Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1916-10-18
PACIFIC Gas IS
CR|T|C|ZEDBy
LOCAL SPEAKERS

Before a crowd numbering at least
five hundred, the question of a munich
pal light and gas plant was discussed
last night from the standpoint of the
tax payer by George f. Barrows and
J. c. Adams. The meeting was held
at the Y. NJ. c. A. stadium. and was
the first of its kind held in the pres
ent campaign being waged to give
Phoenix a gas and light plant, owned
and operated by the city.
Mr. Burrows. who was the first
speaker Of the evening, made no at
tempt AT oratory. He stated that he
was not a professional agitator but
that in this question he was proud
10 be called one
He devoted the major portion of his
time to showing where the Pacific Gas
and Electric company was at fault.
In fact his language became very
plain. and he passed the lie several
times In speaking of the connection
OF George Purdy Billiard with the
company. Mr. BarroWS made the state
ment that Mr.. Billiard had acted as
the attorney for the state corpora
tion commission in its litigation with
the Pacific Gas and Electric company
IN which the commission had lost. Soon
after Mr. Billiard resigned as attorney
general and became attorney for the
gas company. Mr. Bullard, who was
present. arose in his wrath. and said
il was a lie. Barrows told him to sit
down, and watch his manners. The
crowd was on the side OF the speaker
and when Billiard offered to het a
large sum of money that the state
meuts We're false, some one shouted
Down Fido" Get the Hook" and other
admonitions for MIR Bullard to hold
his peace.
According to the figures presented
by Mr.. BarrOws. the Pacific Gas and
Electric company is taking thousands
II dollars from the citizens of Phoenix
annually. without ever having put in
an investment Of a cent Ronbright
and company. the present owners of
the Pacific Gas and Electric company.
stated Mr. Parrows, took over the old
company, giving stocks and bonds in
return.
The present high rate for electricity,
according to Mr. Parrows. is due TO
the fact that Ronbright and company
arS forced 10 hire lawyers to fix
things for them" that they are re-
luired tu maintain offices in New
York in addition to their offices here.
and that any number of other expenses
not IN any way connected with the To-
cal company are shifted upon the
shoulders Of the people of Phoenix.
Mr. Barrows explained that the cor
poration commission allowed each cor
porati0n In the state to earn a GER
tain amount of money. regulated By
the valuation Of the company's prop
erty. Mr. Barrows showed that the
valuation placed upon the property OF
the Pacific Gas and Electric company
by a disinterested engineer was in the
neighborhood of n half million The
commission fixed the valuation at this
figure. whereupon the company went
into the Federal court and beat the
case. The commission compromised
with the company. and allowed the
valuation TO be placed at a little over
a million, thus allowing the company
10 earn eight per cent upon tx
amount. According TO Mr.. Barrows
they should be allowed To earn eight
Per cent upon the half million. III,
termed the extra half million water.
Mr. Barrows spoke for about two
hours. taking in every phase of tn'
financial situation OF the Pacific Ga!
and Electric company, thrashing on
the matter without gloves According
10 his figures, a municipal plant coulI
be made self sustaining.
j. c. Adams was the next speaker
He went into the fight which he faith
cred 70 obtain a municipal waite
plant and explained that the sam
arguments were put up at that tim
against a municipal plant Of that sort
as are being advanced now against
publicly owned electric light plant. II
stated that the value of the waite
plant al the time of its establishment
was 100000 and that now it wa
twice that figure
Mr. Adams touched upon the repOI
made By the Pacific Gas and Electri
company to the corporation commits
sion. showing by the company's oW
figures that their capitalization wa
too large. and that they were sendn
money TO New York. which in the cas-
~ a municipality owned plant woul
be eliminated.
Mr.. Adams ended by stating that fc
twenty years he had been attacked an
maligned by every "bushwhacker" VIII
came to Phoenix and cared 10 tai
on the street corners. He stated ths
the Pacific Gas and Electric compan
had threatened to show up his pas
He challenged them TO do it. and Is
sued a direct challenge for r. s. Mas
son and f. : Viele of the =. G. and i
also Mr.. Bullard. their attorney.
meet him on the platform at the cit
hall plaza next Friday evening
seven o'clock, and there debate Il
question. II they want to bring l
Mr.. Adams past, he implied that
was perfectly willing to he there ar
defend it. Mr.. Adams was conside
ably warm under the collar and W;
in a mood that evidently would ha'
bred a fight under more advantageoi
circumstances.
Challenge Accepted
Il was announced last night aft
the close Of the meeting at the Y.
r. A. that George Purdy Billiard III
accepted the challenge and would me
Mr. Adams at the place and time de
ignated by him next Friday evenin
The debate will be according to N
Adams challenge along lines relatil
10 the municipal plant