The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-07-07
COUNCIL VOTES
 AppRAl5AL FOR
 CITY UTILITIES
Black and Veateh, Kansas CityFirm, 10 Be Engdg-
 ed for Survey Job


 Mayor Ernest Parsons warmed ur his public ownership machine last evening by pushing through the City Council proposal for airport devel- opment, but ran into rough going when he attempted to "steamroller' appraisal of public utility properties here.
 The Mayor finally reached his goal, of immediate engagement oi an engineering firm to handle the appraisal, after "detouring' his own selection for the company to do the work The Mayor battled hard to put across Burns and Mcdonnell. oi Kansas City, as the firm to appraise the light and water companies, but after the whole issue had nearly been sidetracked was content when the Council voted him authority tc contract with Black and Veatch, of the same city, for the job.
 Councilman Harry Lea, who reg istered the only negative on the final vote, stopped the Burns and Mo- Donnell bandwagon when he had the Clerk read a lengthy dissertation by Senator Styles Bridges, of New Hampshire, alleging to link that company, through the Public Own- ership League, with Socialism and Marxism.
 Senator Impugns Firm
 The Bridges article, entitled "Ths Public Ownership Racket" was reat from the February, 1941, issue oi Public Service Magazine, which tht Mayor later without of. fect-as being backed by private utility interests. The article, allege. that Burns and Mcdonnell have in volved themselves on several occas. ions in local politics to gain fees fol engineering work, even to the extent of providing financial support fol candidates, and limiting bribery. | also cited connection between tha' company and manufacturers o1 diesel power plant equipment. Be sides impugning the ethics of Burn. and Mcdonnell, Senator Bridges alst questioned the professional compet- ence of the firm.
 Just before the magazine article was read, the Mayor had declared himself ready to entertain motior to contract with Burns and Nc. Donnell, but following the reading stated he would not make an issue of that firm and submitted BlacE and Veatch instead
 The appraisal issue was first open ed last night by the reading of 2 letter from w. S. Pullen, Genera Manager of the Alaska Electric Light and Power Company, refusing to furnish certain information regard ing the company which had beer requested by Utilities Engineer Wal ter Stuart to assist him in laying 8 groundwork for an appraisal.
 Pullen Refuses Data
 MT. Pullen declared he could set no purpose in making available the desired information until after hi. stockholders had indicated their will lingness to sell their property to the city. He indicated his feeling thai if they should So decide an elaborate appraisal still might not be neces. sary unless agreement on price coule not be reached. To the specific re. quest for the terms of the light con- pany's contract for power from the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Com pany, MT. Pullen stated that in formation could not be of value tt the city, inasmuch as the contract i. not assignable.
 That letter stiffened councilmanit necks and opened inquiry as to what action is available to the city tc secure cooperation from the com  pany: prompted by Councilman Ed ward Nielsen's query to the effect If the city does have an appraisa made and the stockholders still say no-then what?
 City Can't Force Sale
 City Attorney Howard D. Stablel replied that the law provides no way in which the city can force a utility to sell out, but that the city has sharp teeth it has not yet shown He suggested that, though the city cannot directly force a sale, in- directly it can do much through the power to fix rates. He cited from the law that the calling of a rate hearing would make a utility liable for contempt of court should ii then refuse to produce it's books and
 f(O4affnAAA a~, nn~~