San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-08
Audit to Be Made May AZ
feet Rates in Other
Branches.
WRIGHT'S PLAN USED
Offered Resolution Eight
Months Ago That Was
Accepted Thursday.


pany in regard to gas rate fixing, street
railway transportation and contract;
for city lighting, may be placed on Z
new basis following the acceptance by
the city commission by vote of three
to two of the resolution introduced by
Commissioner Phil Wright, setting in
motion a process for the city TO audit
the books of the Public Service Com.
pany.
According TO Commissioner Wright
heretofore, all negotiations have been
made on a basis of figures furnished by
the company. Mr.. Wright takes the pc.
sition that an audit by the city may
show the amount of capital stock in.
vested by the company in its plant is
less than is claimed by company off.
cials.
In answer to criticism by Commits.
siOner Pfeiffcr that the police commits
Sioncr should have notified the com
mission of the approaching expiration
of the Public Service COmpany's con.
tract TO furnish city lighting on Fcbru'
AIRY /, Mr. Wright stated that he had
offered a resolution similar to the one
passed last Thursday, eight months age
and that it had been defeated by q
three-tO-two vote in the council. Mayor
Black voted for the resolution when it
was offered last Thursday.
The, resolution which was passed fol.
lows:
Threaten Car Fare Raise
BE it resolved by the commissioners
of the City of San Antonio:
Whereas, the San Antonio Public
Service Company has refused to be
governed by the rate fixed by the City
of San Antonio for the sale and dis.
trihution Of natural gas. and has ap.
pcaled to the Railroad Commission OF
the State of Texas; and,
Whereas, it will be necessary for
said Railroad Commission, in the excr.
else of its jurisdiction in the prem
ises, to proceed to make inquiry as to
the value of the plant equipment and
other property belonging to and neces
sary in the sale and distribution OF
natural gas, but not Of other property
belonging to said company and used in
connection. with the electric and trans.
portation branches of its service; and,
Whereas, said San Antonio Public
Service Company maintains that the
present rate of street car fares is only
a temporary arrangement and has
threatened and is threatening TO raise
said rate to 4 basis of Scent fares ;
and,
Whereas, the contract between the
city and said Public Service Company
relating TO the lighting of public streets,
public parks and public buildings will
expire on February 1, 1923; and,
Whereas. the city has never made
nor caused to be made complete sur
vey. inventory, appraisal and valuation
of the property of said Public Service
Company as Il basis for determining and
fixing fair and equitable schedules OF
rates for the respective branches of pub
lie utility service rendered by said com
pany; and,
Hearing on All Rates.
"Whereas, it will be necessary for the
city to engage the services of COmN'-
tent engineers. appraisers and auditor,
TO make a complete survey, Appraisal.
and audit of that part of the property
and records and books of said Public
SCI vice ColP"nN uHCI"l an" I''S'9'"'
to the sale ana diStriDHtl0h OF natural
gas IN order to provide thc SAID KAN
road commission win evidence from
which 1t may ma the valuation SucI
properly Tor rate-iiAlng purposes anu
W hereaS, compiete survey ap-
praiSal ana auuit OF the other TWO
branches OF pubic utIIity service can DC
made at the same time more economical
a. LII fa.aVa
~ than otherWlSc' ana III audltioh
thereto, the city would be IN position
upon the determination OF the Scheuule
of gas rates by the Raliroad Commis-
sion, to have hearing Tor me
purpose OF appraiE<Iny ihe value OF the
respective properties oil sau GohpaII!
Tor rate-making purposes IN the Other
branches Of ITS service, ana to Tx ialr
and Just schedules OF rate therefor :
and.
Whereas, when The iair Nal9e OF
the property Of said company used ana
useful III rendering the respective
classes OF public utility services as wen
as the determination OF the reason
able and proper charges TO the re-
spectiye operations. snail have been
determined as a basis for fair rea-
sonable and Just rate-maklng .pur-
poses, the city VIII then be IN position
TO provide a plan whereby II may De
informed as TO changes IN
property values OF the Public service
Company and its operating expenses,
additions to capital account. and
charges to operation: and thus avoid tu-
ture controversies as TO what are far
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