Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-03-24
RATE HEARING
IS POSTPONED
UNTIL APRIL IS
Citizens Air Their
Views at Public Fo-
rum Meeting

Word was momentarily expected
this afternoon from Atlanta that the
State Railroad Commission had
granted the application of City At
torney Lane, made there today on be-
half of the citizens of Americus, for
a delay in the hearing of the Amer
icus Lighting Company, set for to-
day, on the company's application for
an increase in the gas and electric
light rates here.
Late this afternoon word came the
hearing had been postponed until
April Is.
The Chamber of Commerce meet
ing yesterday afternoon by resolution
requested the directors of the cham
ber to urge that the appeal to the
State Railroad Commission to grant
a continuance in the hearing of the
application of the Americas Lighting
Company for an increase in lighting
and gas rates for Americus, which
was set for 10 o'clock this morning in
Atlanta. In accordance with this in
struction, the directors prepared the
request, which went to Mayor Shep-
pard and was taken by him to Allan
Ia last night for presentation to the
commission.
The discussion of the rate subject
was opened by President C. S. Glov-
er, of the chamber, who stated that
there had been some criticism of the
chamber directors for their action
last week in not following the recon-
mendation of the special committee
and employing an attorney to combat
the lighting company's application.
He stated that the directors had done
everything they could do under the
chamber laws, and that they had
followed the recommendation of the
committee with the exception of en-
ploying an attorney, which they had
no authority to do. He declared that
real chamber could not be built on
criticism, that the directors had done
what seemed best and proper for
them to do for the best interests of
the city and the chamber. He said
the chamber was ready to assist in
ascertaining the facts in the case, but
that the directors felt that it was the
business of the city government,
which represents the taxpayers, to
conduct the fight.
W. p. Wallis commended the ac-
ton of the board of directors. "II
think it is the city's business and not
that of the Chamber of Commerce to
conduct this fight said he, "and to
see that the taxpayers are protected
if they need protection. | am OPP
posed to the chamber entering this
fight at all. :"
Lovelace Eve, in defending the
action of the directors, related the
experience of chamber Of commerce
elsewhere in entering local contest
of this character to disaster to it.
self. He expressed the opinion that
it was within the province of the
chamber to assist in ascertaining the
facts in the controversy for the en-
hghtenment of the public, to give the
city its moral backing, but not to go
into court as an active litigant.
Everett Schneider differed with
the preceding speakers. He declared
the rates are higher here for gas and
power than in other cities of similar
or even smaller size with which he
was acquainted. He declared high
rates for power and gas to be bad
for the growth of the town and dis
couraging to the coming of new en-
terprises. He declared that since a
chamber of commerce is supposed to
represent the citizenship of the COM
munity, it is it's business to investi-
gate and see whether the rates pro-
posed are just.
w. w. Dykes, one of the chamber
directors, expressed the opinion that
it was the duty of the chamber,
where there was lack of expert help
in making an investigation of this
kind, to procure this help if It could
do so and give the information OBJ
tanned to the public.
Stephen Pace declared himself in
favor of investigating the facts in
the situation.
q recall a condition at Savannah
which came before the Legislature, "
said he. ''in which it was shown that
a concern, which was one of a string
of plants under one ownership, cut
rates there to kill the competing
plant, and at the same time raised
rates elsewhere to make up the loss.
The Americus plant is owned by
foreign concern which operates sew
eral plants in other cities | do not
think such a condition exists here,
but l think the facts ought to be
gotten"
J. f, Hightower and others assured
the directors that the reported criti-
cism of the action Of the board was
limited and that criticism was to be
expected as long as there was ac-
tivity.
The meeting ended by the adoption
of the instruction to the board of di-
rectors to request the city to ask the
Railroad Commission to grant con-
tinuance in the hearing, proposed by
Mr.. Hightower.
Following is a copy Of the Motif