The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-11-18
NORTHWEST LIGHT 8 WATER CO. MUST
REDUCE ITS RATES TO CUSTOMERS
DECISION susTAINs CONTENTION MAYOR TAYLOR AND
FORMER COUNCIL POINT AT IssuE-rHE
RATES TO BE OPERATIVE DEcEMsER1

"dtldee electric rate case and 1t is q
\ sweeping victory for the city This
\ case was the big issue in the last city
election and the decision of the com
mission is an unqualified vindication
of Mayor Taylor and the old council
: which started the action to secure a
reduction In electric light and power
rates and of the majority of the pres
ent council who were elected on that
issue. After long period of negotia-
tion with the Northwest Light & Wa
ter company in an effort to secure
reasonable concessions in electric light
rates, and falling to receive any sat
isfactory assurance that any material
reduction would be made in the pre-
vailing rates. Mayor James H. Taylor
and the council appealed to the utili-
ties commission for public hearing
covering all phases of the rates charg-
ed for electric service in this city. The
hearing was held last May, just few
days before the city election. The
action was brought by Mayor Taylor
acting for the council and the people
of the city of Wallace, and also by
the Sunset Brewing company as inter-
venor, against the Northwest Light &
Water company. The city was repre-
sented in the hearing by City Attor-
ney j. q. Gyde and John p. Gray. and
the intervenor by Walter Fl. Hanson.
The city's electrical expert witness
was J. B. Ingersoll. The Northwest
Light & Water company was repre-
sented by A. H. Featherstone of this
city and Stephen IT, Cary of Seattle.
The company's electrical expert was
Henry L. Gray of Seattle
Great Victory for the People.
Ex- Mayor Taylor and his associates
In the old council are deserving of the
highest commendation for inaugural
ing the fight for reduced light rates
for the people of this city and for car
rying 1t to a successful conclusion in
the face of opposition and obstruction
which would have discouraged less
determined men. The Day Walker
Mahoney McKissick combination that
figured conspicuously in the city cam
paign was no myth, and the relief
from excessive light and power rates
which is assured by the decision of
the utilities commission shows conclu-
sively why the octopus fought so des-
perately to retain its grip upon the
CITY, The light company combination
concentrated its efforts to defeat May
or Taylor, and in this it was success
full by narrow margin, but a large
majority Of the councilmen on the
Taylor ticket were elected which in
sured the maintenance Of the policies
for which Mayor Taylor and the old
council stood Since the hearing by
the utilities commission several prop
ositions have been put up to the coun-
Gil by the light company involving the
adjustment of rates, but these have
been rejected by the council pending
the decision of the commission. The
purpose of these propositions was ap-
parently to forestall the ruling of the
commission, and the sweeping reduc-
tions made by the commission con-
firms the wisdom of the council In
turning them down.
What the Decision Means.
Assuming that the summary of the
decision as taken from a Boise paper
Is correct, its effect In reducing light
bills goes further than was anticipat-
ed by those who forced the fight. The
commission allows the Northwes,
Light & Water company net return
of 10 per cent on its investment, and
at the same time the commission
places the valuation Of the company's
property at $1O7,500. The company
claimed a valuation Of $222,S29. The
commission provides "a schedule of
rates to be adopted by the company
on December l, and while the signif-
canoe of some of these is somewhat
obscure to the layman until they are
tried out, others clearly indicate a big
cut which all can understand. For
instance, the minimum rate for resi-
dences Is placed at 81 per month. The
present rate is $3.50, a reduction of
one third. This rate and 10 cents for
the first 20 kilowatt hours per month
will apply to most residences, the last
rate amounting to a reduction of
about 25 per cent. The biggest cut
that which makes rate of. cent per
kilowatt hour in excess of 500 kilo-
watt hours consumed On all these
rates a discount Of 10 per cent is al
lowed for prompt payment.
The Decision.
The following summary of the rul-
ing of the commission is taken from
the Boise Capital News Of last Sun
day; In an order and opinion handed
down last night in the case of James
II. Taylor, as mayor Of the city Of
Wallace versus the Northwest Light
& Water company and the Sunset
Brewing company intervenor, the pub
(Continued on Last PaRel