Evening journal., 1918-02-12
DISCUSS Raise IN
ELECTRICITY RATES
lcontInued From FIrst Pase.l

turing plants, they argued,
lt was noteworthy that no objection
was made to increasing rates for cur
rent for industrial plants. In fact
several manufacturers openly adj
yocated The proposed increase in rates
The meeting opened with the read
Ing Of the statement Of the traction
company settling forth the rapidly
mounting costs Of producing cdrrenl
and the small return for ~, which LEFT
the company with a. deficit IN Deem
ber
Under the plan proposed by the
traction company. the new rates would
be so adjusted rs 10 approximately
follow variations in existing rates with
an Increase Of one cent per kllowatt
hour in the present maximum and
minimum lighting rates and an in
crease in the power rates about equal
10 that which would be obtained by
the application Of a coal clause re-
Gently approved by the Public Utility
Commission Of the state OF New
Jersey.
The letter Of Mr.. Wilson set forth In
detail the increased cost Of materials
! that enter into the production and dis
/ tribution Of electricity, ono Of the
/ principal increases being IN the cost Of
/ coal Mr.. Wilson set forth that the
company was operated at loss durns
! tho quarter ending December 81, the
/ December deficit being s3,705.
70 was said that nine companies
users of high voltage. had been noti-
tied Of the meeting. but only two Of the
/ companies were representative du-
Pont Company and the Benjamin f.
/ Shaw Company.
Lammot DUPONT, representins the
/ dupont company, advocated the in
crease in rates. He said that he was
/ glad 10 see the rates increased, as bet
l ter service would result. The rates
must be increased In order that the
/ company might give adequate service
F he said. lie said that the dupont
+ Company and us employees were heart
/ lily in favor Of the increase.
Councilman Robertson, before pre-
senting his protest, said he wanted to
cross out a sentence IN his brief. Il
admit n had a sting In II and ! don't
want TO hurt arybody's feelings, he
said His protest was as follows;
First. that The actual cost for the
production Of current even under pres
ent conditions docs not warrant IT,;
second. that the actual cost now Is at
least 80 per cent. below the price
which the company Is receiving for
A.; third. that The plant and equipment
Is sufficient 10 supply local needs and
Is due almost exclusively 10 contracts
with outside parties: fourth, that the
request should not be granted until
The company shall show the public
the actual cost OF production, NTH,
that the reason why. II any, the trac-
tlon company Is hampered by lack Of
/ funds Is due 10 an unjust and over
capitalization sixth, that the company
Is purposely 0ver-capltallzed and Is ex-
acting from tho people an unjust rev.
enue, and seventh, that the company
has no legal, moral or business rlgh
TO exact a greater revenue on the busi
ness II docs within the limits Of tn
city than an amount sufficient to pro
duce current, sold and used within IN
city, plus a reasonable amount for up
& keep and depreciation and per cent
per annum on It's investment The saiI
investment to be based on the actua
true physical value Of It's plant an'
equipment within the city"
President McMullin, Of the Utihtie,
Commission. told Mr. Robertson thai
his protest would receive due consider
alton. and II was nled
Elmer H. Klund scored the service
given by ihe traction company, and
said that his last. months electric bill
was twice what 10 should have been
! When he protested against the exces-
sive bin TO an employe OF the company
/ he said he was told that there would
/ he no use in going to Mr.. Wilson about
/ a. as he wouldn't get any satisfaction.
To this Mr.. Wilson told Mr. Klund that
he would be only too glad 10 talk with
him concerning the matter, and made
an appointment 10 meet him
/ Mr.. Connolly favored two rates-a
, business rate snd a home rate. and
upon making this assertion was in
formed that there were three rates.
Leave us alone, we don't get much
anyway. he said.
Mr.. McNabb urged that the rates Of
the home users remain as now and the
I increase be made on the large users Of
the current. In referring 10 the pro-
posed rates-two cents per kilowatt
Q =
cent per kilowat hour for home users
he protested that The extra cent be
put on the former and that the home
rate remain at - cents.
some discussion was entered into as
20 The cause Of the rates 10 the large
users Of the current being so much
lower than the home rates 70 is be-
cause Of the great amount Of current
supplied industrial concerns and the
fact that the companies must guaran.
tee 20 use 1000 worth Of electricity
month, Mr. Wilson informed Ar.
Robertson, who put the question.
SIR. OFT stated that the residence
business averaged about SIS a year.
g. j. Garreison a member Of the
4 commission. asked that the traction
company onlcials be requested 10 pre-
sent 90 the commission its itemlzed in
teresis and rentals: 10 separate the
cost for producing current for house
lighting and Tor the larger users Of
power; n advise them concerning any
raise in the city light rates. and 10 nc
a sworn statement Of manufacturing
costs for supplying current.
Mr.. Robertson again took a stand
, against the increase. It's not fair" he
said.
. Mr.. Garreison remarked that the
home rates in this city arc lower than
in any other city and the wholesals
rates are higher.
Mr. Wilson took exception % The
, statements Of Mr.. Robertson. and added
that tie company would be able 10 re.
fute an the protests Of the Council.
man. I'm reference 10 a remark md.