The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-20

committee, directed 20 the commits
sion and company officials, Is as fol-
lows;
1T is with sincere regret that after
careful study of your reply to our
open letter of recent date we are
forced to the conclusion that further
conferences fostered by or partici-
pated in by us would not result in a
settlement OF the existing differ
ences.
We recognize that it Is the duty
of the commissioners of the city of
Birmingham TO act for and in the i'm
terest of the people of the city, and
are chargeable with the duty of pro-
tecting the interests of all the people,
and this committee was not appointed
and did not intervene in the present
controv ersY until it became apparent
that the city commission was unable
or mad failed to protect the interests
of the public in the matter OF rights
of way, street paving, gas and cleo
trio light extensions, street lighting
and street car fares.
Cloak of Reeeivership
you must admit that the people
of our city desire protection and ac-
tion in the above matter at the
hands of the commissioners of the
city Of Birmingham You must also
admit that the people desire that our
principal utility be put in position to
function fully and when relieved of
the cloak and support of a federal
receivership, made to give the people
of Birmingham the service to which
they are entitled.
we are unwilling to assist in
bringing about any settlement at this
time, based on fixing of permanent
rates for fares. gas or electricity. as
we feel that sufficient data is not
available for us or any authority to
intelligently determine reasonable
rates for the several commodities for
sale by tho utility. For this reason,
we did, and do now, recommend
heartily the proposed trial or tenn
porary rates for a period of six
months, and urge upon the commits
sioners of the city of Birmingham
the absolute necessity of Immediately
securing the necessary data, infor-
nation and expert opinions to enable
them. in behalf of the people. to pre-
sent the case OF the people to the
legally constituted rate making au-
thority upon hearing, at which per-
manent rates will be fixed The
permanent rates, when fixed, should
turn on the present real values of the
utility.
Recreant to Trust
Unless the commissioners of the
city Of Birmingham take proper steps
to assemble the necessary data to
present upon the hearing at which
the rates are to be fixed, they will
be recreant to their trust.
Charges Main Point Overlooked
I'VE submit that both the commits
sioners and the utility have appar-
entity overlooked the fact that the
stated rates in the basis of settle
ment proposed by us are only for q
period of six months, with pro-
vision for the establishment there
after of permanent rates, and thai
neither the utility nor the citizens
of Birmingham would have suffered
irreparable loss or damage pending
the establishment of permanent rates.
Had the suggested plan been ac-
cepted, the results summarized would
have been as follows: The city would
have regulated the operation of the
j1tneys, which the commission has
admitted should be done in any event,
and the people of Birmingham would
have gotten the paving, now help up,
put under construction, would have
obtained relief in the matter of gas
and electric light extensions would
have secured at least 100 street lights
each year, ordered in by this and
previous commissions, and would
have effected saving of approx
imately $1,000 per day to the people
of Birmingham who use the street