Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-20
RAIL- BOARD ASKS .is
CITY COUNCIL To
FIX SCENT FARE
Would Not Change Gordon
Fares--InCfeaSes Granted in
Light. and Power Rates
About Half Those Sought

The railroad commission of Georgia
ruled Saturday that il has no Jurisdlc-
ton over street car fares in the city
Of Atlanta
In its decision on the petition OF the
Georgia Railway and Power company
for an increase OF approximately So Id
uer cent in an departments, the com
mission recommended that the city
councils OF Atlanta, Decatur and Col
80 park mt into effect a scent fare,
however. with free transfers as now
the proposed change not to affect the
Camp Gordon line.
The commission establishes, effective
Santember /. a complete revision of the
light and power rates, raising many
approxfmately half the increase sought
by the power company, and, IN some
instances. providing for decreases.
1t ruled that there is an existing
emergency which calls for an increase
in many rates and specified that the
rates now in existence are to be re-
stored by the commission when the
emergency shall have passed.
1t also allowed an increase In gas
rates of an average of 10 cents per
thousand cubic feet, on a sliding SCALE
the Atlanta Gas Light company having
sought an increase per thousand cubic
feet of approximately 20 cents. r..'' .
The Principal Changes e-
The brunt of the increases. granted
the Georgia Railway and Power COM
pany will be borne by users OF hydro
electric current, these increases rang
ing from 20 to % per cent s..
The present commercial lighting
scale in the city of Atlanta is, in the
opinion of the commission, too high
This was reduced approximately 10 per
ca
mercial users of current of something
like $4,000 in a year. eur =.
In smaller communities light and
mower rates were, in instances, slightly
reduced. - 80
residence lighting rates in the city
of Atlanta were increased -appro1l-
mately per cent. ~ -
The commission figures that lthe i'm
creases in the light ana power depart
ments of the Georgia Railway ana
Power company will provide, during
wear. a combined additional revenue In
the two departments of $4,000, gross.
The company sought approximately,
s4s5.oOO increase. If the proposed 10
cent car fare is put into effect the e9m-
mission estimates that this alone Will
add between 100000 and 100000 10
the company's revenues. 1t was stated
that the company lacked s154,66S OF Sc
curing sufficient revenue in 1917, to meet
fixed charges and depreciation. ..js -. :
Decision Unanimous 80 $780,
In it's opinion, said to be unanimous
the commission ruled that 1t has no
jurisdiction over street car fares In
the city of Atlanta because Off fact
that they were established by contracts
or ordinances made prior to the time
that power companies were PLACED. IN
der authority OF the commission. An
act of the legislature on August I,IS,
i9OD J Increasing the Membership hhd
powers Of the railroad commission
specified that this act shall. not oper-
ate as a repeal of any existing nfuhic-
ipal ordinance" The municipal ord1-
nance fixing fares in Atlanta wass effee-
tive prior to this date. -3Aso '.,h.'-
The commission accepts these 5erdi7
nances, on their face, as existent and
pofnts out that the question as to- their.
validity is one that would have 10 be
decided by the courts. -"~r''- d