Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-02-03
HOWL Being MADE
lover GAS RATES
City Council and Mayor
Hear Many Complaints Of
!Exorbitant Charges.
WILL INVESTIGATE.
May Bring Gas COmpany's Books into
the COuncil-Caustic Com.
ment Is Made.
WILL INVESTIGATE.

poay uiAo III JANUARY nave CduSCu
great howl to 60 up from every
side in Pine Bluff in the last two
days and last night the city council
started movement that will doubt
less result in a thorough investiga-
ton and probably a substantial re-
duction in rates, as well as remedial
action in the matter of testing meters
or compelling the company to re-
place their present gas registers
with new and more satisfactory ones.
Mayor Bloom, Alderman We'll and
Alderman Sorrells, assisted by Alder
man Bahlau and Alderman Simpson,
applied various charges to the gas
company and Alderman Sorrels went
SO far as to say that "the company
needs q new manager here" Alder
man We'll started the ball a-rolling
with statement to the effect tina.
the gas company was the greatest
trust in the city" He declared that
the people were kicking on all sides.
that many gas bills for January
had been doubled, when compared
with the previous months, and that it
was the duty OF the council to pro-
tect the people from such an outrage.
He at first favored an ordinance,
fixing maximum charge of rs cents
per 1000 cubic feet, instead of 43
cents, the present rate After tho
matter was argued some, Alderman
We'll accepted a substitute motion
by Alderman Sorrells, which provid-
ed for the appointment Of a commit
tee to investigate the rates of the
gas company, and the change was
made at the suggestion of City At
tq94ey w. B. Alexander, who recon-
m&nded an investigation first in
order TO proceed legally. Mayor
Bloom named Alderman We'll, Sor-
rells and Franey as the committee
and it is likely that the committee
will have the companys books
brought into the council at its next
meeting in order to make some In
Alderman Sorrells declared that
the gas company is robbing the peo-
pie. that the reading Of the meter is
done in defective way and he also
favored a remedy for the meter evil.
He charged that there was some
thing rotten. some graft or steal
somewhere"
Alderman Simpson also charged
the company with <shigh bills" and
Alderman Mahlau said that he be-
lieved the trouble was not wholly II
the rates, but in inefficiency in the
matter of meter reading.
Mayor Won't Pay Bill.
Mayor Bloom endorsed what the
aldermen had said. He declared that
he had heard many complaints about
the gas company's exorbitant charges
and jokingly remarked that the
aldermen might have also termed it
larceny or highway robbery" He
sid that he had already personally
served notice on the company that he
would not pay what was demanded
of him for aJnuary gas service, and
that other cases similar to his had
been reported to him. He said that
in December his bill was somewhere
around $3.50 and that IN January,
while his family was away most OIL
the time and not half SO much gas
was used. his bill was $3.50.
City Attorney w B. Alexander said
that the city has the right, under
the law, to regulate the gas rates or
those OF any other public service
corporation, if they are shown to be
"They are stealing through the
meter or it's just old cornfield steal
ing" said Alderman Sorrells I'VE
have the right to bring the books Of
the company here and see what they
are making. and l would suggest that
We 90 y.
Alderman We'll secured the adop-
nance committee to bring in an ordia-
nance committe to bring In an ordin-
ance. requiring the gas company or
water company to make connections
within Sc hours. after pipes are laid
by consumers and the request for
service is made. He had been told
by number of persons that the
companies are refusing to make the
connections after much request are
made. to them, and in some instances
where the money is offered in adj
vance for the service.
A ordinance. requiring all tele-
phone. telegraph and light companies
to pay an annual license fee of one
dollar for each pole now standing
= Il. y ca H.,