Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-12-27
The Electric Lights Increased Rate.


The Electric Lights Increased Rate.
When DIR. L. l.. Farmhouse was in
Ironton last week he was requested
by our citizens, upon his return to
Jefferson City, to call upon the State
Public Service Commission and pro-
test against its action concerning the
electric light rates in this city. From
Jefferson City, under date OF Decem-
Der 21st, DR.. Farmhouse addressed the
editor Of the REGISTER as follows:
sin regard to the Iron County Flee.
trio Light & Power Company and the
increase in their rate will say: | call
ed upon the Public Service Commas
sion to-day and they informed me
that the increased rate filed with the
Commission by the Iron County Flee
trio Light g. Power Company would
go into effect automatically on the
date advertised, December Goth, un-
less the opposition file a protest
against this increased rate; Sc | am
assured by the Commissions expert
on lights and power companies that
these rates will will be suspended for
100 days upon some interested party
filing q letter Of protest, and ,automat-
ically. the date,tor filing this protest
would expire on December $50; there
fore, l, as an interested party, and
one greatly against this increased
rate, and in the interest and on be-
half Of the people of Ironton, have
filed a letter Of protest and have as
sured the Commission ia my letter of
protest. that if they will set a date for
a hearing, preferably at l%ronton, that
we will prosecute Il protest vigo-
rously at that hearing"
Following is a copy Of the Letter Of
protest filed with the Public Service
Commission by Or. B%arnhouse:
December 81, 1917.
Public Service Commission of Missou-
ri, Jefferson City, Mo;
Gentlemen-This letter is written
you on behalf of the citizens of the
City OF lronton, Iron County Missouri.
We desire to protest against any in
crease in the present rate charged for
electricity by the Iron County Eiec-
trio Light & Power Company, OF Iron
ton, Missouri. This light company
has published a notice in the IRON
COUNTY REGISTER for the citizens of
lronton, who are patrons of this COM
paDy, that the increase in rate for
electricity has been authorized by
your commission. The advertise
ment spoken Of in the IRON COUNTY
REGISTER has led the patrons of this
company to believe that the increase
in rate, which will be in effect, De-
cember 20, 1917, is pursuant to an or
der of the Public Service Commission,
AS n OF the patrons of this com
pany, and as | believe that | repre-
sent the sentiment Of every other pa
iron of this company at Ir%onton, Mis-
souri,, am opposed to this increase in
rate; therefore, we ask your honora.
BILE commission to suspend this rate
for such time as in your judgment
would be right an d proper in order
that the people who are the patrons
OF this Iron County Electric Light
Company may be heard at n hearing
which we hope will be held at some fu
ture period at Ironton, Missouri, Ii
order to give each end every person {
chance to be heard in person, or By
counsel.
I desire to assure your honorable
body that this protest will be vigo.
rously prosecuted TO the fullest ex.
tent, as we believe the increase IN rate
Is unreasonable, unnecessary, and il
violation Of every principle of righ'
between the people and a public ser
vice corporation.
We are going to insist that you
honorable commission give the fulles
investigation possible along the linel
OF a fnll and complete audit Of thil
-. company's books and the valuation o
this plant and it's equipment, theil
general expenses, necessary. and un
necessary, their shameful and inefi
cient service since they have held tn,
charter from the City Of lronton
their violation of any contract enter
!, ed into. We hope all Of this to b.
, threshed out by the investigation VI
/, ask your commission to make.
si This is not q petition, hut simply I
, letter requesting u suspension OF thu
, increase Of rates. Our petitions will
/. be filed as soon as notice is received
, OF the date set for the hearing.
Very truly, yours,
;. L. L. FARMHOUSE.