Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-23
Declare Proposal by V. r.
& p. Would Mean $780,
600 Annually.
HEARING is CONTINUED BY
CORPORATION COMMISSION
Fifty Attorneys Handle Case
for 207 Large Manufacture
ing Concerns.
NORFOLK OPPOSES INCREASE
Delegation Asserts Company Hns
Made Over S3,OOO,OO Clcnr
Profit I'm That City.

Claims that the Virginia Railway
and Power Company has made more
than s3.00o.oo0 clear sront IN Norfolk
on us light and power system since
II began operation there. over and
above per cent return on it's In
rcs,mcnt were made by members
OF the Norfolk delegation yes
tcrday before the State Corporation
comm.ss!cn here to fight "A proposed
incrensc by the company in CONNER
ella! powcr rates. Only prcIiminar ry
skirmishcs In the hearing before the
commission resulted. the company no;
concluding its case, and the hearing
Mas continued until December -.
The commission issued rule. n
the request OF the company. suspend
Ing the contract now rlcd with the
commission by the company until tho
conclusion OF the case. II was ar
gued that unless this was done. man
ufacturcrs affected would force the
power company 20 make power con.
tracts. as provided BY It's franchise
mission. for a period OF three years
and that the present rates would cxis,
under these contracts for this period
regardless of the outcome OF the case
2O1 Concerns Represented.
The commissions courtroom was
crowded with about nfty attorney
and representatives OF the 2o7 iarSt
manufacturing plants which wouit
be affected by the proposed increasc
which. II was admitted before thu
commission. would cost these con.
Germs more than 100000 annually II
Increased rates.
Attorney George Bryan. OF Rich
mond. was present. representing sew
cral of the Richmond ccnccrns which
VIII bc hit by the new rates IL they
are granted by the commission.
Representing Norfolk, which would
h" most affected by the increase. were
committees from the Chamber OF
Commerce. the kiwanis club. judge
Thomas II. Wilcox. representing u
number OF manufacturing concerns
X. l.. Payne. g. W. Johnson. John y
-3urkc. j. NJ. Fcntress and c. T.. Mat.
thcws. representing business interest:
there. city Attorney II. w. Peatross
cf Norfolk. was also present TO op'
pose the increase on behalf of IN,
city, which is a heavy user of ligh
for streets and public buildings. Mr.
Peatross held that the increase. wouit
cos, Norfolk city $1,000 more :
month
Petersburg. IIopewell. Portsmouth
and suffolk were also well represent
ed and there was standing roon
only in the courtroom when the case
was called. w. NJ. Martin. of Pc
tersburg; W. +. Lipscomb. city attor'
ncy of Suffolk: General 10 Lane Stern
representing Richmond interests: W
II. Crump. l.. Victor Williams. ant
several other Richm md manufaciur.
crs were also present
Merchants Keep In Touch.
Although hc stated that the Retail
Merchants Association was taking nt
stand in the matter. w. y. Clarke, Jr.
secretary of the organization, wa:
present to keep in touch with tn,
situation.
several experts were put on th'
stand by the company TO testify IL
connection with the case. and testi
inony was introduced to show tha
the companies which would he mos
affected would be railroads ant
large corporations.
II was testified by these expert.
that sixty-nine Richmond concern!
would he affected by the increa sc
which would amount to $i2.s5i her,
in a years time. Norfolk. they ties
tilted. would have seventy-three con
Germs affected, and the increas'
would be $47.952, annually. Thi.
testimony also showed that the in
crease would affect twenty-five
Petersburg industries to the exten
of $685., and thirteen Suffolk con
Germs to the extent OF s4.066. Invent!
Portsmouth industries would pa.
si1.53S moro annually for light ant
power.
The testimony brought out tho fac
that the largest user affected ha!
not protested at the increase ant
that the total increase for all of The
concerns would be $113,365, exclusive
OF the municipalities which ar'
users. Judge Rhea. chairman of th'
commission, commented on the fac
that, although the company has no
tilted all OF its consumers affected by
the proposed increase. these con
Germs had not been notified Of th'
date Of the hearing and he directed
that this be done when the cas,
comes up again.
Price of Coal Eliminated.
During the hearing 1t was brought
out that the price Of coal In the mat
ter has been eliminated as fnctoi
by the company through a sliding
scale. which will increase or de
~ CONTINUED on Tenth Pagc.)