The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-06-22
Awaits Official Report-POs-
sible Contest Rests Be
tween Utility Company and
State of Indiana.
City Attorney Bond Holds
Off Petition for Valuation
of Light, Heat and Power
Company.

No statement has been made by of
ficials of the Richmond City Water
Works company concerning their opin-
ion on the decision handed down last
week by the Indiana Public Utilities
Commission in regard to water rates
for Richmond.
Superintendent Dill said today that
the company had not yet received the
commissions official report, although
a copy of this report is now in the
hands of City Attorney Bond. Mr..
Dill again asserted that the company
make until this official report had
been received and fully digested.
Asked if the company was dissatis-
fled and intended appealing the COM
missions decision to the Wayne cir
cult court, Mr.. Dill said that this was
a question which would be decided
after the decision had been thoroughly
considered by the company'S attorneys
and the board of directors. Whatever
action is taken by the company must
be before July l, when the new rates
become effective.
State Must Litfsate.
If the company decides to contest
the decision of the commission the
city will not be dragged into the legal
battle because the question is now
out of its hands, the state through its
commission having assumed all re-
Sponsibility.
1t is known that the company Off
Gals were greatly surprised and dis
appointed over several rulings of the
1sc-r.
surprise to them was the commissions
failure to eliminate meter rental
charges and provide minimum rate.
which rate they had anticipated would
exceed the old meter charge
City Attorney Bond said today that
after a careful perusal OF the decision
he was as much pleased with the main
extension feature as any one thing.
Formerly main extensions had to be
made on basis OF 500 feet No ex-
tension less that length would BE-
made and to extend main 500 feet
the city had to guarantee a fire hy-
drant rental for which was $40 year.
Under the new arrangement the min
imum main extension is 200 feet and
can be ordered by the city if IL can
guarantee an income to the company
of 10 cents per square foot. To do this
it is not necessary to provide an ad-
ditional fire hydrant, rental charge on
which is increased from $40 to s55 a
year.
Power Rate Question.
Now that the water rate question is
off his hands, Mr.. Bond says that the
only public service corporation mat
ter he still has to deal with at this ,
time is the securing of a reduction in
Gently established for the two local
plants by the commission.
Mr.. Bond says that the 80 cents per
horsepower monthly minimum rate is
too high and that he has about COM !
pleted drafting his opinion on what a /
fair minimum rate would be. but this
will not be made public until submit
ted to the board of public works. in (
this opinion | also deal with the pro-
test of certain manufacturers that the
new power rate schedule is too high, .
but | cannot say at this time what my !
recommendation will be in this mat |;
ter" the city attorney said.
\ few weeks ago at a meeting held
at the Commercial Club several local
manufacturers not only charged that
the power rates were excessive but
said that Manager kleinknecht of the
city plant had induced them TO patron
ize the municipal plant on the prom
Use that reduction in these rates
would be secured if the city secured
all the factory business.
Drops Petition.
Asked if he now contemplated petit
tiOning the state commission to estab-
lish a valuation OF the Richmond
Light. Heat & Power company for
rate making purposes. Mr.. Bond said
he was not contemplating such action.
Very satisfactory natural gas and
electric rates have been provided for
Richmond by the commission and I
see no reason at this time to petition
to have a valuation OF the L.. H. d p.
property made at this time Mr. Bond
said. He also said that he was not
contemplating petitioning for a valua-
tion of the Richmond Home Tele-
phone company property. He said that
the commission was over its head in
work at this time and proba bly, would
not consider any more Richmond
cases if filed now for over a year.