Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-02
THE GAS AND ELECTRIC PLANT.

In response to The Bulletins edito- rial comment upon the recent special city meeting, where $59,O0o was asked for to carry the gas and electrical de- partment through the fiscal year. Com
 missioner Shea. as shown in another column on this page gives a little more enlightenment upon the situation in the department, and for that he is to be thanked. It would have been we'll if it had been presented to the city meet ing for in connection with that or any municipal department it is never pos sible to make the facts too plain.
 Concerning the contract with the ThermoS Bottle company, which, like any legal contract. must of course be fulfilled, the presumption that the contract had expired was based upon the statements which were made to the court of common council on Feb ruary tenth by the commissioners or department officials that the contract had expired. and there had been as far as known up to now refutation of it.
 In connection with the unpaid bills amounting to $36,000 which were brought over from the last fiscal year and paid out of this years appropria- ton the excuse is offered that this course was followed in part because the Uncas Power company bill was in dispute and because coal which was ordered had not been delivered. But could the department have paid those bills had there been no dispute and had there been the delivery of the coal before the books were closed :? According to the report of the treas urer there remained just eleven cents in the treasury of the departments appropriation at the close of business last year. The department cannot draw upon anything but its appropria- ton. Consequently there was but eleven cents with which to pay those bills and it was necessary to wait for a new appropriation or go before a city meeting and ask for a special ap- propriation to meet them, the same as has just been done. The bills were carried over and the result of the pared appropriation under a previous administration is just coming out.
 There can be no question but what this depa rtment the same as any bus fness has felt the effects of increased cost of operation, but it has not as yet been told to the citizens in black and white just what that increase in the cost of operation has been over the estimated cost. That is something 1t would have been advantageous for the city to have known<in connection with the request for more money.
 It is good. however, to get some in formation regarding the operation of this plant where on one occasion it is claimed the machinery is all inefficient and now it is claimed that the tur- pines are efficient if there is sufficient boiler capacity. But while the claim is made that the plant is making money and is supposed to show a profit from five to eight per cent, just how much of a profit was made dur ing the last fiscal year?
 According to the departments bal ance sheet there was shown last year a profit of S26.715.9S. There were, however, those unpaid bills to the ex- tent of s36,000 or more. Had they been paid. which could not be done had there been no question concerning them because there were but eleven cents to do it with, there would have been a deficit of $10,000.
 There can be no question but what the citizens should take a lively in- terest in this department, and they do but it is well to stim- ulate it by dispelling the political fog which is too often made to cloud 1t.