South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-21
SOME LIGHT ON ELECTRICITY
January Il, 1916.

made by the Indiana & Mich
igan Electric company against
the city Of South Bend and the res
idents thereof for electric light and
electric power. The question of ex-
Orbitant charges was first brought
TO the attention of the citizens of
South Bend by then Councilman Rice
some three years ago when a ten
year contract for the street lighting
or South Bend was up for approval
by the city council. The residents
and taxpayers Of our city at that
time got an "eye-opener" The ball
was set rolling and like a SNOWFALL
going down hill. the farther il went.
the larger the ball became, until it
had attracted the attention of the
entire city.
An appeal was made TO the public
service commission by the city Off
Gals of South Bend in March, of
1914. for relief from these exorbi-
tant charges. The commission prom
Used to commence action at once and
endeavOr 10 have the case adjusted
prior to the fall election of that
year This was not done however and
the case is just going to trial TO-DAY
at Indianapolis, or nearly two years
after the appeal to the commission
by the officials of our city. It is
difficult TO prophesy what the find
ings of this commission will be, hut
judging from the results obtained by
commissions in other states, settle
Iaent satisfactory 10 the people Of
our city can hardly be expected. and
q Doubt rr~f1 find
for the city TO install a lighting plant
of it's own not only for the purpose
of lighting the city but serving its
citizens with both light and power
In the Saturday evening issue of
the South Bend Tribune reference
was made TO resolution of a commit
tee from the Chamber Of Commerce
to assist in every way possible TO
bring about an equitable settlement
Of the question Of rates in the case
now pending before the public util-
tty commission Of Indiana for the
city of South Bend In this connec-
ton. 1 understand the Indiana &
Michigan Electric company are now
willing to talk compromise. This is
a recent change of heart on the cleo
trio company's part. They evidently
see the handwriting on the wall.
The officials Of our city have ways
of learning what a fair and equitable
rate of power would be and should
not accept any compromise which
does not conform to what has been
found in other cities to be just and
equitable rate. This is a very i'm
portant matter and when it is settled,
should be settled right.
In the south Bend Tribune of
January 14th, there was an article
giving the experience of New or
leans. La, on the lighting question
which is almost identical with the
situation in South Bend. This article
says in part. in speaking Of the com
mission which governs the city:
lone of it's members took "a few
days off, examined the schedule of
light rates and decided il was too
high both for public lighting and for
private consumption. The rate 10
private individuals was 12c per kill
owatt hour, scaled down TO &C if
certain amount of power was used.
The commission Opined the rates
ought TO be about cut in two. The
company laughed at the absurd idea
and the commission, through tho
newspapers. told the people of the
CITY about it, Then the company
took the suggestion seriously and
proposed a compromise. which was
refused. BY this time, the public got
real interested and while the compa-
ny acted as if ii would be stubborn,
the city commission delivered an ulti-
matum.-'Adopt the schedule of
rates which we demand or We will
build and operate a public plant
The company sweat blood until the
eleventh hour and then capitulated,
accepting exceedingly reasonable
rates BY this one service. the city
commission saved the city $4,000 a
year and the people OF the city who
use electricity $4,000 a year
In the above connection il must
be remembered that New Orleans is
city of approximately four hundred
thousand. The electric company of
that city evidently concluded that
they could furnish the light and
power at the rates named by the city
commission or they would not have
accepted them A saving Of S52. 900
year III street llEnAA anu So-Vs-
600 a year TO private consumers Of
electric current. makes a total Of
SS72. 900 year This is a saving
worth having With a proper rate
here in South Bend, the city and its
citizens should save in the neigh
borhood of $4,000 a year and still
leave a good margin Of profit for the
electric company.
kansas City. Mo. had been suffer
ing from excessive charges for cleo
trio current and finally decided TO
build a municipal plant, which was
started in 1918. The Kansas City
Times of January 18th, 1916, says as
follows:
The income from the Kansas City
water and light plants for the past
year was little over one half mil
lion dollars out Of this was paid
all the expenses OF the operation and
maintenance Of both plants and $50
600 worth of waterworks bonds were
paid off The light fund stil has
81 1e59 on hand and the water
in 5.227.22 The water plant has
O. In operation since 1910: the
lE-Lt plant since 1913, and in that
time the taxpayers have not had 10
contribute one cent bv direct tax 70