The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-28

precedented degree here in Bismarcl
the rates are fixed from day to do,
at the within of the manager of tn
Hughes Electric Co. The Hughes Elec
trio Co., cannot be hurt by hearing
before the railway commission. TIL,
company alone has the right to appca
from the decision of the board, and t,
have the boards rulings reviewed b,
the courts If the company is not sat
isfied. For the first time in the his
tory of the state we now have an &C
curate physical valuation Of public
utility plants available as basis TO-
rate making"
Brennan contended there were nj
grounds for an increase on the fue
proposition. II am informed the com
pany is still getting its coal for dol
lar the ton at the mine"
That's lie" broke in f. A. Hughe!
president of the company.
We'll, what arc you paying?" asked
Brennan.
"A dollar and a quarter" replied Mr.
Hughes.
Commissioner Best again moved
that the prayer of the petition bt
granted, and this time Commissions,
Thompson seconded
Then came further discussion. Attor
ney Young branded the evidence or
which Brennan based his charges Of
discrimination as mere hearsay. He
declared there was no discrimination
between consumers using the same
amount Of current; that Bismarck's low
cooking rate was made possible by the
fact that this current is used during
the day time when there is no, con
sumption for light and comparatively
little for power.
Why Hughes Objects.
Commissioners Best wanted to know
why the Hughes Electric Co. thought
politics involved in the matter how
politics could affect the situation il a
hearing were held before the railway
commission.
"I'll tell you why replied Hughes.
II was before the Nonpartisan state
board Of equalization short time ago,
and we were raised just 100 per cent,
while no other utility was boosted
more than Is per cent. The same
power that dominates the state board
of equalization dominates the railway
commission. We stand right here for
conviction"
How the Matter Stands.
AS the matter stands, the commits
sion apparently has waived the ques-
ton as to the percentage Of signatures
required, but 1t demands a clearer or
better defined statement of facts.
Only one or two property holders,
visibly interested in the subject under
discussion, attended the hearing, and
none except Mr.. Hughes, the Compel
ing attorneys, Ed. S. Allen, who ex-
planned that he had not been q party
to the circulation Of the petitions in
which statement he was borne out by
Brennan, who stated the petitions
were prepared by Mr.. LANCER and cir
culated at his direction and then turn.
ed over to his assistant-and the COM
participated in the discus
siOns.
Walton Explains.
R. L. Walton, explaining his letter
read at the city commission last eve
ming, wrote today as follows :.
ITO the Board of City Commission
ers of the City Of Bismarck: wish
to correct an unfortunate error made
by me in regard to the question Of my
signing a petition relative to the fix
ing of rates of the Hughes Electric
Co. Such a petition was presented to
me by Edward G. Patterson and
signed the same. It was not present.
ed by Mr. Casselman. This was pre-.
sented to me along about Dec. 1917.
Later on, and quite recently, Mr.. Cas-
selman asked me to sign a petition
for the recall of Commissioners
Bertsch.e refused to sign the last
named petition. A few days ago Mr..
E. A. Hughes asked me If signed the
petition. i supposed he referred to
The petition recalling Mr.. Bertsch, and
told him that l did not. He stated
that my name was on that petition.
then said it was forgery, If it was
On that petition. He then asked me
to sign letter stating that fact. He
then presented me with the letter now
before you in which say my name
was forged.s | supposed from what
Mr.. Z. A. Hughes said that he re-
ferred to, and that the letter referred
% the recall petition.
~ did sign the petition to regulate
he lights and want my name to re.
main on same. Mr.. Patterson did not
in any way misrepresent the matter
10 me, and If l have been deceived al
al it was by Mr.. =. A. Hughes.
"R. l.. WALTON"
Bismarck. n ID FEB. 2s. 1915