of a readiness to serve
charge for all consumers using me-
ters. the minimum to be 81 a year, In
addition to the 81 year meter charge
provided by the commission in its Or
der.
Bond Takes Exceptions
City Attorney Bond took exceptions
to all notifications asked by the COM
pany, except in two matters of minor
importance. Inform arguments were
made before the commissioners by
the company's attorneys and Mr..
Bond. No action was taken on the
petition, the commission taking 1t un-
der consideration.
The company in its brief asks the
commissioners to modify its order in
the following respects:
First-To allow the company to
charge for readiness to serve consum-
ers obtaining water through meters SO
that a minimum rate of 81 a year. or
such rate as the commission deem rea-
sonable. may be established.
Second-To provide quarterly meter
readings instead of monthly readings,
| and quarterly collections except in
| cases where the meter service aver
ages $3.50 a month or more during
the preceding quarter. In such cases
| monthly collections are preferred. Mr..
Bond took no exception to this plan.
Third-That in such cases where
meters cannot be placed in Easements
that the consumer shall pay the cost
of a meter box and installing the
| same.
Meter Test Charge.
| Fourth-That there be provision for
the cost of so cents for meter testing
wnere the meter is found to be cor
rect.
Fifth-That the company not be re-
quired to put in service pipes to curbs
upon a street adjacent to a street
where there are running pipes, in
stead of putting down 100 feet of ser
| vice pipe as provided.
Sixth-That 1t De provided that up
on request of owners of vacant lots,
or by order Of the city, service pipes
| be required to be placed in front of
! such lots, the cost to be paid by the
consumers and to be returned out of
the first water bills accruing to them
| for use of the service.
Seventh-That consumers ordering
fire lines shall pay the cost of install
lation and maintenance in addition to
paying reasonable charge for ser
| vices rendered them individually.
Eighth-That a special rate, the
same as provided for schools. be ex-
tended to orphan homes, hospitals and
homes for aged women. Mr.. Bond took
no exception to this plea.
Ninth-A modification of rates for
hydrants in Spring Grove, Earlham
college and the Wernle Orphans home
to be the same as the rates provided
| in contracts with the company which
have not yet expired.
Increase For Taxes.
Tenth-That the rates be increased
to take care of the taxes assessed
against the company for 1914 SO that
there will be produced an additional
revenue of $4,000, practically the
amount in excess of the commissions
estimate of taxes for the current year.
Reconsideration for the COM
pany for new work ordered and put
| in by the company for the city at its
special request since the beginning OF
the proceedings and an order requir
ing that in all future extensions the
city must either order sufficient hy
drants which, together with the pri-
vate consumption ordered at the time
that therein shan then and thereafter
be paid by the city. This refers to the
extension of water service to Morton
park, in which case the city did not
order enough hydrants the revenue 1t
is entitled to from the extension.
Tvelfth-Creation of a special fund
by a fractional rate increase. extend
ing over a period of about fve years,
so the company can be reimbursed for
the expense it was put to by the liti-
cation.
Thirteenth-That the city not be
required to meet any share of the ex-
| Of <hiS litipat1On