The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-13
Witnesses Before Corporation
Commission Say They Will
Produce Less Revenue
Experts Testify
For Company
Assistant City Attorney Ander-
son Asks For Detail lnvesti-
CATION of Companys Busi-
ness But Withdraws Request

\. the conclusion 81 an ail-da|
hearing pu The petition OF the virginia
Railway and Power Company for
revision of Hgh, and power rates yes
ferdav afternoon at o clock. CoTpo-
ration Commissioner Frentis au-
nounced tina, Tuesday. February 6.
would me fixed upon a. he time for
hearing the reply OF the city.
4she only incident ri the hearing
Yesterday which hinted at sensation
was the fact that Assistant city Al
torney Anderson, after having asked
for full investigation into the affairs
of the company, later In the AFTERNOON
asked the commission tn withhold that
portion Of his petition for the present.
a. he was not certain that the CITY
Council anticipated the eXpenditure
of any money in the prosecution -
this inquiry and investigation.
May Bring Up Point Again.
Mr.. Anderson said he did not know
that ne would bring up tbe point
again. but would retain the right TO
do SO at later date.
The hearing yesterday consisted
mainly in statements by experts OF
national reputation. Their testimony
tended TO show that the rates now
prevailing in Richmond were much
lower than In cities OF similar class
throughout the country. For instance,
the rate in Richmond fer 30 kilowat
hours is s+.5D. while that in Milwau-
kee is ss.15.
In eighty-tpo cities of Richmono's
class the rate averages s4.5 SO for so
klowat hours. For 1000 lilewst
hours the average rate elsew here is
s1I.74, while III Richmond ii is
s52.e5
William !. Morton. sn expert elec-
tricai engineer. of Chicago. stated that
he had examined the plant OF the Sir~
gtnia Railway aud Power Company
and found that ii was in splendid con-
dition. and being conducted econom-
icaily and carefully. He declared that
his observation and experience had
taught him u believe that public ser.
vice corporations of this character
vice corporations OF this character
than plants conducted by municipalf-
ties.
Commission Asks Many Questions.
Roth Commissioners Prentis and
Wingffeld asked many questions as the
hearing proceeded. indicating that
they were deeply interested in the
proposition confronting them. The
proposition is that of read iusting the
rates Of the company. 1t had been
claimed by citizens and business men
that the rates under the REIMBURSEMENT
by witnesses that the rate would In
many instances he less than those
now prevailing, while there would he
no increases.
Mr.. Norton. in his analysis Of the
business here. placed the total gross
light and power business at sSas.oo0.
with operating expenses at sara ,eae.
He declared that the proposed rates
would result in decrease OF $4,000
in the revenues Of the COMPANY
For the company Moses Thalhimer
and L. III. Jenkins testified that after
looking into the rates as proposed
they were satisfied that they were
pot higher than those NOW prevail
ing. These gentlemen had formerly
contested the proposal FOR a read
1ustment.
In opening his case. MFR II. ". An
derson, for the company. stated that
the company had conferred with rep
resentatives of various organizations
and had reached a schedule which he
felt would prove satisfactory TO all
concerned.
Wanted business luventoricd.
When Assistant City Attorney pre-
sented his bill. he asked that the COM
panys business be inventoried, and
that full investigation OF the pro-
posed rates be had. as many COM
plants had been made concerning
them. and on behalf OF the city he
asked for moderation. IL the rates
were found excessive or unjust
After Messrs. Thalhimer and Jenf-
ms had testified. expert Norton WAS
placed on the stand. He consumed
the remainder of the morning. and
1run.t.,.