The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-02-18
Statement of Judge Mason

A representative Of the Ardmor'-
i,c called upon Mr.. Mason, the city
attorney and asked him for a state
mcnt relative to the hearing held be-
fore the corporation commission, at
Oklahoma City, upon Feb. 10th past
upon petition Of the Consumers
Light and Power Company for an
increase in the gas rates in this
city.
Mr. Mason, somewhat reluctantly
gave the following statement:
Some time last year the Consumers
LiCht and Power Company had made
application for an increase in the
r'ttcS which petition was heard here
in Ardmorc. and after close of that
herring the Corporation Commission
ton, same under consideration. AZ
Ter some delay a new hearing was
had an Oklahoma City, and upon the
hearing there had. and the evidence
then offered based solely upon the
figures Of valuation as made by the
engineers of the petitioners, the valu-
alton a. ascertained 10y the engineer
OF the corporation having been object
ed TO, the rate was raised Ia Il net OF
80 cents per 1000 cubic feet.
There the matter rested until a
new hearing was asked by the Con
sumcr, Light and Power Company
aud such hearing was held upon Feb
lulh as mentioned above.
II was the contention Of the petit
TONERS, through their attorneys,
Mcssrs. VIII Potter and Geo. \. Hen
shaw, that the Consumers Light and
Power Company. desired to incorpor-
ate another subsidiary company and
drill for gas in the gas fields near
Ardnorc, such company to be incor-
porated in a sum Of about $500, 600;
that it was the desire OF the peti-
TONERS to have the corporation com
mission 80 on record with an order,
on other agreement that when II
was Sncwn thar the money had been
expended that the rates upon gas
should DO increased to sum not to
exceed 30 cents per 1000 cubic feet
mud this rcgarlless as to whether
rae in sufficient quantities 70 meet
the needs Of Ardmorc was found or
not.
rhc records of the case show that
there are already four corporations,
or companies operating In this part
ur the state owned and controlled by
tho same people
rho petitioners We're present with
Al fi,tt- ft.t, nv
resolutions signed bv the officers Of
the Rotary club and Lions club and
some OF the directors Of the Chamber
Of Commerce ot this city
Under the direction and by the
order OF the mayor and board of
commissioners OF the city OF Ard
more the city attorney attended the
hearing of Feb. 10Th on behalf OF
the city and the citizens and public
Of the city os Ardmore and in com.
pliance with his instructions, ne was
ably assisted by Mr.. Jake Bodovitz,
the only citizen Of Ardmore present
AT such hearing on behalf Of the pub
lie.
The contention Of tho city attorney
was:
Frst-That the valuation Of the
gas property as shown by the cor
poration commission engineer was
some. in fact many thousands Of dol.
lars less than the figure used in de
term.nlns the present rates, and
hence he had Introduced as part Of
the record such valuation as made
as or date Of June 3Gth, 1917.
Sccond-That The corporation com.
mission Was without authority under
tho law TO allow increases in rates
upon speculative or contemplated ex.
penditures. but only upon actual
showing of money actually invested
in such plant as the Consumers Light
and Power Company, and upon this
point the commission seemed to agree
with the contention
'rhlrl-That the Consumers Light
and Power Company had not shown
good faith in their dealings with the
city. and especially upon the gas
proposition, and had not exercised
good business, and had let slip from
their possession gas that would have
been amply sufficient for the do.
nands Of Ardmorc and that until
such good faith, business ability, and
foresight was shown that the pcti.