Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-09
NO ACnOlNlS \.
TAKEN IN GAS
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RATE MATTER,
Meeting of Railroad Com
missioners Held Here
Yields Negative Result.

"a joint meetln8 OF h state board
OF railroad commissioners, the special
Red River Power Co. surcharge COM
mittee and cityofficials was held in
the city hall yesterday, afternoon and
discussed matters relative to the Red
River Power Co. rate hearing,
Mayor II. M. Wheeler presided, City
Attorney G. A. Bangs and City Audi
tor Alexander representing the city.
The members Of the special surcharge
committee which was appointed De-
cember II, 1917,tto make an investi-
cation areLJ. M. Gillette, T. j. Smith
and j.. L. Hulteng.
The commissioners declared them
selves ready to sit on the hearing
whenever it is called and the city
auditor reported that the city is ready
for the hearing as soon as Attorney
General w. E. LANCER submits the rer
port of the expert accountant. The
reports. now insthe. hands Of the at
torney general, he has agreed to turn
over to the city upon payment Of costs.
Repeated communications from the
city auditor to the attorney general
fail to bring any satisfactory state
ment Of what the cost Of accounting
has been, so that unavoidable delay is
occasioned while the citizens of Grand
Forks continue to pay the surcharge
rates to the power company.
A statement from City Attorney
G. A. Bangs explaining the situation
Of the rate hearing and the causes for
the continued postponement and delay
was issued today and reads as follows:
Mfr. Bangs Discusses Matter.
"The attorney general is the attor-
ney for the board Of railroad COM
missioners and represents the state
and controls all proceedings before the
board so hat the attorney general inn
mediately took charge Of the proceed
ings instituted in February last against
the power companysto obtain a reduce
ton of rates. The hearing was set
postponed because of the death of Mr..
Brennan. It was then set for July 10
but it was necessary to obtain an
audit of the books of the power COM
pany and this was overlooked by the
attorney generals office until too late
SO that the July 10 meeting was
abandoned.
1.-The attorney general then came to
Grand Forks and told our committee
that we must pay for the audit Of the
power company books. This was di-
rectly contrary to the theory Of the
exercise by the state of the power to
fix rates. 1t is the state which pos
sesses the power to fix rates upon an
investigation made by the state and it
is unheard of to require the city or
the person complaining of a railroad
or public utility to pay for the ex-
fpenses of the state board in making
the investigation. The boards in other
states do not require any such bur-
lens to be laid upon its people and
our state does not require it except
Eagainst the people living in cities or
towns. The state usually does and
ought to pay such expenses.
1.-The excuse for levying this ex-
pense on the people of Grand Forks
was that the last session of the legis-
lature had failed to appropriate money
sufficient to pay the legitimate ex-
penses of the railroad commissioners
in making such investigation.
Council Would Pay.
1.-THE council at once agreed to pay
the expense of the audit and Of the
expert witnesses and the attorney
general was Immediately advised
thereof in writing. The council felt
that the matter was of sufficient i'm
portance to the people of the city that
they would be willing to pay this ex-
pense even though it is not a legiti-
mate charge against the city. The ex-
pense was estimated at $500 but will
probably exceed that sum.
There has been no date set for a
hearing since July. I have taken the
matter up with the attorney generals
office a number of times and last week
received word that the audit was COM
pleted but that the expense thereof
was unknown to the attorney general,
who would inquire concerning it and
advise me. I wired the attorney gen
eral asking him to let me know if
could pay the bill without an ad-
journed meeting. 1t is the first time
in my experience that the city has
been asked to pay in advance either
for services rendered or work done.
II was very much surprised to learn
yesterday that the Fargo Courier
News on October 2 editorially stated
that the attorney general would not
bring these cases on before the pres
ent board of railroad commissioners.
Results of Further Delay.
eff the hearings are delayed until a
new board Of railroad commissioners
takes Office, it will mean that the
present rates will be collected for at
least another year. Indeed a hearing
delayed for SO long might almost as
we'll be abandoned.
Il have written the attorney gen.
eral today asking him if the Courier
News announcement was a~uthdrized
by him. If the attorney general ad-
lay, then after I receive the report Of
the audit, I shall attempt to bring the
matter On for hearing before the
board without the cooperation of the
attorney generals Office.
II feel that the. people are entitled
to know the causes for this delay and
that it is not because Of any action or
lack Of action on the part of the city
or any of its officers"
ra 81 a HF.L .rLl
Doyle Speaks To Il.