Evening journal., 1918-09-19
Continued from Firsi Page.

Company, stated that the company de
sired a fun hearing on its request 10
be allowed 10 increase rates and stated
q Willingness on the part Of the COM
pany 10 answer any questions put TO
its representatives by the commission
ers or any citizen. The company ask
ed the right to Increase rates for. gas
from Si.05 per 1000 cubic feet 10 $3.50
per 1000 cubic feet with an added penal
~ Of 20 cents on unpaid bills after ten
days and meter rate OF 90 cents where
the gas consumption does not amount
to 20 cents, per month. II was pre-
dicied last night that the increase
would be allowed the company having
laid its cards on the table.
The meeting was devoted entirely 10
the hearing Of Mr. Schuit in behalf Of
the Gas Company
He was cross examined at length fol-
lowing his statements by Councilman
Robertson, President OF City Council
George 4. Lyon, James Okane, James
Dale and others representing the Cen
tral Labor Union and the Utility Com
missioners themselves. st the conclu-
sion OF the examination at n o'clock,
following a three hours session, IL was
announced that another hearing would
be held tomorrow night, when the Cen
tral Labor Unioh will be expected 10
present its side OF the case opposing
the proposed increase.
Last nights session. which was held
in City Council chambers, was attend
ed by one hundred or more citizens. in
cludlng Mayor Lawson, President Of
Council Lyons, John Bancroft William
B. Megear president Of The Chamber Of
Commerce, Clarence r. killen. secretary
OF the Chamber OF Commerce, James
0'Kane. James Dale, w. w Bennett J..
Winfield Scott and others representing
the Central Lobor Union and the local
l0dse OF the Brotherhood OF L0cOmo-
tive Engineers, two organizations that
had objected TO the increase i'm rates,
and City COuncilmen Hopkins. Ward
Cathcart, Mearns, Abberger and Har-
ringtOn, and George b. Miller. president
OF the Board OF Education. Charles G.
Guyer was stenographer for the Utility
Commissioners, in taking down the wi
dence which was presented under oath,
Mr.. Schutt being sworn in by C. ID. Gar
retsOn, one OF the commissioners.
Unlike previous hearings before the
Utility Commission there were no Tits
between those directly interested and
the commissioners, the OILY TIT being
between members OF City Council and
the commissioners. This was especial
ly true when Mr.. Robertson asked per-
mission to question Mr.. Schutt In
stantly Mr. GarretsOn asserted that Mr..
Robertson was out OF order, insofar as
the new rules Of the commission pro-
vided that only hearings were TO be
granted person who had asked for
such a privilege in writing.
Il will Say that you will hear me.
remarked Mr.. Robertson lie then APP
pealed from the decision TO the chair
man, Mr. Isaacs, who had contended
that requests TO speak on the subject
should be ilade in writing. The Com
missioners beclme involved in an ar
gument as 10 whether such written re-
quest should be made prior TO the date
OF any hearing or at the time Of the
hearing. City solicitor Bayard was
asked for an opinion and he said that it
should be made prior to the meeting
This caused Mr.. Robertson TO say 'Mr.
Bayard, we all know where you stand
on this question"
Councilman Abberger leaned over Mr..
Bayards shoulder and calling 10 Com
missioner Edward A. Higgins said. Ed
do your own thinking. don't lea Bayard
think for you" 10 was finally decided
that application b speak on the mat
ter could be made at any time, and Mr.
Robertson was granted the privilege OF
the floor. Before asking several ques-
tions Of Mr.. Schutt, Mr. Robertson
stated no one knew where he stood on
the question, but he wanted to say that
the Gas Company had offered to lay its
cards on the table and he wanted It to
be known that II the facts warranted IL
he would be ready 10 stand with The
company in its request for an increase
in rates.
Al he opening Of the hearing, Mr..
Neary following the presentation OF
the petition OF date OF August q, by
the Gas Company asking for the right
to increase rates stated that Mr.. Schutt, |
who was familiar with the situation, |
would talk on the subject, unfolding
his story and presenting his evidence.
Mr. Neary requested that his client not
be interrupted during his talk, but add
ed he was willing to answer all ques- |
tions when he had concluded.
Mr.. Schutt opened by taking up the
first item specified i'm the petition as
to why the company should be allowed |
the increase, which was under the
heading coal" He showed, by produc- !
ing the expired coal contracts With. the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company, that his company last year
had received between 1900 and 1900 |
tons Of anthracite coal at Sii5 a long 4
ton T. q. b. at the mines He added
that all contracts for hard coal were |
for the long tons The new contract |
was then produced calling for between
1000 and 5000 tons with no price speci- |
fed which he said was due to the fact |
that the mining companies are guided |
by the Fuel Administration and the |
price is fixed at the time OF delivery. |
The next contract was that for coal de-
livered this year, the bill for the same
calling for $3.50 per gross ton.
The expired contract for soft coal /
was shown for 4ii0 tons last year and
4 was stated that this years contract |
allied for smaller supply with no
price fixed. The company, he added, is
low paying S2.95 per short ton.