The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, March 26, 1919, Page 8

INTO UTILITIES SERVICE HEARING Uninteresting Mass of Details and Statistics Present on Both Sides An enfire day was consumed yesier- day by the railway commission in hear ing the petition of Fargo citizens for lower rates and more service from the Fargo Heat, Light '& Power Co. There was an array of attorneys and experts, representing H. M. Byllesby & Co, of Chicago, owners of the }ar- go property, and the attorney gener- al’s office, which is appearing for the petitions, which filled the senate chamber. Accountants and engineers for the Byllesby interests claimed that the physical valuation found by ‘Hage- naw & Ericson of Chicago, who made the public utility survey for the state, was about $50,000 short. Otherwise there was no dispute on the ques- tion of valuation. The principal con- tention of the defendant corporation was that the higher rates for electri- city and steam heat, against which the protests were filed, were neces- sary to enable the company to sell gas at a reasonable price. The ques- tion for the railway commisison to decide seems to be whether consum- ers of electricity and steam heat should assist in paying the bills of gas consumers. Small Profits Shown. Thomas McDermott of St. general counsel for the States Power Co., on cross examina: tion brought out the fact that the Grands Forks utilities’ net earning were but 6.11 per cent for electricity and 2.8 per cent on gas, while ther was an actual loss on steam heating, the average earning being 3.88 per cent, The state’s engineers admit- ted that the company was entitled to an earning of eight per cent. Mc- Dermott also sought to establish the fact that the state engineer's physi- cal valuations were $11,340 low on the electric plant; $13,680 low on gas. and $3,075 low on steam. “The logical thing for us to do, in the light of the facts disclosed here, would be to appeal to the railway commisison for an increase in rates.” said R. F. Pack of Minneapolis, vice president and general manager of the ‘Northern States Power Co. He denied any such intent on the part of the company, however. Difference in Opinion. Rates charged in Fargo by the Union Light, Heat & Power company for gas, electricity and steam, and rates charged at Grand Forks by the Red River Power company for the same products, ure under. scrutiny in the hearing. On the basis of the Hagenah & Hr- icson report covering tne Union Light Heat & Power company, the engineers being engaged by the state to inve: Ugate the plant valuations, rates, r turns, etc, it is held that the com- pany has earned a. net profit for 1918 of 9.54 per cent on its enti plant, and that tlectricity earned 1 per cent} gas, 4,125 per cent, an steam, 10.24 per cent, these percent- ages being based on the present value of the property. Aat Grand Forks the state engineer reports a whole plant profit of 3.98 per cent on the present ue, divid- ed as follows; electricity, wa 2.80 per cent, with a net actual Ios in the steam department of $: The company rate expert, te ing this morning, fixed Grand earnings at 2.50 per cent on the w! hole plant, present valuation considered. Electricity is credited with a 4.35 per cent profit, gas with 1.84 per cent profit, and steam with a 3.05 per cent Joss. Paul, Question of Fair Rate. The question of what is a fair rate was raised by the state engineer, Mr. Hagenah, who said eight per cent is sufficient. Robert Pack, vice presi- dent of the Northern States Power company, which is the holding com- pany, contended this morning on the witness stand that it was necessary to realize ten per cent to cover all interest and dividend accounts. The question of whether or not the ‘Fargo and Grand Forks plants should ‘be considered as one unit, or whether they should be divided into depart ments and each utility branch made to support itself and produce suffi- cient revenue, is an issue, with the company contending for the plant unit basis, and the state contending for separation by departments, each de- partment carrying its own load. The case is being conducted by Assistant Attorney General Frank E. Packard for the state, and by Attor- ney Thomas McDermott of St. Paul for the companies. Consumers Complained. The, cases come before the railroad commission on complaints filed by Grand Forks and Fargo, which charg- ed that the rates were exorbitant and unreasonable. The new rate schedule went into ef- fect July 1, last, and it is 11 cents net per kilowat on electricity, and| $2 net on gas. Prior to July 1 the Tate was 8.8 cents on electricity, and @ net $1,485 on gas. WEATHER‘ REPORT. For twenty-four, hours ending at! noon, March 26. ‘Tempe! at 7 a, m. Yemperat at noon ‘Highest rday Lowest yesterday Lowest last night - Highest wind ‘velocity Fe ‘orecast: 4 For North Dakota: Fair tonight and ‘Thursday; warmer- Thursday and north and west portions tonight. Lowest ‘Temperatures. 