Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-05
SURCHARCE TO
BE DISCUSSED
BY R. R. BOARD
Commissioners Wilt be in
Session Here on July
Tenth.

Much interest lS being evtnced In
the session Of the board Of railroad
commissioners which will be held in
this city or July 10 for the purpose
Of ascertaining the facts connected
with the surcharge Of 10 per cent
which the Red River. Power company
some months ago levied upon ite
patrons. g Wy,
It could not be established today
whether or not the recent announce
ment made by that company to the
effect that q further increase Of reg
ular gas and electricity charges would
abolish the surcharge, would in any
manner influence the pending investi-
cation.
The hearing which will be held here
is the outcome Of steps taken by the
city council during the last few
months.
On December IL. last. Mayor J.. A.
Dinnie read a message to the council
insisting that II the extra charge were
not warranted by the facts, it should
not be tolerated. Alderman Louis
kleven then introduced a resolution
calling for an investigation, and the
mayor appointed Aldermen Gillette,
Klexen, 7. J.. Smith and Sanders as a
council committee for investigation:
this was augmented by the following
citizens. not members Of the council:
o. S. Hanson, M. F. Murphy and G. N.
Barnes.
Committee Makes Report.
On February 6 the committee made
its first report which was, in effect,
that detailed information had been
u~nobtainable, and three weeks later
at a special meeting Of the council
the committee submitted whatever
information it had gathered up to
that time. 49,
The report set forth that figures
had been obtained from the Red
River Power company covering it's
plants at Grand Forks, Red Lake
Falls, Fisher and st. Hilaire, but that
the material pertinent to an investi-
cation of the local committee could
not be obtained owing to the fact that
the accounts of the local station SEEM
1ngly were not kept apart from those
of the three other plants.
Determined that the work should
be carried to its conclusion the coun-
Gil. adopted the following resolution
introduced by Alderman J. NJ. Gill
the board of railroad commissioners.
m Toxt of Resolution.
"Be it resolved by the city council
of the city Of Grand Forks. N. D., by
a majority vote thereof, that COM
plant be. and the same hereby is
made, that the rate charged within
the city Of Grand Forks. N. D.. by
the Red River Power company, a
corporation duly organized and exist
ing under and by virtue Of the laws
Of the state of North Dakota for gas
and for electricity for light. heat and
power to said municipality and to the
inhabitants thereof is excessive and
that the particulars wherein it is
claimed that the rates so charged are
excessive, are that the rates charged
for said gas and electricity for light.
heat and power are greater than af-
fords and gives to said Red River
Power company, a reasonable return
thereof used for such purpose after
paying all Of the reasonable operating
expenses thereof. Including taxes and
reasonable ~Ndepreciation charge;
that the rate charged for gas is $3.50
per thousand cubic feet and that such
charge is excessive and greater than
Is reasonable<or should be allowed by
law, and that IN addition to said
$1.50 per thousand cubic feet, there
mas oeen an additional charge OF I'D
per cent added beginning with JAM
uary, 1918: that the charge for cleo
trio power for lighting purposes is lie
per K. w. H. for the first 100 hours.
after which there is a gradual de-
crease, and to which there was added
on January LIST, 1918, 10 per cent ad-
ditional, and that said charge and all
thereof. Is excessive and greater than
js reasonable or should be allowed by
law and that the charge for electric
current for power purposes is 6.66c
for the first 500 4. W. H.. after which
there is a gradual decrease. and that
10 per cent has been added to each
rate beginning Jan. /, 1918, and that
said rate and the whole thereof is ex-
cessive and greater than is reasonable
Or should be allowed by law"
Since then a date for the hearing
has been set at various times. but f.
nally it was postponed to take place