The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-02-26
puIIen Charges Mayor As Competitor Seeks
 City War on Light Co.

pullens read last evening to the Juneau Common Council by coun- sel for the Aleska Electric Light and Power Company, in support of that company's motion to dis qualify Mayor Ernest Parsons from I participation as other than wit ness in the hearing called before the City Council for the purpose of regulating AEL&P rates, be- cause of prejudice:
 Affidavit of w. s. Pullen
 T. w. S. Pullen, being first duly sworn, depose and say: That I am Manager of the Alaska Electric Light and Power Company and in charge of the operation of it's busi- ness, and I have been such Man ager since July 1, 1917. That Ern- est Parsons was employed by the Company from August IA, 1882, to July 1899.
 That the Alaska Electric Light x Power Company. in addition to furnishing electric power and cur tent and services, also sells mer- chandise consisting of electric ap- pliances, equipment, and accessor- ies and, all merchandise used in connection with the consumption and use of electricity and electric appliances. That after leaving the employ of the Company, MT. Par sons engaged in the sale of appli- ances, equipment and merchandise end thereby became competitor of the Company. That he has many times complained of the company's prices as being too low, and he has on many occasions threatened to force the lighs company to discon- tinue the sale O. merchandise and electric appliances and to put the Company out of business.
 That in May l941 he told af- liant, after the company had been the unsuccessful bidder on a va cuum cleaner for the Governors house at Juneau that he would put the Company out of the merchant l dising business. On that occasion the company wrote letter to Gov :rnor Gruening, dated May 9, 1941, a copy of which is hereto annexed.
 That in 1942 he was a candid ate for City Councilman of Juneau and was elected, and he endeavor- ed, during his term of office, to Induce the Council to declare war against the Alaska Electric Light & Power Company, and after be- ing unsuccessful, he resigned from the Council before his term expired. That he was elected Mayor for the present year on platform which included the purchase of certain public utilities in the City. includ- ing that of the Alaska Electric Light & Power Company. but af- liant verify believes that was not his intention, but his real inten- ton was to annoy, harass and in- !'ure the Company and for personal reasons force the company out of the merchandise business.
 Mayors Counsel
 "Affiant's belief that this was ,lis intention and that it was not his bona fide intention at any time to have the city purchase the pro- l'erty of the light company is im- pelled by the course which the Mayor has taken, which is briefly stated as follows"
 l. Tn the spring of 1945 he asked the Company to submit a price at which they would sell their prop erty and business and he was very impatient for an immediate answer although he ktiew full well at that time that no one person had auth trity to sell the business of the company, which is a corporation with seventeen stockholders, no one of which and no family group of which controls the stock in the company. These stockholders were widely separated and ascattered and as far apart as Maine, Alaska, Seattle. San Francisco and the South Pacific. :"
 2. "The president Of the com- pany wrote each stockholder and explained the request of Mayor Parsons. Just as soon as the re- turns from the stockholders were all received, the Mayor and Coun- cil were informed that the stock holders would sell the property and business if an adequate price could be agreed upon. The Mayor was informed at that time that no de- Unite price could be fixed until the company had an appraisal made. COmpany's Offer
 3. "The offer of the company was submitted to the council on February 1. l94f, and before the