, 1922-09-20

AANNA ~ IL
campany had been operating as a
public utility supplying gas TO the
.itizens OF Casper. Il was the Gus.
tom to require a fixed deposit. or
cher assurance guaranteeing pay
rient OF gas bills. For some time
pasi. where records arc available.
Inc deroslt required has been the
equivalent OF 50 DAYS consumption
durirx The winter period In the
esso OF a new building where no rec.
ords ore available. an estimate Is
made from the number and kind Of
gar using appliances. as TO the pro
habie consumption. and a deposit re
ouired equivalent 10 the estimated
quantity OF gas that the average con.
sumner uses In such appliances in
60 days The company does not de
sire any larger deposit than1s neoes-
sary TO insure payment OK IA Esz
consumed. and IL IS TO the interest
OF every consumer that the pay
ment OF tins gas bills be insured 50
hat those who do pay their bills
will not be burdoned 10 pay for
those who do not pay th-ir bills.
Il is complained that no interest
s being paid upon the deposits.
We arc ready to admit that in prin,
ciplo Il is only right and proper
that Interest should be paid upon
the deposits made with the company
by tho consumers. II is here point
ed out that the sum total of the de-
posi;s by gas consumers with ths
New York oil company Ia approx
mately SIC, 900, on which 6 per cent
per annum would amount TO about
$500. II Is estimated hat in order
TO pay this $500 Interest per annum
one-fourth the time OF one clerk
would he given over entirely 10 in
terest calculations on deposits. max
ing a cost TO the company inclusive
OF interest paid Of approximately
81, 200. It is a well known fact that
the rates should be so regulated by
the public service commission that
a proper return upon the none in
vested in the utility Is returned TO
the utility. and Il Is evident that
the consumers in the long run VIII
have to pay not only the $500 In
lerest that they receive but in add
ton approximately 5000 required to
calculate tsis interest. The com
pany is not seeking deposits. It pre-
fers assurance of the payment. OF
gas bills through g~uarantors or as
bills VIII be paid. Because OF the
small amount of interest on the de-
posits required of itself less than
the cost Of handling such deposits.
e believed that the depositors them
selves would prefer that no inter
est be paid upon the deposits.
II Is alleged that the New York
Oil company requires property
owners to Obtain certificates of
ownership from the county clerk be-
fore being able 10 obtain gas serv-
ice from the New York OIL com
pany. The consumers have appar-
entity been put to some unnecessary
trouble and discomfort in obtaining
certificates of ownership from the
county clerk because OF some mis-
taken attitude in the gas depart
ment OF the New York oil company.
We're the New Oil company assured
OF the payment of every a bill, no
deposit would be required. and the
company has made a rule that prop
erty owners in lieu of putting UP n
deposit may show their property
ownership, in which case no deposit
is required. The company feels that
IT should be reasonably assured that
the claiming property own.
ership actually is a property owner.
and has no desire further than a
reasonable assurance to put the
property owners to any unnecessary
trouble to prove their property own
ership. Any property owner at am
time may put up a deposit IL he
prefers that to establishing his prop
erty ownership to the satisfaction of
4he company. The company would
be satisfied that the consumer is a
property owner if they have person
u knowledge thereof, or if response
BILE parties known to the company
certify to the property ownership,
or II all other mean fail. that the
county clerk issue a certificate of
ownership. It would seem that only
in rare cases would IL be necessary
10 have n certificate OF ownership
signed by the county clerk and even
in those are cases it could be avoid
ed II the property owner prefers to
put up n deposit instead.
1t has been alleged that the com
pany's rule that none but employees
be permitted to install curb to met.
er" service is unreasonable. I'm
doubtedly there are many men.