The Wrangell sentinel., 1921-08-11
Town Council Meets; Has
 Busy Session
J. E. Worden Appointed Tax Assessor Bonus Removed
 from Electric Light Rates
 Effective September 1.

The town council held a busy session Thursday evening. There was considerable routine work to be cleaned up.
 Under the head of new busi- ness the mayor stated that it was time for the appointment of a tax assessor for the year 1921. MT. J. E. Worden was nominated for the position. There were no other nominations. On motion MT. Worden was declared the unanimous choice of the council for tax assessor.
 The question of removing the bonus from the electric light rates came up for consideration. After deliberating on the matter the council voted unanimously to re- move the bonus that is now being collected by the Wrangell Electric Light & Power Company.
 Bonus Has Been in Effect for
 Fifteen Months
 The electric light bonus has been in effect since May 1, 1920. At regular meeting of the town council held on May 6, 1920, (15 months ago) the following com munication was received from o. c. Palmer, owner and mana ger of the Wrangell Electric Light & Power Company: s'-
 Wrangell, Alaska, May 5, 1920. To Mayor and Members fcity Council,
 Wrangell.
 Gentlemen
 Hoping that operating expenses would drop to pre-war prices have hesitated in applying for increase in electric light rates, but in stead of decrease in prices, they continue to advance, and am compelled to ask that the fol- lowing rates be granted, which will be cheaper now than at the time the present rates wore First 2s XIV. l71l cents per XIV.
 From Zo 10 ZuU h.w. D cents per K. w. From 200 to 300 XIV. l313 cents per XIV Over 300 XIV l22 cents per K w.
 Minimum charge SIPS.
 On street lights charge of cents per watt per month, which would be about cents per K. w. on an average for the year
 These rates to become effective no later than May l. 1920. n c p.,,r0
 When the above communication was read the council compared the rates asked for by Mir. Palmer with those stipulated in his fran. chise and found that he was ask ing for an increase of 2h cents per kilowatt, and that the per centage of increase asked for was as follows:
 Firs, 2s K.W.;:;:;.Inerease Ie7S per cent From 200 to 300 XIV. Increase 22 s-ll per cent Over 300 KW...-.....lncrease 25 per cent
 The council questioned the ad- visibility of taking any action toward changing the rates stipu- lated in the franchise. It was therefore thought better not to consider the matter in the light of a proposed raise in rates, but to pass upon the matter simply as a question as to whether MT. Palmer should be granted the privilege of collecting a temper ary bonus which would cover the difference in the price stipulated in the franchise and the proposed advance in price quoted in his letter of May 5, 1920. which was then before the council for action.
 A motion was made that Mir. Palmer be granted the privilege of charging a bonus that would correspond with his proposed in- crease in rates. When the mayor put the motion it carried without a single dissenting vote. The following letter was written by the clerk and mailed to MT. Palm CT the next day:
 Wrangell, Alaska,
 May 7th, 1920. MT. O. C. Palmer,
 Owner and Operator, Wrangell
 Electric Light and Power Company,
 Wrangell, Alaska.
 Sir:
 Your communication dated May 5th was presented to the city council on