Douglas Island news., 1917-05-25
WHY ONE BUCK
 WHEN 50 CENTS
Will Pay the Bill Is Question Now Facing Light Consumers
 of Douglas

Fully sixty business men and property owners of Douglas -all cl- ccuic Iigb. consumers were present at tbc m1 meeting called by Mayor Smith and held n Labor Union holl "Wednesday night che object ot thc meeting being Co discuss ways and means for procuring cheaper clcc- ur.c light and power than at prices now charged
 M. yor Smith presided and F. A. J. GaIJvas was chosen secretary. NJ. J. O'Couuor being invited by Che chair Co explain thc object of Che meeting. did so n his mimically lurId style. asserting that Douglas had long bccu paying one dollar for that which should cost but 5O cents. uc cited Che manner iu which the Juneau Ferry N Navigation Company had been brought Co time and its stuuelc hold on Che Islanders broken and said Che same trcot- mcut win now bc mctcd to che AL aska EIccuI. Light and Power Com ruy and that Che next move must br a reduction iu Che water charges
 D. R. Bradley submitted that thc TrclIwcI Company was iu position f1 eftc uuueIus what sho requires lu Che limo or electricity at fifty per cent of tle price now paid Hc was mol able to give actual figures. but would bc at m early date. his com- rany uuyuE uo less than four dit- lcrout light and power plants odc- uuatc to supply an thc demand lI- able Go bc made ou them Mr. Bradley further explained that it would uo. bc thc object Of his conn pauy Co retail its product, but that it would bc furnished Co Che city council and thc latter could make
 urH arrangements for its distribu- Iou as seon dt and proper.
 Martin olson opued that the company now supplying juice had ue,ar been asked to reduce its prices and wos unable Co sec just wu., .w.c existed for a kick against ua treatment of thc city, Like some uI tHc other speakers Inc wandered .- aHru in hs talk.
 John Henson took exception to Mr. 0pous statement and said hc had many times asked thc company t0 reduce .ts charges. Mr. Henson denounced che minimum rate sys- l.m .s Uuc better than a steal and asked why charge of go per month meter rent should Doe made whom. during tbc summer months. only Wy cents worth of light Alter .I through Che same meter Mr.. Henson thought with Mr. O'Couuor .Haf tbc citizens or Douglas had r.cu very badly treated by thc u- .umbouJ company.
 In corroboraton of what Mr. Hen 1u said about minimum meter charges. Che proprietor Of Che News might have told. but didn't of a
 minimum" power meter u his of- u.e which from January l Co May aU showed only sI Hlowatt units us having been consumed, and ot Inc present rate should have cost but S23O. but for which he is charged and can show receipts for sa cscy month
 T D. GWis spoke very tayorably ot tho Troadwcll proposition, us did also p. n. Fov and Albin Baritcllo.
 X committee consisting of E. J. White. Martin olson and p. n. Fox was appointed by thc chair to confer with Mr. Bradley and secure fur fber information concerning tho ar- arrangements and terms his company .s in position Co make with the city, also to confer with Che manager of the Alaska Electric Light & Power Company with thc view of getting a price ou their equipment poles wiros etc. within the corporate limits of Douglas and to report at a meeting Co bc held in Che Labor Union hou Wednesday night otneXt week.
 Chairman Smith warned thos, present that in the event of hi, presiding at Che meeting next week speakers win cou0nc themselves oN elusIycly Co the question ot issue Mr. O'Couuor replied that the matter win loo thoroughly thrcshcd out al thc next meeting and that if Mayor Smith does not care to preside some other chairman will be pro cured for the occasion.
 The meeting would probably hay, continued until tho "wcc sma' hours but as the hall was 10 be th, scene of dance Co begin shortly after 9. reluctant adiournmcn was taken.
 pRFTTY DANCING