The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-02-25
Jessup Says L., HI. & p. Com
pany Willing to Reduce Its
Rates if Municipal Plant
Lowers Schedule.
bonds INFORMED
BY THE STATE BOARD
Rival Concern Willing to
Join City in Joint Petition
to Establish New Rate
Agreement.

Wilfred Jsssup counsel for the Rich
mond Light Heat and Power COM
pany, today made the suggestion that
making joint application for a re-
duction of the lighting and power
rates of both local plants.
According TO Mr.. Jessup. the petit
ton filed with the state public utiI-
tiles commission by the city. request
ing rate reductions for the municipal
plant. was irregular, because thirty
days notice of such proposed action
was not given the city plants COM
petitor. the Light. Heat and Power
pany. Such action, Mr.. Jessup says.
is required under the rules governing
the procedure of the commission.
President Bavis and Mr.. McMinn
were not present when Mr.. Jessup
called at the boards office, so no for
NAL action was taken on the matter.
Bond Gets information.
1t is understood that City Attorney
Bond. now in Indianapolis represent
ing the city in the water works ap-
praisement case, has been informed
by the commission that the rate re-
duction petition can not be consider
ed, because the regular form for fling
such petitions had not been followed.
About two weeks ago it was an
nounced that the commission prob
ably would act on the city's petition
by authorizing temporary establish
ment of the proposed reduced lighting
and power rates of the municipal
plant, but apparently the commission
has now decided not to take such ac-
ton unless another petition is filed.
So r. h,r-
regularly notified.
Ready for Competition.
The Light. Heat and Power COM
pany desires to have it's rates reduced
if the municipal plant reduces its
rates." Mr.. Jessup was asked.
Certainly" he replied. IF il main
tains the electrical plant it must meet
the city plants competition.
He expressed the opinion that the
board of public works would make
a wise move if il Joined with the l..
H. and p company in a petition for
rate reductions.
81 do not know what method the
commission would pursue in determin-
ing the rates for each plant" he add
ed New rates might be based on
statistics contained in sworn state
ments pertaining TO the condition of
each plant
Company Uneoneerned.
1t was suggested to him that prob
ably the commission would not at
tempt TO readiust rates for either
plant until the physical appraisemen;s
have been made of them.
We'll. our company does not care
whether the commission makes a val
uation of our plant for rate making
purposes" he replied.
A few weeks ago when City Attor-
ney Bond notified the commission that
the city intended to petition for rate
reduction for the municipal plant.
Chairman Duncan advised that the
city request in this petition that the
commission appraise both the city and
competing plants for rate making pur-
poses.
This suggestion was ignored by the
city attorney. and the petition he drew
up merely requested the establishment
of a new rate schedule outlined in the
petition. He was then notified by the
commission that IL any action was
taken in the case it would only be 10
place the new schedule into effect
temporarily until the commission had
time to appraise the municipal plant
| to ascertain il reduced rates were JUS
tilted.