Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-09
A LANCER HOLD.UP
The people OF

The people OF Grand Forks are interested in the
matter of rates for gas. heat and electricity. When the
rates were advanced some time ago there were many ex-
spressions of dissatisfaction, and it quickly developed that
mo local body had authority in the premises, such au-
!horfty being vested exclusively in the state railway COM
mission. The only possible course was to bring the sub
Iect to the attention of the commission and ask for an
adjustment which would be equitable to all parties.
Steps were taken blythe city council toward this end.
In order that the matter might be presented intelligibly
there was necessary a statement OF the value of the prop
! erty Of the Power company devoted to the Grand Forks
: service, OF the cost Of operation, and Of the earnings. To
obtain this information a survey of the property was
necessary, also an audit of the books of the company.
lit developed that the commission had no funds which
could be applied to the collection Of this information, and
in the absence of it there were various delays. The city
authorities have endeavored to expedite matters, and the
commission has been ready to proceed with the hearing
: whenever the parties were ready.
;. The attorney general has, it appears, had an audit
of the company's books made, although the commits
sion had not been notified Of that fact up to yesterday
when the board was in session here. On inquiry. how
. ever, the city authorities were notified from the office
OF the attorney general some days ago that the audit
: had been completed, and that the report would be for
warded on receipt of the cost of preparing it. That COST
was not stated. A statement of the cost was requested
: by wire, and up to last night no reply had been received.
although there had been ample time.
In this connection it is interesting to note that a few
days ago. in undertaking to explain why there has been
. = similar delay in the investigation of a similar case in
i Fargo. the Courier News of that city said:
r Attorney General LANCER probably knows
what he is doing. Just as soon as a satiafac-
\ tory audit can be made of the books Of the
Union Light, Heat and Power company, and
just as soon as the reactonary members of the
railroad commission have been elected to re-
main at home, and are replaced by progressive
81 men who believe in real democracy and a square
. deal for all the people, the evidence will be
placed before the railroad commission and the
people of Fargo can be certain Of justice. i
This, then, is the meat of the cocoanut. Mr.. LANCER,
according to the Socialist organ, does not intend that the
rate cases shall be decided by the present commission.
AS there can be no change in the personnel of the COM
mission until the terms of the present officials expire at
the first Of the coming year, it is not intended that the
stand now why the Grand Forks case, like the Fargo
case and the jamestown case, has been bantered about
from pillar to post all summer. 1t is because Mr.. Lam
ger and some of his associates have political axes to grind.
In the meantime the people continue to pay the advanced
rates without knowing whether or not those rates are
5ustifiable, and with no means OF expediting matters.
1t may be of interest that S. j. Aandahl, the one
the league, yesterday expressed his entire willingness to
hear and decide the cases with his two "reactionary" as
sociates. Messrs. johnson and Bleick.