The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-09

service by the city. The company has
end will continue to have bonds and
other securities issued against the
said plant in conjunction with It's gas
plant in Richmond and outstanding
in the hands of the public.
company's Rights.
For these and other reasons the
company, as it seems to us, is an in
terested party entitled to be heard,
not only upon any consideration given
by the commission to the question OF
the city rates for electricity for per-
manent period, but as we'll upon any
consideration of such reduction for a
temporary period. If, however, as in
Dictated by the newspaper article, the
commission Is to grant authority, for
such reduction for a temporary per-
Tod without an opportunity given to
the company to be heard, manifest
injustice will result to the company
unless the commission in granting
such authority provide at the same
time either that the reduction of the
city rates shall not extend beyond the
present rates of the company, or that
the company shall have the right, I'M
der section As of the public utility act
to make as much of a reduction of
Its own rates, within the limits of the
reduction allowed for city rates, as it
finds necessary for the preservation
of its business, the commission waiv-
ing as 1t may under the said section
the necessity Of thirty days notice of
the change of rate. Unless this is
done, the company during the period
of temporary reduction would prob
ably lose a large majority of its Gus
toners to the city under the latter's
reduced rates, and even through the
commissions ultimate determination
restored the city rates to at least as
high a figure as that now charged by
the company, an irreparable injury
would have been caused to the com.
pany since it would be difficult in all
cases and impossible in many cases
for it to recover it's customers after
they had made a change in connec.
tions.
Ready to Act.
"In the situation now developed,
do not see how anyone could fairly
object to such voluntary lowering
of rates by the private corporation
but If such situation as we indicate ii
fails to present features which would
seem Of themselves to Justify the com
mission in making the provision on
it's own Initiative in the protection OF
the private corporation, or if for any
other reason you would prefer that
the request embodied in this letter
take the form of a regular verified ap
plication, we will take steps to have
such formal application Immediately
executed and presented to the com
mission.
1--WE believe our attitude is fair in
this matter, especially in view of the
evident policy now adopted by the
state as expressed in it's present pub
lie utility act, particularly in section
81, and under which if in effect al
the time, the city would probably
have been prevented entirely from en-
tering upon the business of supplying
electricity provided the Richmond
company was then furnishing, as it al
ways has furnished so far as we know
as adequate service at reasonable
rates. However, in the ultimate re
suits we feel that we would and Ough
to be satisfied to take our chances il
competition with the city upon an!
rates demonstrated by the city to the
sufficient to yield profit, due allow
duCe DSlLS nidtt lt' 'Nt!N
which would enter into consideration
if the enterprise were oOnd' =" II
private corporation. 1t might, how
ever, not be unreasonable that seine
; consideration also be given to the low
est rate at which the private corpOr
alton could sell electricity with a rea
sonable return upon the amount in
vested as determined by the commits
sion itself, considering the amount 0
securities outstanding to represent thu
investment as one only of the numeI
Gus elements to be considered in sucl
determination.
a, I'VE believe it would be clear to tn
commission that this right to reduc,
rates is desired for the company be
cause temporary reduction of rate
by the city would force the compan
into position where it might find i
, necessary or eXpedient to make sim
lar reductions in order to preserve it
| business pending permanent determir
alton by the commission and quite re
CARELESS of the monetary loss tina
such reductions very likely would ir
volve for the company but which
might be willing to stand temperate
in the confidence that the commission
will ultimately find it necessary to re
store the rates to present figures o
approximately the present figures t
enable the city as we'll as the con
pany to conduct. an electric lightin
and power business in Richmond at
profit"
The normal head contains abou
eighty thousand hairs