The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-07-07

records or fail to produce witnesses called for.
 Attorney Stabler further offered that an apprisal, even if sale to the city was refused, would give a basis for altering the light com pany,s rate structure and that if found justified a lowering of rates could be compelled to an extent that might well induce the company to sell. It is up to the Council to act as 1t wishes in the matter now, he said, suggesting as another alterna- tive an increase in assessment that might bring out the desired records as opnosing evidence,
 Rates Reduced
 MT. Stabler referred to an oc- casion some years ago when the question of buying out the light company was being considered. At that time, he said, rate hearing was threatened and the company voluntarily reduced it's rates as a compromise. It was brought out that there has been no change in A. E. L. & P Co. rates for about 20 years.
 The City Attorney also suggested that if he were to confer with the light companys attorney, H. L. Faulkner, that peaceful solution to the present n-shoulder atti- tude might be reached. The Mayor. though stating he hoped it would not be necessary to compel coopera- tion from the light company and that he thinks when the time comes the company will cooperate, still stuck to his guns and insisted on immediate action towara making an appraisal.
 Appraisal Needed
 Engineer Stuart was called upon for report on what he has 50 far accomplished, which he said had been confined to examination of physical properties, to which the light company had not offered ob- jection. He stated that full ap- praisal would be necessary before rates could be re-fixed apd pointed out that the services of a recognized firm of engineers would give stand ing to the city's position in court, besides aiding in the sale of bonds should the property ultimately be purchased.
 The Mayor re-affirmed his inten- tion to make the city owner of it's public utilities. The rate issue is. however, he said, insurance that money spent for an appraisal will not be wasted.
 Councilman Don Skuse declared that an appraisal of the water con- pany, at least, is needed now, since that firms franchise expires next year when the people must vote on either new franchise or city own ership of the water system. When the motion was put, to contract with Black and Veatch, he stressed that even should the light company still not be willing to cooperate in the appraisal, work could be done on the water company without running up the cost to the city by an imported engineers being held idle while rec ords were being obtained from the A, E. L. & P. Co. Councilman Skuse declared his belief that in any case Black and Veatch should be advised to commence their activities with the Juneau Water Company.
 $50 Per Day Cost
 Black and Veatch, in their pro- posal, had said that the appraisal work would be undertaken by them on per diem basis. They proposed to send one engineer to Juneau at cost to the city of $100 per day should either MT. Black or MT. Veatch make the trip; $50 per day should one of thelr principal en- gineers" do the work or $35 per day for one of their other engineers. In addition, the city would be called ~----------------- ~--------