New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-24
FIGHT ON TO CUT
ELECTRIC RATES
Service Board Grants the
Mayors Request to Open
Edison Case.

Further reduction of electric lighting
rates in the city may ultimately result
from the adoption yesterday by the
Public Service Commission of a motion
to reopen the New York Edison Com
pany rate case. The commission re-
duced the rate from 10 to cents per
klowatt hour on May ], 1915. That
rate was 10 continue for three years.
Mayor Mitchell has petitioned the COM
mission, asking that the three-year
period be cut to one year and two
months, and the question of rates again
be taken up.
The Mayors petition was filed with
the commission by City Chamberlain
Milo R. Maltbe, who, when a member
of the Public Service Commission,
fought hard for 6l9-cent rate, instead
of the Scent rate finally adopted. The
hearings in the Edison case first began
before the then Commissioner Maltbie
on October 3. 1911, and continued to
the time the Scent rate was fixed. Con-
siderable criticism was directed at the
Public Service Commission for its ac-
ton in the Edison rate case.
Mayor for Lower Rate.
Mayor Mitchell declared that the pro-
ceedings before the commission in
the Edison case had been improper in
that the city was not allowed TO offer
evidence or present it's views as to the
length of time during which the rate
fixed by the commission should re-
main in effect. He said further that
the earnings of the New York Edison
Company for the year 1915 available
for interest and dividends had not
been decreased to the amount con-
sldered reasonable by the majority OF
the commission who voted In favor OF
the scent rate.
The Mayor asked that the three-year
period fixed for the scent rate be
/ changed and terminated as of July l,
! 1915. This would permit the commits
sion, in case the Mayors petition was
/ considered favorably, to proceed at any
/ time now TO fix new rate should II be
/ deemed advisable. 1t is considered
likely that the Edison company Will
oppose any reduction of the three-year
: period, even to the extent OF hghtlng
| legally the power of the commission
/ to take such action.
Whitney Takes Initiative.
The motion to reopen the Edison case
was introduced at yesterdays meeting
/ by Commissioner Travis ii. Whitney,
/ who stated that he had offered mo-
! ton TO omen the entire proceeding on
( May 10, 1916, but suggested that the
motion lie on the table IN view or the
! fact that it was understood that the
! Mayor was considering an application
10 the commission for a reOpenlng or
the case. Commissioner Whitney SAID
! that he saw no objection 10 the COM
mission giving a hearing on the petit
| ton of the Mayor in order that both
sides might be heard as TO the power
| and policy Of the commission IN re-
| spect TO changing the order OF May l.,
! 1915. At the same time ne renewed
/ his motion Of May 10 TO include the
I question of rates. September Z was set
/ as the date for the first hearing.
! The decision of the commission IN
| the Edison case, fixing the eight-cent
/ rate, also affected the United Electro
/ Light and Power Company. The rate
was nAeQ exclusive VI lhSN"A'NN4N.i N''N
renewal of lamps and did not apply for
/ Kingsbridge and portion Of The Bronx
/ living east of the Bronx River. The
/ action was taken after the matter had
/ been presented before Commissioner
/ Milo K. Maltbie, on complaint Of George
/ Stadtlander and one hundred others
against the Edison company, alleging
that the price OF electricity in Manhat-
! tan and The Bronx was excessive.
( Hearings were held before Commits
/ sioner Maltbe for several years.
Eight-Cent Rate Adopted.
On March 5, 1915, Commissioner j.
Sergeant Cram moved at the meeting
/ of the commission that the maximum
rate for electric current IN the two
/ boroughs be fixed at eight cents per
kilowatt hour.
/ -Four DAYS later Commissioner Malt
| bic presented an opinion recommending
a charge OF six and half cents per
/ kilowatt hour for lighting and general
use and 2 maximum rate for power OF
six cents per kilowatt hour There
upon Commissioners Mccall and Will
/ Jams fled opinions IN favor Of the
maximum charge of eight cents.
Commissioner Maltbie's motion was
defeated and the eight-cent rate adopt
ed. He was also defeated on another
! motion that the eight-cent rate include
the lamp renewals and the three-year
limitation against reopenlng the case
I be omitted.