The Sentinel=record., 1919-01-02
INVESTIGATION3 3
 OF UTILITIES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1.

rate if the investigation proved that the people were being overcharged for any of the public service commod- iles.
 Tae following recommendations by City Manager George R. Bedding brousht the matter before the com missioners, and was endorsed by u unanimous vote of chat body
 To the Honorable Mayor and City
 Commissioners:
 This is to advise that l have refus ed to approve the bills of the Public utIties foi this month, including water, lights and gas for the following reasons, to-Wit.
 The service furnished by the Public Utilities for many years before, and during the period of the war, was charged for at a price that in many instances exceeded that charged by other cities the same size, and larger than Hot Springs, and against the bitter protest Of nan5 of our c.ti- zens.
 At the time the ownership of the Public Utilities passed into other hands, there seems to have been a pracilce started pf lncreadng the burdens and difficulties to the great inconvenience and discomfort of the consumer, for instance:
 \ deposit was demanded on the 'u stallation of meters, which l am in- formed, accumulated to large amuont which is used for the bene- fit of the Public Utilities; also each person being required to come promptly to the office and settle their bills, or, their seryice would he in stantly cut off An arbitrary ruling is enforced to the effect that all perA sons desiring installation of service must pay for same from the main line with all conection. and bear thls entire expense individually. It is matter of general comment that the provisions of the street railway fran -y chise are being violated daily by the miserable condition of the road bed and tracks.
 There are many other things l could dwell upon, which l believe, will develop if the recommendation I make is endorsed and carrsed out b. this Commission While these meth ods may be clothed in some legal au- ihority that l know nothing of, they at least differ widely from other busi- ness concerns dealing with the public and are not calculated to encourage a friendly spirit and close co-opera- tiOn that is so necessary between a citizenship and a public corporation.
 If the prices were sufficient for the kind of service being rendered the public before and during the period of the war. l see no reason now that the war ss over that the price of this service should fee increased and the burdens of the public be made al- most intolerable.
 The price of gas was increased recently; the price for light service has been increased, and now the pub lie is notified that on the first day of the beginnng # the new year the price of water service will be increased. l maintain that even the old price was entirely out of proportion to the k'nd of service that has been rendered the public fer warter service for many years past In my humble opinion, if the water company wishes to il- crease the price for service, they should render a service commensurate with the price they propose to charge.
 It has only been a short while a-o that the people of Hot Springs were not permitted to use water for ordl- nary domestic purposes, the streets and sidewalks being in a fil5hy con dition, and, the entire city kept m an condition for months caus- cd by the water compauy not having a sufficient amount of water in their rescryair being thus compelled to con serve in every way poss ole Co meet the emergency of contlosntion should another one occur.
 "i believe lt the duty of this Com mission Co eive the cit.zenship 0l Hot Springs every prWection possible in dealing mith a psshl'c corporation as it ls ihe Only source L-n .--<nAl lQ0N --~r-ruu1r1