Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-24
Peoples Side of Rate
Increase Is NOw Being
Prepared by Attorneys
Edgar Watkins States That
They viii Make Earnest and
Energetic Effort to Accom-
pIiSh the Task in Fifteen
: Days

Speaking for himself and the other
attorneys representing the peoples
committee in opposition to the Georgia
Railway and Power company's petition
for increased rates in all departments.
Edgar Watkins stated Thursday morn
ing that the attorneys will make an
earnest and energetic effort to analyze
the power companys exhibits within
the fifteen days allowed them by the
railroad commission.
1T had been our intention" stated
Attorney Watkins, Ito ask for sixty
days to make the analysis of the COM
pany's exhibits. These exhibits consist
of highly complicated and technical f.
nancial statements. The power COM
pany's expers have probably been en-
gagged several months in getting them
ready. In Difference to the urgent haste
of the power company's attorneys we
reduced our time and only asked for
thirty days. Then tn epower company
objected even TO that The railroad
commission allowed us fifteen days.
which is just one-fourth of the time
we had intended to ask. Beginning on
next Tuesday morning, May IS, when
the stenographer's transcript of the
oral testimony will be finished, we will
endeavor to the utmost of our ability
to complete the analysis in fifteen
days"
The poyrer cornpanv con1pleted its in
PRODUCTION of testimony at the after
noon session of the hearing Wednesday.
When Preston S. Arkwright, president
of the company, who had been on the
witness stand about eight hours, an
nounced that he was through, Attorney
Watkins moved that the railroad COM
mission allow thes peoples attorneys
thirty days in which to analyze the
company's exhibits in preparation for a
counter showing in opposition to the
proposed increases in rates.
Power Company Objects
Immediately this motion was strenu-
ousIy opposed by Attorney Jack j.
Spaldins, chief counsel for the power
company. He asserted that the COM
pany is in the grip of a terrible emer-
gensy, that il cannot wait to have its
petition acted on, that delay and post
ponement would be the same as allow
ing a very sick man to die and then
perform a post norton to find out what
was the matter with him.
Replying to this assertion, Attorney
John d. Little, of the law firm of Lit
tie. Powell, Smith & Goldstein. declared
il. was absurd for Attorney Spalding 10
assert that business men of such cele-
brated ability as Harry NJ. Atkinson and
Preston 5. Arkwright would wait so long
to seek relief in an emergency that a
delay of thirty or sixty days would
push them into bankruptcy.
Thirty days is the very least posi-
BILE time in which we can analyde these
exhibits submitted here by the power
company" said Attorney Little. 1T is
uncomfortable that we should be expect
ed or required to represent the interests
of our clients without being given a
sufficient opportunity to-answer the evil
dence put in by the power company $
experts and statisticians. We must not
only analyze these exhibits to determine
their mathematical correctness, but we
must find out whether the power COM
panys system of accounting is based
uon correct principles. 1t is altogether
possible that we will take issue with
the conclusions of the power company
| concerning its earnings"
Attorney Arthur G. Powell, of Little
Powell. Smith & Goldstein, asked Mr..
Arl1wright the question whether ne
would consent to an examination of the
power company's books by Professor
| Bemis, the celebrated statistician en-
gagged by the peoples committee for that
purpose. Mr.. Arkwright replied that the
company's books were not open to any
body but the railroad commission.
Cedartown Asks Time
Attorney T. S. Ault, representing the
! city of Cedartown in opposition to the
power companys petition, heartily
agreed with the attorneys for the peo-
| pies committee of Atlanta.
If this company's petition for in
creased rates is going TO be granted, -
said he, it will certainly have a much
/ better complexion in the eyes of the
people of my community if the rail
road commission allows the increase
after thorough investigation and suf-
/ fcient time for the opponents of the
petition to make out their case"
After much discussion pro and con it
was finally decided by the railroad
| commission that the opponents of the
petition should be allowed fifteen days
I instead of thirty days. This fifteen
DAYS was dated from May 2S, the day
on which the stenographer reporting
/ the testimony expects 10 finish MS
| transcript Hence the commission set
lJune IL, at 10 o'clock a. m, as the day
( and hour when the opponents of the
petition shall present their evidence IN
opposition to it
/ IN cases Of this kind the procedure
I is different from that of court trial.
I When a railroad or public utility cor
/ Doration brings a petition before COM
I mission for increased rates, the burden
4 of proof is on the petitioner to snow
. that the proposed increases are Justl-
. fed. This involves the question as 10
what are its earnings. To show thai
Pits earnings justify increased rates. the
petitioner always submits a mass oil
I financial data which its experts nave
! prepared in advance. OF course thls
/ data cannot be answered by the oppo-
nents of the petition right off hand
! They usually ask, and are usually
| granted, a reasonable time in which to
analyze the data submitted by the Pc
/ titioncr.
/ Therefore the peoples attorneys were
not departing from the regular and es'
tablished procedure in such cases when
/ they asked for time TO prepare theli
answer TO the power company's data.