Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-05


accompanied by copy Of the letter
This letter requested that The letter
information of the club membership,
in any manner.
1t became known Thursday that
other copies had been mailed to
President ]. E. Hightower of the
Rotary Club; President Lewis Ellis,
of the Kiwanis Club and President
r. E. Allison, of the Chamber of
Commerce. all asking that the letter
to the city officials be read before
those bodies. Tho Rotary Club held
its regular luncheon at / o'clock this
afternoon, but the letter was not
read by President Hightower. The
Kiwanis Club will meet Friday at
noon.
Embodied in the letter to the
mayor and council were the state
ments that if the lighting bill was
not paid by May 20 it would be nee
assary to sue on the account as well
as cut off the service, that on April
|, this year, the city owed the com
pany a total Of S16,25S.80, (which
amount includes practically the en-
tire street light account for 1920"
Charge Funds Diverted.
The letter further stated that the
company felt the city had diverted
funds that should have been paid on
its account to buying new equip
nent for the city's pumping plant,
and that because of the Withholding
of this money the city had embar-
rassed the company and, by taking
away the city pumping contract, had
increased the plants operating ex
penses per XVIII Of output. It said
hat the company holds city vouches
for $5,929.16 on which payment was
promised and that no payments
have been made and it has been
found impossible to discount them,
It declares that further continu-
ance of the present situation means
bankruptcy for the company
Mayor Sheppard admitted Thurs
day that he had received the notice
from Manager Rogers. Without go
ing into details verbally. he disut-
ed the claims of the company, stat
ing that, according to the city's rec
ords and contention. the total owed
the company was about $4,000 or
$4,000" He said that the city is
now being sued in federal court at
Macon for a part of the company
claim, which had been transferred
to a New York concern, this claim
being for standby" electric con-
nection for use in emergencies. He
said tnis bill included steam serv-
ice connection installed solGy for
the bent'it of the company connect
ing with the city's steam plant, and
for which under the previous man.
agement, which had had it installed,
no attempt was ever made to make
a charge. He said that vouchers had
been rendered the comnany in pay
ment for this service ON the basis Of
the company's published rate, and
that these had been refused by the
company.
The Rogers Letters.
Following is Manager Rogers let
ter TO the president of the Lions
Club, followed by copy Of that to
the mayor and city council:
"Mr.. Dan Chapel, president Li-
ons' Club, Americus, Ga
"Dear Sir: Enclosed you viii
find a copy of letter which was
sent on April Both to the mayor and
city council of Americus. AS you
will see, it has to do with the pay
.ment of the present years street
lighting account | think that it will
be self explanatory and will not
need any extra discussion by me,
Nav ask, in order that this matter
be given the greatest general pub
licity, that you will cause the en-
closed letter to be read at your next
regular meeting of the Lions Club.
1t is my impression that the public
at large is not fully conyersant
with the different sides of thus
subject, and I believe that by
having the members of the civic or
ganizations informed in a first hand
manner, this information is most
able to be disseminated accurately
to the remainder of the citizens.
II thank you in advance for thus
opportunity to present our cause
and feel it is a purpose of your or
ganization to know the way in which
YOUR business is being handled.
Very truly yours,
"W. +. ROGERS, Mgr"
Amercus, Ga, Nav a. 1920.
Letter TO City Officials.
"Mayor and CITY Council. AmercuS
Gentlemen: '"Under date Of April
10, we presented you bills covering
street LIGHTING service for the
months Of january. February anc
March of this year. based on the or
der of the Georgia Railroad Com
mission dated April IS, 1921 Ac
companying these bills was a letter
requesting payment within ten days
Your Honorable Body has not seer
fit to make payment within the time
specified.
aIn view Of the fact that thes'
h;llu caVnr enf,yicae rpndprpd from