Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-15

they ga, they would De Wiling 20 az
their part in fighting the Prussiar
devil and all his hosts.
(From Saturdays Daily
AN UNWlSE REVIVAL.
After hours of patient questioning
by a representative Of The Courier
representatives of the Ottumwa Rail.
way and Light company admitted
facts which were set forth in the
news columns Of The Courier yester.
day, among them being:
That the returns to the COM
pany in the first month the In
creased rates were charged COM
pletely upset the estimates ON
which the request for those in
creases was based.
That the company was unable
Thursday night to submit reliable
estimates which would indicate
the fairness of the new rates.
That the much discussed saw
ing which the company and the
council declared the new sched-
ules offered to 81 per cent Of the
patrons affects a much smaller
proportion than 81 per cent in
fact, and that it amounts, on an
average. to negligible 1 cent
day for each Of the protected"
patrons.
The estimates which the council
accepted 30 trustingly were 80 OBJ
viously incorrect that 1t is dimcult
to believe that the city officials even
examined them. For instance they
showed that in the year ending No
80, 1917, under the old sched-
ule of rates, the company collected
$46, 1898 from steam consumers. In
asking for an increased rate, the COM
pany estimated that for the current
year, to end November 80, 1918, under
q rate averaging between IS and SO
per cent higher than the former
the receipts for steam would
be but $39,S35, or almost $1,000. less
lective.
AS a matter of fact, the total charge
Tor steam in December, 1917. under
the increased rate, was $4,27s.sS
in excess of the receipts for Deem
Der. 1916, when the old rate applied.
And yet, the estimate Of loss of
1000 in gross receipts was accepted
by the council without question.
The increase In the company's
charges for electric current last
under the new rate, amounted
10 $2,469.03. But the estimate
which the council accepted was that
,or twelve months under the increased
ate the company would increase its
receipts only $1,000,
The Courier believes the Railway
md Light company should have high
n rates than 1t has been receiving. No
,ne in Ottumwa denies that fact But
he only figures which the company's
representatives have exhibited to ex-
,lain the extent Of the increased rates
all absolutely to offer the desired ex-
planation.
The effort to impress the small con-
sumner with the thought that his inter
est was being guarded by Jealous
council and considerate utility COM
oany Ii revealed as transparent bid
or undeserved popularity. The "sav-
ng" averages cent day. Penny
politics" is the correct name for this
chase Of the negotiations.
The course followed by the COM
,any In obtaining omcial authorization
II its rate increase was neither bust
feesiike nor calculated to inspire con-
idence IN its future claims. II 1t had
.ome before the people Of Ottumwa
frankly with plain statement of its
financial condition and needs 1t would
lave found them ready to pay in
.reased prices which were justified by
expenses.
Instead Of this, 1t took advantage Of
he ignorance Of an inefficient city ad-
showed the officials a
ian which on its face promised them
J campaign argument, and Slipped
'ver'' q schedule of rates for which
ven now there is no adequate expla-
lation.
There was time, years ago, when
uch methods were customary and
art of the game as played by utility
concerns. Since then. most OF these
have abandoned cheap
,olitics for straight business methods.
This ia bad time to attempt re-
'ival.
The Byllesby concern and the Ct.
umwa public have enjoyed the most
nendly relations for several years. 1t
8 Of record that the company has de-
creased its electric rates voluntarily
When the earnings justified it. This Is
mark of the new era in which penny
'olitics has no part. 1t is regrettable
hat the same frankness was not EVIL
fenced when an increase was desired
IS when decrease was announced.
rhe company's record inspires the
lope that this was merely thought
ess error Of judgment, that 1t may be
ectif1ed and the company reinstated
n the esteem of Ottumwa's thinking
,ublic.
PATHETIC IGNORANCE.
Now It transpires that when Mr.
Baker, in his long written statement
which told how ably he had directed
he work Of making a wonderfully big
Irmy ready for wonderfully big war