Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-05-10
PRESENT RATES
FOR CURRENT
WILL CONTINUE
Amend Ordinance to Permit
Old Rate to January
|, 1923
APPROPRIATION BILL
Annual Budget Carries S253,OOO-
Firemen Ask For Increased ApprO-
priation-0ther Council Matters.

City Council last night adopted an
ordinance to allow the prevailing
rates charged by the Alexandria
County Lighting Company to continue
until January /, 1923, the measure
being adopted by vote of 1S to IN
the lower board and being unamim-
ously adopted in the upper board
When the ordinance was presented
the only change recommended by the
committee was that the rate could De
set aside by either party to the con-
tract within ninety days.
Councilman Lawler said he believed
there were some members OF council
who objected TO the passage OF the or
diuance in its presenc form and Coun-
Gilman Sullivan moved that the or
dinance be laid on the table for future
consideration.
Councilman Ruben moved to amend
the ordinance so as to make It read
that the rates be operative six months
from June l, 1922.
On motion of Councilman Desmond
George f. Warfeld, president OF the
Alexandria County Lighting Com
pany. was given the floor. Mr.. war
field made brief statement regarding
the company's affairs IN which he sald
that in 1920 the present rates Tor cleo
tricity went into effect and that four
wears prior to that time the company
spent for maintenance $1,000 OF
$4,000 q year which was inadequate
and in i921and 1922 the company
spent $4,000 a year for the same
purpose.
On the actual capital invested the
earnings during the four years prior
to 1920 ne said were one and one quar-
ter per cent and in 1921-1922 the
company earned 2.SS per cent and
during theyears from 1917 to 1921 IN
elusive il earned 2.03.
The price Of the current here ne
said is less than is charged IN WASH
ington. Attention also was directed
by Mr.. Warfield to the fact OF the
franchise tax paid by this company to
the city which this year amounts to
$500. In the last year he said the
company contributed $2,174 in cur
rent 10 the three fire companies, and
as required by the franchise rebate
churches and religious institutions
SlO7S.
When the change in rates became
operative coal he said cost the COM
pany S5.2S a ton and during the past
twelve months coal he said cost the
company eighty-four cents more ton
than it did at that time.
II was further explained by Mr..
Warfield that the policy of the COM
pany is TO reduce rates when condl-
tions Justify same mentioning how
this company recently reduced rates
in Salem, o.. and of how they work
preparing n reduction of rates IN
Staunton, Va.
f. A. Feldkeller, general superm-
tendent of the company, also address
ed council and he said among other
things that after all the cost of coal
is the most importan> item OF expense
the company has which is seventy-hve
per cent of the entire cost of produc-
tion.
Councilman Baggett expressed him
self as favorable to permitting the
prevailing rates to remain IN order
to let the company give the citizens
100 per cent efficiency. After the de-
bate was over Councilman Lawler
moved to amend the provisions OF the
ordinance as recommended by Jolnt
committee on light and finance, and
instead of granting the increase Tor
another year from June l, 1922 to
grant it for six months from June l,
1922 and as stated above this was
adopted.
The annual appropriation bill for
the fiscal year ending May 81, 1928
carrying with il appropriations total
ing $25S.000 including $4,000 for
public schools, was referred to the
finance committee.
Petition from committee of the
three volunteer fire companies of the
city asking council to increase their
annual appropriation from $3.50 for
each company to $500 for each COM
pany was referred to the joint COM
mittee on fire and finance.
Following protracted debate cOun-
ell appropriated the sum of 500 for
the Children'S Home at Ivakota farm
Fairfax county, The original petit
tion asked for an appropriation of
$500. The measure was adopted by
vote Of IL to g. A bill of Corpora
ton attorney H. Noel Gerner for
SS97.96 for legal services was referred
TO the finance committee. The sun
of $50 was appropriated for the con-
struction Of sewer on Prince street
between Pitt and ROYAL streets. Pc
tition of George W. Kimbsll for elec
trio lights at the corner of West snC
Oronoco streets was referred to tbs
Joint committee on light and finance
The sum of SIS was appropriated t
lCnntinned ON napa tWOl