The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-19
letter today, Mr.. Jennings, for th'

!! first time, makes a suggestion that,
in our opinion, has q practical ap-
plication to the situation. He
wishes to obtain an agreement
with the gas company, that in the
event a temporary increase in
rates above the franchise rate is
now granted. that the City Council
shall have the right to reduce the
rate below the franchise rate IN
future, whenever the gas COM
panys earnings exceed a fair and
just return on the capital invest
ed. This is q reasonable propo-
sition, but we do not believe that
an agreement with the gas COM
pany is essential in existing cir
cumstances. The City Council has
already varied the terms of the
franchise contract for the benefit
OF the gas company and hes, by
so doing, taxed the consumers OF
gas to pay the losses that the
gas company would have sustained
during the months that the higher
rates were in # e c t.
contract having once been violated
at the request of and for the flnan-
cial benefit Of the gas company IN
time of adversely, it stands to rea-
son that whenever in future its
earnings become excessive, then
as a matter of equity the gas COM
pany could be required 4o reduce
the rate. to a fair price for the
benefit of consumers. 1t was for
this reason chiefly that we have
| advocated the granting Of the pro-
posed increase so that the gas COM
pany may continue in business,
earn operating expenses and fair
J
rate of interest On the capital in
vested, believing that under nor
NAL conditions in future years the
gas company could be required to
lower the rate, even below the
! lowest rate specified in the fran
chise.
And there is one other consid-
eration:> The city of Sumter is
not under the control and super
vision of the Public Service Com
mission for one reason only
when the act was before the legis-
iature q section was added eX-
empting this county from the op-
Grafton Of the act. This can be
remedied at any session of the leg
! islature by an amendments putting
Sumter county under control of
! the commission, and this should
be done at the earliest opportun-
ity. If we had had the commits
sion to appeal to in the present
emergency, all Of the controversy
would have been avoided, to the
vast benefit cf this community.
The vadility Of Mayor Jennings
judgment would never have been
brought into question and he would
not have any excuse for imagin-
ing that those who differ With him
on a public question are his per-
sonal enemies and have utilized
the opportunity to persecute him.
| In this matter The Daily Item
believes that Mayor Jennings has
! made a mistake and that both
good business and good policy in
dicate that the gas company
should have been granted a. tenn
porary increase in rate above the
j franchise rate-that is to say the
reduction from $1.90, the adcanc-
ed rate granted by City Council,
| should not have been so drastic at
| this time. So far from having per
scnal ill-will toward Mayor Jen-
nings. we have been his friend
! and supporter in almost all mu-
| nicipal issues, and in the next con-
/ troversy that develops we may
agree with him. The chief fault
we find with the Mayor is his i'm
patience of criticism and the in
ability to realize that he may
sometimes be mistaken and the
other fellow right-or if not right
at least sincere, disinterested and
honest in his convictions, although
they contravene those entertain
ed by Mayor Jennings.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
The celebration Of Columbus