Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-11
Citizens Committee Says
Light, Power and Steam
Users Are Asked To Pay
Added Cost of Traction
Systems Maintenance.
81 PER CENT THEORY
DEVELOPS WEAKNESS

sented by the Byllesby representative
at the conference today between the
Railway G. Light company, the coun.
Gil and committee of citizens. was at
tackled by w. T. Harper, chairman OF
the citizens committee. Mr.. Harper
charged H. w. Fuller of the utilities
company with including the increased
cost of operating the street railway in
his list of operation costs and with
trying to Offset this with an increase
IN the rate for light, power and steam.
The conference was attended by a
large number of the company's pa
irons whose rates have been ad-
vanced.
The figures Of the company were at
tackled by Mr. Harper as not reflect.
ing the cost of the service for which
An increase has been asked. He in
sisted that the cost of operating the
railway should not be borne by the
I users of light, power and steam.
THEORY IS SHATTERED.
Analysis of the figures supplied by
the company today played sad havoc
with the theory that 81 per cent Of the
users of electric light are protected
against the increased service rates.
II the company's figures are to be
accepted. 81 per cent Of its 3,003 light
ing accounts are not increased, al
though this percentage does not hold
good for December, when the con-
sumption of light current is particu.
larly heavy. However 3,003 accounts
do not represent 3.003 persons.
MANY IN BOTH CLASSES.
The householder whose account of
So or less for light used at his home is
one Of the 81 per cent finds himself in
cluded In the 10 per cent by his great
~ increased bill for current consumed
ut Ms store, office or factory.
These facts were revealed today in
an interview by H. w. Fuller and w.
H. Hodge of Chicago, representatives
of the H. NJ. Byllesby company. Other
facts which developed during the in,
terview were these:
FIGURES NOT COMPLETE.
The company's spokesmen we're
unable to tell the actual number
Of persons whose bills are not in
creased by the new rate.
They were certain, however,
that the number is appreciably
less than 81 per cent Of the total
number of persons receiving light
service and that considerably
more than 10 per cent Of the light
patrons are compelled to pay in
creased prices.
In addition to the 3.003 light ac-
~
rent for power and 297 users of
city steam. The rate for all Of
these Is increased, the raise
amounting to so per cent in some
instances, as compared with the
former rates.
On the basis of a year under
the old rate, 65 per cent Of the
company's income was supplied by
those whose rates have been in
creased. Only 35 per cent was sup
piled by those whose rates have
not been raised.
The company's representatives
were unable to say how much this
proportion has been changed by the
adoption Of the new rates. but
their figures indicated conclusive
ly that the portion Of the income
represented by the accounts which
are not affected by the higher
rates is considerably less than 80
per cent because the new rates in
creased the company's income by
more than $4,000 in December
Necessarily, this sum is yielded by
those patrons who already were
paying IS per cent Of the COM
pany's income.
ABOUT Is PER CENT PROTECTED
1t is evident, then, that in the light
Of the facts, the councils ordinance
which was said to protect 81 per cent
Of the company's patrons for increas-
ed costs for service affected not more
than 20 or 25 per cent Of the CON-
pany's business under the increased
rates.
II 81 per cent of the 3,003 accounts
2,433 Of them, to be amounted
{ GA maximum Of 50. which. of course,
h not the fact, they would produce
37,299 a month. This is only little
more than the increase in the com.
pany's revenue for last month through
the advanced rate. Inasmuch as many
Of the 2,433 accounts amount to less
than 81 it is probable that their total
does not equal the amount of the addi-
tion to the remaining $40 accounts
which are increased.
INCREASE IN OPERATIONA
The company's report indicates that
its expenses have increased so that for
December they exceeded those of for
mer months by nearly $4,000. The net
decrease in earnings are shown in the
report for the month to be $2,S60. The
amount Of earnings is not shown by
tA> report