The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-12-24
RATE HEARING
DRAWS CROWD
CONSOLIDATION is RECOMMENDED
Duplication Of Expenses viii Thus be
Eliminated Representatives Of Many
Large Concerns Here

Judging from the presence of repre-
sentatives of large hydro electric COM
panies and their interest in the case.
the eyes Of the northwestern power
and light business we're centered on
the rate case being heard here last
week by the State Railway Commits.
sion. Commissioners Aitchson and Mil
Ter began the sessions of the case
Thursday afternoon at the rooms of the
Commercial club. With more than 9
dozen representatives of other large
power companies, among them the
Portland Railway, Light 4 Power Co.,
officials of the Pacific Power & Light
Co. and the companies involved, the
Hood River Gas & Electric Co. and th'
Hydro Electric Co. ,and scores of ranch
ers and business men of the city pres
ent, the assembly room of the club wal
crowded.
With a crew of experts Commission
er Aitchison last fall made an invest
cation Of the physical properties of the
plants and the books of the companies
concerned. The survey of the lines anC
electrical apparatus was conducted un
der the direction of Prof. Dearborn
head of the department of electrica
engineering at the Oregon Agriculture
College and utility engineer for thu
| Commission.
The first step of the Commission wal
to place Prof. Dearborn's case in evi
dence, the electrical expert taking tn,
stand. He was followed by W. T
Neil, an electric engineer of the Com
mission, who made the investigation
| for Prof. Dearborn. Commissioner
Aitchison then submitted his persona
report to the Commission. This was
followed by report from a committee
composed of +. o. Blanchar, Truman
Butler, M. M. Hill. Land j. M. Culbert
son, as to the value of the real estat,
owned by the companies. Mr.. Blanch-
ar, who appeared on the stand for the
committee, stated that he and his fel
low committeeman had rested under q
misapprehension as to just what was
asked of them, and had made valua
tion of the land as based on its adapt
ibility for agricultural purposes. Com
missioner Aitchison asked him IL he
thought his committee could get to
gether and value the land as hydro
electric property. Mr.. Blanchar stated
that he did not think he was qualified
to value the real estate on this basis,
but offered to see the other members
of the committee.
While counsel was present for the
companies involved, the consumers
of the valley fought their case with
out the assistance of an attorney. j
c. Rowland, w. W. Rodwell and A.
|. Mason appeared Thursday afternoon
and all three asked questions. Severa
tilts, filled with quick repartee and sar
castle remarks, took place between MI.
Mason and Commissioner Aitchisor
and relieved the monotony of the tech
ncal trend of the heoing thursday af'
ternoOn.
Roy D. Smith. road supervisor Of
the Barrett district, addressed the
Commission during the afternoon anC
asked the rights of power companies
to place poles at the side of the public
roads. Commissioner Aitchison replied
to the effect that he was under the i'm
preston that the companies had OBJ.
tanned franchises from the county
court. Mr.. Smith went on to say thai
poles at the roadside in number o.
places on the West Side were in q dan
gerous condition. He was asked Il
make formal report to experts of tn,
Commission and such conditions woult
be looked into.
The committee, composed of Mr.
BlancEar and others, did not make
second report, the members not having
felt competent to make the repor
asked for by the Commission.
Most all of the testimony taken a
the hearing, which was compelled lat,
Friday afternoon, was of technica
nature. To iefute certain statement
made in the report of COMMISSIONS
Aitchison, the light and power compan
les placed on the stand H. l.. Grey, al
electric engineer and expert from Sc
attic. The close questioning to whic
he was put by Commissioner Aitchiso
formed one of the most interesting
parts of the whole hearing. At mo
ments Engineer Gray would make a
endeavor to evade Commissioner Aitch
ison's questions by lengthy explans
tion. lie would be brought sharply |
task by sharp "Yes or No."
Judging for recommendation b
Commissioner Aitchison in his repor
and of a statement of Attorney Lain
to the effect that it would be accepte
by the companies, the two local liRh
and power companies will be consolidt
ted.
The Hood River Gas & Electric CT
was formed as a subsidiary company Q
the Pacific Power & Light 20. for tn
purpose of competing with the Hydro
Electric Go. The Pacific company ha
since secured control of the competin
utility, and to prevent unnecessary dl