The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-03
FOR BETTER SERVICE

lSIdCCOIy adjustment VI transporter
ton problems in Birmingham has been
the fact that the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power Company has been
in a receivership with no apparent
program of emerging therefrom at an
early date. Therefore, the present
series of conferences between the city
commission and representatives of the
utility presents one ray of hope in
that the negotiations may pave the
way to a termination of the receiver
ship. The main thing the public IS
concerned in is that there shall arise
out of the conferences assurance of
better service in all directions,
whether transportation, gas or cleo
trio current. There is reason to be-
lieve that the city commission could
already have arrived at an agreement
had it not been for its determination
to insure better service all along the
line, and to receive convincing evil
dence of the utility's intention to
carry out it's long-neglected obliga-
tons called for by it's franchise and
legitimately arising out of its respon-
sibility to the public it serves.
Birmingham, as a rapidly growing
metropolis, presents problems of ex-
tensions Of service to temporarily iso-
lated communities which do not per-
pick more settled and compact cities.
Nevertheless, the fact is that Biz
mingham is growing and that those
who undertake to provide public SER
vice for the city must make the ex-
tensions necessary. During a period
of expansion utility may not govern
its additions by it's current profits
It must look ahead and distribute its
investment charges over the period
of future years during which its in
come will come up to and pass be-
yond its expenditures. 1t would be
folly for the great city of Birming-
ham to accede to the principle that
service extensions shall be made only
as present income warrants.
Naturally, the average citizen can
not form his opinion as to negotia-
tions now in progress until he is in
possession of more accurate details
It is hoped, however, that the commits
sion is not only intent upon obtain
ing agreements as to complete ser
vice, but that it is receiving reliable
guarantees that such service will ac-
tually be maintained and continued
in accordance with Birmingham's ex-
panding requirements. The utility is
not at liberty to withhold service on
lines not profitable and extend it
only on lines profitable, but must
average the good with the bad, for in
the long run such policy will mean
. profit and not loss.
There is wide variation in re-
ceipts in accordance with the public
attitude, also. If a utility so oper-
ates as to win general public conf
dence and approval, there will be such
additional patronage as may spell all
the difference between loss and profit.
The relations between a utility and
its public should be human relations,
and no attitude of disregard Of the
public sentiment and convenience can
harmonic with the maximum of re-
turns. The public needs the services
of 1. utility, but there is always GER
tain portion of the public that is in
dependent of them, and which may be
alienated or conciliated in direct ac-
cordance with the character of the
service and the attitude of the utility.
Il pays to stand in with the public.