The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-10
ALABAMA POWER ID
 REDUCE RATES NAIL TOWNS II SERVES
Drop of About 16 Per Cent Will Be Made When Pub lie Service Board
 Approves

Montgomery, February 9.-Special.) Announcement has been made by the Alabama Power company that rates for electricity in all towns served by the company will be reduced approximate 1y 16 per cent as soon as the Alabama public service commission approves a schedule filed by the company through Thomas w. Martin, vice president and general counsel, Friday. Mr. Martin explained that the voluntary reduction is in line with the policy of the com pany to work out schedule of rates for its service which will give the com pat1y a fair profit on the investment and furnish electric energy to consum- CTS at reasonable rates.
 The schedules filed with the public service commission contains the new form of contract which will be used in the future. It provides that the mini mum rate shall be $1 a month, that users of 200 kilowatts a month shall pay 10 cents per lilowatt 300 kilo- watts, 71a cents, 800 kilowatts, 51a cents and over 1000 l1ilowatts, cents. A reduction of 10 per cent additional will be allowed by the company if bills are paid within 10 days after they are rendered.
 Alabama cities and towns which will be benefited by the reductions are Al- bany, Anniston, Ashland, Attalla, Aus tinville, Camp Hill. Decatur, Dora, Guntersville, Gurley, Hartselle, Hobson City, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Leeds, Lincoln, Lneville, Oxford, Montevallo, Pell City. Ragland, Smith Hill. Talla- dega, and West Blocton.
 In filing a petition with the public service commission. Vice President Martin issued the following statement:
 "The Alabama Power company an- nounces the reduction in it's lighting rates from 12 cents with discounts, so that the net rate under the new schedule will be nine cents per kilo- watt hour. The net minimum bill will be s1. This reduction will be effective in all of the communities in which this company operates, the benefit of which will be felt by all users of elec- tric lighting. Schedules of the new rates have been filed with the Ala bama public service commission at Montgomery.
 ''This reduction in rates is made in pursuance of the policy of the Alabama Power company to extend to the users of it's light and power the lowest rates consistent with the various class of public service which this company is undertaking to render to the various III NhiSii it OPSA1tSo.
 OSCAR JONES PAROLED
 Oscar Jones. who was convicted Of assault with intent to murder in Jeff ferson county and sentenced to two years in prison, has been granted a parole by Governor Henderson. The trial judge informed the governor that Jones should have been convicted of assault and battery and given maxi mum sentence of four months. Jones already has served nine months.
 DECREASE IN POLL TAXES
 First returns received by the state auditor indicate that the decrease in poll taxes over last year as result of this year being without general election will be S3 per cent. Thirteen counties have made reports of poll taxes through Friday afternoon and they showed total collections for this year of s1s,105, compared with $26,163 for last year, decrease of $S05S,
 CASES TRANSFERRED
 Under an agreement whereby the supreme court handles 60 per cent and the court of appeals 40 per cent of all cases brought from trial courts. 76 cases Friday afternoon were trans ferred from the court of appeals to the supreme court. During the first cali of divisions for the term, which began last October. 2SS cases were submitted to the supreme court and 319 to the court of appeals, q total of 607 Under the agreement. the supreme court will decide 36I cases and the court of ap- peals 243.
 Of the total eases transferred, 36 were from the Sixth divisiof. a great majority of the 36 coming from the courts of Jefferson county.
 Mexican Is Killed
 Eagle Pass, Tex, February 9.--One