Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-08-25
PROPOSED RATES
MEET OPPOSITION
CITIZENS COMMITTEE WANTS
BETTER GAS BEFORE RATES
ARE INCREASED.
REPORT FILED INCLUDES
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
Alleges Quality Of Gas and Service
Given Consumers Have Declined
Since Iowa Railway and Light,
Company Was Given Franchise
Eight Years Ago.


Opposition to any increase in gas
rates by the Iowa Railway and Light
Company, unless the company will
improve the quality of gas and give
better service to consumers, is ex
pressed in the report Of the citizens
committee named to investigate
conditions alleged to necessitate an
increase. The report of the commit
tee, which is brief, was submitted
Monday afternoon to Mayor J. j..
Wilson, and was laid before the
members of the council today. 1t
will be considered and the gas case
will be reviewed by the council with
promise Of decision next Monday az
the regular weekly meeting.
Report of Citizens Committee.
The report Of the citizens COM
mittee, signed by the three members,
e. q. Mack, M. ]. Boughton and j..
NJ. Whitaker says:
1.-THE committee that was elected
at a mass meeting of citizens to
consider the demand Of the Iowa
Railway and Light Company for an
increase in rates from the present
s1.4o to 1926 per 1000 cubic feet OF
gas, herewith makes preliminary re-
port with recommendations.
I'm meeting at which Mr. Hunt
ington, the representative of said
company, was present, the commit
tee listened to his arguments as APP
piled to the conpany's case at Mar
shalltown.
Demands of the Company.
mr. Huntington referred to the
tabulated sheets. which have already
been In print, and Herewith at
tempted to show that 1t was neces-
sary for the company to have
$2.27 rate to make a per cent earn
ing and which, he was sure. would
be sustained by the court. Mr.. Hunt
ington, howeveyrsaid that he did
not think that his company would
appeal from s2.05 rate for 600 b.
I. u. gas, or 81 for $50 B. t. u, and
that the company would carry the
loss until normal conditions re-
turned. He also said that $1.95 for
1000 cubic feet was confiscatory to
their gas plant and was sure that
the court would SO rule. Now with
this and the figures mentioned
above the company defines its po-
sition.
"The position of the committee is
that until said company furnishes
the required quality of gas, as speci-
fled in it's franchise, and proper SER
vice in supplying the same that an
Increase in rates Ne not considered.
As to Consumers Troubles.
I'm making our deductions we
have considered the quality of gas
furnished, the distribution thereof
the general increase in the monthly
bills and the consumers that have
stoves that can not be substantially
regulated to the present conditions
1--WE listened to Mr.. Hnntington's
claim that the greater percentage Of
trouble was in the consumers own
property, 1t being the stove, or that
the service was too small, Let the
service part Of this question be con-
sidered, and. as the present company
has charged that condition to Jones
& Hovey. 1t Is fair to presume that 1t
has known the same for eight years
and still the complaints remain. Mr..
Huntington assured that the service
conditions would be corrected, as the
company is now considering the in
stallation Of high pressure mains
and connecting them at such points
as is necessary properly to balance
the pressure thruout the city at all
times. The committee is unable to
determine how substantial the as
surance might be.
Cheaper Gas Now Served.
Eight years ago, orjin 1912, when
the franchise was granted, there was
no thought among our citizens that
there would be a change to a cheap
err or inferior quality Of gas, but now
the present conditions furnish les
son that will require some careful
thought the proper adjustment to
meet the contemplated future
changes, and as the Iowa Railway
and Light Company, has violated it's
gas franchise in the city Of Mar
shalltown, it is only fair that it sub
NIT to the reconstruction Of the
same before asking any increase in
rates.
"The committee asks that the re.
quests Of the Iowa Railway and
Light Company, to your honorable
body, under date Of July %, 1920, be
also made part of this report.
ut Is not our duty to advise your
honorable body as to the city's rights
and how to defend them, but we do
| believe that the city is Represented
and can cause the company to modi-
fly its demands"