New Britain herald., 1920-01-22
COUNCIL SITS DOWN
 ON QUIGLEY PROTEST
Refuses to Take Drastic Action
 On Light Rates

After several days of vigorous campaigning Waged through the press against the new rate Syste III Uf the Connecticut Light x Power Co. Mayor George -A QuigleN went down to defeat last night on the floor of the common council in his effort to have that body publicly authorize that the city of New Britain protest to the public utilities commission. Dur ing the debate on the subject, in which tho mayor used the area and service rate plan as his chief attack nn the system, some remarks that were Sharpcned to d near TItrlol1c edge were passed between the mayor and Alderman orsOn r. Curtis. The debate ended by the calling of an aye and nay votc and resulted in passage Of a resolution. presented by Alder man Curtis stating that in case the rates were found to meet with the dis approval of tho public. a meeting be held before the board of aldermen and mayor. and a protest be made representative and drawn up by the corporation counsel.
 Mayor Voices DisapprovaI.
 After the letter of the Connecticut Light & Power Co. had been present. cd, Mayor Quigley, who had left the chain, and with Councilman Michael T. kerWin of the sixth ward presiding, voiced his protest of the now plan. This was done after Alderman Cur ts had moved for the adoption of the report. Mayor QuiGleE said that despite the claims of the company that the new plan was one that would meet with appreciation of most of it's customers, he believed that the cOm- mon council should go on record as favoring a meeting before the public utilities commission against the ac- ceptanCe of the rates. His chief ar gument was based on the area and meter charges. which he outlined. In summing the whole matter up briefly he said users of electricity would be forced to pay a rate for the area and meter charges, and the lighting com- pany. which had been granted a franchise in this city, simply placed in the places of their consumers, some wiring and a meter and was now go- ing to ask that the consumers pay for them. He characterized the plan as an outrage.
 Mayor Quigley called attention to the notices sent out by the company'i in December stating that the new rates would become effective on January l. Some customers receiving bills from the company later learned that they were being charged the new rate from November 1 ,. The mayor put consid- erab1e stress on this point. He said that in the long run the small con sumer was the one to suffer under the plan. As he viewed the situation. Mayor Quigley said, users of electric ity who formerly paid Il cents an hour would be forced to reimburse the company to the extent of :22 cents an hour.
 Asserting that the city of New Britain has given the lighting people the right to come into this city, erect poles and other accessories on the public highways. he severely rapped the poor service caused. he said. by little things like thunder storms and other things. Some of the bills shown him since the new rate became effective show increases of from 75 cents to S2. Continuing his arraign- ment of the company. Mayor Quigley said the best time of the year was se- lected by the corporation to put the rates into effect. In the summer months. when the use of light is not aS heavy as at present, the fOOliShneSS of the plan will be seen.
 Landers Urges Thoroughnc>s.
 At this juncture Councilman Lan- ders asked if the public utilities com mission had passed favorably on the question of the new rates Mayor Quigley was unable to give definite information on the matter. Continu- ing Councilman Landers said it might be a good plan to go into this matter carefully and see what the real cause of complaint is. He held no brief for the lighting people,. he said, but be- lieved that the city should have q good case before the public utilities commits sion was asked to take up the matter
 Alderman Curtis entered the arena at this juncture. all dressed up in his battle array. He said at the outset that the remarks of Councilman Lan- ders met with his approval. Turning back the pages of time three or four years, Alderman Curtis said it would show that when the talk of the White Way was before the comma on council the mayor was one of the boosters for the plan as laid out, and according to his views there is no knowing how much money the city has been mulcted out of since it's adoption. He spoke of the lighting expert brought here to scan the situa- ton, and evinced surprise at the present attitude of the mayor.
 Curtis Sarcasm Heard.
 ''I thought by reading the papers
 
 of New Britain,' said Alderman Cur tis. He spoke further of action of the mayor in addressing ;t letter to the public utilities comm iSSiOn. In the Ccmmul icatiOn Of the lighting ccm- Pany, there appears q clause which states that all persons dissatisfied with the rates of the corporation may SC cure an adjustment and on this Alder man Curtis laid some stress. Right