The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-06
INTEREST SHOWN
 IN RATE HEARING
Public Service Commits
 sion To Meet In Besse- mer During Week
(Besemer Bureau) ,

BESSENIER, Ala, July 5-Hearing on the water and gas rate question at Bessemer by the Alabama Public Serv- ice commission within the next few weeks is declared to be one of the most important issues this community has faced in number of years and is at tracting intense interest. The com mission has agreed to come to Bessemer for the hearing and the date will be announced early next week, according to city officials. The fight for better gas and water service to be brought to head at that time, is the culmination of may years effort, and while the city was tentatively rejected offers from both the Birmingham Electric company and the Alabama Water company, it is be- lieved that settlements will be reached with the result that this city will be given better rates and service from both concerns.
 The controversy over the gas service has arisen over complaints of made quate service and is the result of movement started by the Chamber of Commerce for extensions and improve ments. A survey was made by this body which revealed that there are
 
 to which it will be impossible to carry gas under the present system. The company, officials state that with the present rate they will be unable to i'm prove conditions, and the Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in framing an ordinance calling for increased rates, which are to be reduced as the company is reimbursed and as by-products are obtained.
 The ordinance was tabled at the last session of the city council after heated discussion, in which it was charged that the rate, approximately a minimum of $2.25 per thousand feet, was exorbitant and out of line with rates prevailing in other cities. This rate carries a serv- ice charge of $1 per month and would produce a revenue of $12,000 per an nun. Aldermen charged that this amount would pay for a new plant, and that if such a rate was to be granted the city should build its own gas sys- tenn.
 At the same time that the, gas rate is to be gone into by the commission the water rate is also to be heard. The city has carried on a fight for many years for cheaper rate and recently the matter was appealed to the com mission. The company has offered a substitute contract which city officials believe will not effect saving to the consumers because the minimum water allowance is cut approximately one half.
 The engineers of the commission have spent much time in going over the situ- ation here and the companies and the city have already filed their data with them. The cases are completed from both sides and it is believed that the hearing to be here will, therefore, be brief.
 Officers to Be Instaseed-The Besse-, mer Chapter No. 110 Royal Arch Ma sons will hold their regular convocation Tuesday evening, July 8 at 7':30 o'clock at the Masonic hall. This meeting is being looked forward to with keen in- terest as the chapter will have as their honored guest, Companion George Beau champ, who is grand secretary of the Royal Arch chapter of Alabama. Mir. Beauehamp will confer the Most Excel lent Master degree on the candidates, present the life membership certificates and install officers for the coming year.
 The officers that will be installed at this time will be: Tabor o. Lathem as high priest, Henry Ozley as king, Frank Ball as scribe, Lennie Lipscomb as secretary Albert Moore as treasurer, Hiram Green as captain of host, Clyde Brown as principal sojourner, H. B. Duffee as Royal Arch captain, Ellis Houston as master third veil, Harold Macdonald as master second veil, J. c. Sutton as master of first veil, James Childs as sentinel and John West as chaplain.
 The members which will be presented with life certificates by Mir. Beauchamp will be: Hoskin Bevans, Joseph L. Clemo, W. l.. Martin, Walter McAdory, Charles Sharp, William A. Simmons, Frank R. Barnett, R. H. Carter, Thomas Huey, Lee Moody, James Key holds, T. O. Smith, Thomas NJ. Bryan, B. l.. Edmundson, Oscar Harmer, John McEniry, Sam Stein, John N. Smith son and George Whitley. The above have been members of the chapter for the past twenty-five years. Following the meeting, watermelon cutting will take place at 9 :15 o'clock.
 To Open Camp Chippewa Camp Chippewa is to be opened on July 15 which will mark the beginning of the summer campaign of boy's work in this section. Marcus Hitchock, scout ex- ecutive is at Peabody College at Nash vile at. this time and will return about
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