Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-11
ginning to filter into the logged Ger
man brain within the empire.
LET'S HAVE ALL THE FACTS.

LET'S HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
Now that the city council seems to
have decided to start all over again
on the question of increased rates for
electric current and steam heat the
suggestion is in order that the subject
be approached with as much Of bust.
ness judgment as that body can sum
mon. If the old rates are to be in.
creased with the councils approval
the extent of the raise should be made
known to the public before it is au.
thoriZed, but the council should sane
ton no increase until it is satisfied
beyond any question. by certified and
audited figures supplied by the com
pany, that the increase is necessary.
No one doubts the truth of the claim
that the cost of supplies and mate
rails which the lighting company
must buy in order to serve the COM
munity has increased during the last
few years. If the council is satisfied
from the companys showing that the
old rates were fair before this cost
increased, then higher rates for ser
vice are justified. But the figures to
be considered should deal with the IA
cilities for supplying current and
steam and with no others. For ex.
ample, the purchasers of current and
steam should not be compelled to pay
rates which would help meet a COM
parative deficit growing out of the
operation Of the company's street car
system.
In an editorial in the Taxpayers
Public Service Magazine, periodical
devoted to the interests of public
utility concerns, we find the follow
ing:
In Seaford, Del, women went
to the city council with concert
ed request that the Sussex Gas
company be permitted to raise its
rates to the consumer. Evident
~ the company has taken the
time to present the facts Of its
case to the women, who are the
real gas users. In Rock Hill, s.
c., voters went to the polls and
by an overwhelming majority
authorized an increase In the
rates for the Rock Hill Gas COM
pany after the company had laid
before the community the facts
about its business.
Inform the people and you gem
orally can trust them to do the
square thing. In all these cases
where utility companies are get
ting Increases you will find that as
rule the companies have first
gone to the people with a matter
of-fact statement of their affairs.
In another part Of the same article
occurs the following statement: "A1l
they 1.-THE public service corporations
are asking is to cut the extra cost of
operation $3.50 with the public. They
are not doing what other lines OF
business have done-soaking the con-
sumner without let or hindrance; they
couldn't if they would" The article
calls attention to this statement by
John A. Britton, vice-president and
general manager of the Pacific Gas &
Electric company Of San Francisco:
We do not ask for an increase
in our profits. nor even that the
rates be raised by an amount
equal to the actual increase in
operating expenses, but are only
asking for partial reimburse.
ment Of expenses incurred by rea-
son of abnormal conditions, real
izing that corporations, in COM
mon with the public. must bear
their proportion of the war bur.
dens.
These quotations go to show that
in other cities than Ottumwa utility
companies are opening their books to
the public to justify their requests
for increases. The same will be done
by the local concern, doubtless, if the
council suggests it. When the pro-
posal to increase the rates was made
the company published it's items of
increased expense, amounting to
something in excess Of $4,000 a year
Now, if the items of increased reve-
nue. resulting from the sight-unseen
increases inaugurated in December
are published, comparison can be
made and there can be place from
which to start in considering the
whole rate question.
This is essentially a business ques-
ton. If the council will look at 1t in
that light instead of viewing its polit-
ical possibilities the public will be
greatly obliged.