The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-12-19
SEEKS
D compromise
Tells Council Will Open Books
. ==. =. II Ordinances Are
Repealed. :


Edison Electric company submitted !
another communication to the COM
mlssioners at their regular meeting
last Monday: afternoon asking that
the ordinance providing for a com
peting unit light plant to cost $4,000
and the ordinance regulating the
lighting rate, to maximum OF cents
be; repealed. This is urged upon the
council, as; the only method by which
access: can be- obtained to the books
oftthe company. It is further sug-
gested that through a joint auditing
! OF, the books a compromise maybe
reffected whereby q reasonable rate
can be- arrived*at which will be salts
factory to- the. company and the city. !
|. The appropriation ordinance, the
\ initiated ordinance directing the city
to-: accept. the offer of the company
+ for a six7cent rate, and the alternative
ordinance fixing the rate at four cents
pw4l be VOTED; upon at the special cleo
t1on, which has been called for Tues
day, Jan, 1885, When the question Of a.
compromise was up a. short, time ago
the city officials stated that such ac-
ton would be impossible, as the char
ter makes it mandatory for the cleo
ton to be called after the filing of the
initiative petition, and one Of the Or
d1nances must be adopted. They as
sert that the situation remains the
same and that as the initiative ordi-
nance has to go before the people,
they wish the other two to be voted
upon at the same time, which means
that the council will not repeal the
ordinance as asked by the company.
President Hartman's communica-
ton is as follows:
"You have by resolution requested
an opportunity to make a complete
examination of our books. This COM
pany, more than three years ago,
made proposition to enter. into a
lighting contract with the city. in
Volv1ng a substantial reduction of its
rates. The city never made any reply
to our proposition, but agitation
against our company has continued.
On Sept. %. 1914, your honorable
body passed an ordinance providing
Tor the building of a competing plant
with the declared purpose on your
part; as expressed by one Of your
commissioners. to at once destroy any
So called going value in the Edison
plant
| You were requested by a number
OF citizens to enter into negotiations
with this company looking into the
making Of a contract upon proper
rates. You refused to comply with
this request -: -
At the request of number of citi-
zens we then submitted to the city
proposed contract fixing a.: maximum
eate to private consumers at 6 cents
per kilowatt hour. These citizens re-
}@euested that you submit the matter Of
building a. competing plant; : ana also
the matter Of making. a contract with
us, to vote Of the people. and you
again refused. = 2s'S,>-' -. 3",>'
Petltions we're then circulated, and
very large number Of signatures OBJ
tanned, compelling you to submit both
propositions to a vote Of the people.
! You then, without any notice to us or
opportunity for US to be heard, and
without any investigation Of our books
or any request to us for an opportu-
nifty to investigate the books. and
without any public hearing OF. discus
sion Of any kind on the matter of
what would be a proper rate passed
an ordinance attempting to fix the
maximum rate at 4 cents per kiiowatt
hour.
1.-The rates which this company pro-
posed are. as it believes, the lowest
mat 1t can make and possibly con-
tinue to furnish satisfa Glory! service
without destroying the property of its
! investors.
This action of yours, without any
investigation of our books or any re-
| quest to investigate them, and with
out any opportunity for US to be heard
IN the matter at all, necessarily forces
us to protect the property of the com
pany and of its investors, lii the
courts, where, Of course, the books
and accounts Of the company will be
available as evidence. 5..5 ~,
/: IL your honorable body had seen
1tit, 1before deciding to build a compet-
ing plant with the avowed purpose Of
destroying the property OF this com
pany, and before passing an ordinance
attempting to regulate our rates, to
request information to enable you to
agree with us upon reasonable rate
we, would have gladly furnished to
disinterested, competent experts in
Tyour employ any information within
'feuS power. sS' -. =,..':"' :
r. Hf your honorable body Ii now
Wiling to enter: into good faith upon
an attempt to determine what is q
fair and reasonable rate to he adopted
as fhe basis Of a contract, and VIII re-
pe@ the ordinances providing tor the
coHstruction for a competing plant
and the ordinance attempting to Ak
81 ratSs, 50 that we will not be obliged
[lto 30 into court to protect our pro-
liberty, this company viii gladly fur
nish to you access to It's. books and
give you any information In its pos
| session. bearing upon: the question OF
= Proper rate. to the end that a fair
! and equitable contract may be
reached. 5r@9ss:s Z. IN. N:-ss
II the request FOR, the examination
Ct our books Is made In good faith,
with q desire to bring about 1 fair
adjustment; ~ " m ffeYA g hafwAoS,% II, q