Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-02-05
GAS HEARING
AT CITY HALL
fFrom Tnesday,s Daily.i

During the World War there was
complaint by patrons of the Wiscon-
sin Power, Light & Heat company
because of alleged inferior service
and last fall former troubles appeared
again. During the war it was claim
ed it was impossible to obtain proper
coal and last fall it was claimed
there was improper reading of the
gas meters. A petition was sent to
the rate commission at Madison and
the complaint touches both the electric
and gas service of the company.
The complaint charges that the
electric service is inadequate and in
sufficient and that the rates charged
are excessive. AS to the gas service,
it charges that the gas furnished is
poor and insufficient, and that con-
sumers are unable to use it, effectively
either for lighting or heating pur-
poses. 1t charges also that the COM
pany employs incompetent help and
that the local manager refuses to rec
tify mistakes made by incompetent
employees.
A hearing was twice postponed at
the request of the company. The TAX
ing of testimony was begun at the
city hall this morning, many being
present with receipts and other EVIL
dence, to show the service had net
been normal.
Among the witnesses on the stand
at the opening session were Mrs. A.
F.. Reiner, Mrs. Wanda Thomas, Mrs
Iva hasten, w. j. Hollenback, and
officer Otto Harmed Some of them
testified that when they made com
plant at the excessive charges a
small rebate was allowed. The bill
of Mrs. HASTEN was over $17O0 and
she was allowed about third of a
dollar, she said.
Mr.. Harmed was formerly employed
at the gas house, both during the
management Of William Fl. Potter and
since. He testified that when Mr..
Potter was here the machine was set
so that it would make about At feet
of gas to a pound of coal and since
then it had run over z feet. On the
cross examination he was asked if it
were not possible for good workman
to obtain more gas from pound of
coal than poor one and if better
methods could not make as high as
z feet or more from a pound Of the
solid product. He replied that judg-
ing by the number present in the
room with complaints it did not look
like it. Uaughter.)
Members of the Wisconsin Rate
commission and also the corporation
are present. City Attorney v. H.
Cady conducts the hearing on the
part of the city.
It will be some time before a decis
ion is given.
(From Wednesdays daily.)
The hearing as to the gas service
was concluded at the city hall on
Tuesday evening and the hearing on
the question of electric rates will
come up in sixty days. The hearing OH
electric rates will be technical and OF
a different character from that per
tanning to the gas service.
About twenty-five testified as to
poor gas service that has been provid.
ed. The company did not make d
strong attempt to refute the charges
and the impression is the service viii!
be better. At the juncture of the mains
there are cups for catching the re-
fuse and these will be cleaned out.
Some improvements have already
been made and better service is
promised. The result of the hearing
will be given later.
Among those here from Madison to
represent the company were G. c.
Neff. H. Geise, R. G. Walters w. D.
Baker, and Attorney Peterson.
Members of the Wisconsin abroad
Rate commission were aIsn rraSen+