16 WHOLE DAY GOES Northern! PRATER BEGINS TO FEEL UNEASY - ABOUT HIS JOB (Continued from Page One.) eb the rule, no matter how active In patriotic enterprises may have been the clvilians who remained ‘at home and held down the good jobs jeft be hind by the men wio weal to war. Knowing these things, Mr. Prater is in frequent conference with the gov: ernor. His friends believe that the secretary of the ‘hoard of university and school lands is looking for a soft place to Mght when the blow-up comes. In the meantime he is dili- gently opposing the referendym and initiative and.insisting that it is bad politics to sign any petitions not en- dorsed by Mr. Townley. Bond Buying. There are other matters, perhaps of even more general interest, involv- ing the investment in stat industrial bonds of North Daota’s birthright of $60,000,000, with which the sta endowed by Uncle Sam a perman- ent school fund. It seems probable that a majority of the members of the board may hold that these funds are better invested in first farm mort- gages at five per cent, or in school bonds at four, as at present, then in the securities of the state whose value, under the acts authorizing these bond issues, is held by some le- gal authoriti 0 depend largely up- on the administration in power and the success of the economic program which they are designed to finance. CHICAGO LIVESTOCK. HOGS—Recveipts 20,000; weak to 10¢ lower. Bulk sales $19.10 to 19.40. | Hea eight $19.35 to 1 Med. weight $19.20 to 19,40. Light weight $18.75 Light light $17.2 Sows $17.25 to 18 Pigs, $1650 to 1 CATTLE—Receipts 25,000; glow to strong. Calves steady to lower. | Heavy beef steers $11.50 to Light ‘beef. steers, $10.00 to 1 Cows and heifers $7.00 to 1 Canners and cutters $9.50 to § Veal calves $13.25 0.14. tSockers and feeder $8.25 to 15e.00. SHEEP—Receipts 17,000; = dull; steady. Lambs 84 Ibs or less $18.25 to 20.40. 85 1ds or better $18.00 to 20.40, Culls, Ewes medium and good $12.00 to 15.00. Culls and comomns $6.00 to 11.25. ST. PAUL LIVESTOCK. HOGS—Receipts 11,500; 25¢ to 30c lower. Range $18.50 to 18. Bulk $18.70 to 18.75 CATTLE steady to 2: Steers $6.00 to 19.00. Cows an dheifers $4.50 to 13.50. tSockers and feeders $5.25 to 15.50. SHEEP—Receipts 36 steady. Lambs $12.00 to 12.9: Wethers $15.00 to 15. Ewes $1.00 to 14.25, B. 6.009; killers Chicago, March 26.—A_ spind!e-leg- ged lad, Carl Johnson of Spokane, Wash., is counted on to carry the ‘col- ors of the University of Michigan to yictory in the nineteenth annual in- door track and field championships’ of the western conference at Patten gymnasium, -Nortiwestern University, tomorrow night. The Wolverines won both the indoor | and outdoor championships of the “Big Ten” last year. This year's well balane team. of fifteen men is strongly favored to repeat.. Johnson, “ace’ o fthe squad, is regarded as the greatest all-around athlete to rep- resent the Wolverines since the days of Johnny Garrels. He is expected to win the hurdle events and count heavily in the dashes and high jump. Other Michigan stars include “Pat” Smith, in the shot put, and Capt. Sedgewick, whose strong point is the mile run. Johnson alone captured 20 points} jand quarter-mile, is sick. N. BE. A. Special to. The Tribune. As jon of lead pipe. A blood marked dollar bill A, bit of Newspaper. A piece of string of 16 strands. These are exhibits in the against Dr. Walter Wilkins, accused Beach summer home. The lead pipe, like that with which the woman was beaten to death, was found they owned in Manhattan. the mattress in a dog kennel. Bits of a Lynnbrook, L. 1, news- paper were wrapped about a hammer beside the body of the woman. and similar string was\ found in a tool box in the Long Beach house. Mrs. Wilkins had property worth $100,000 which the doctor would in- nerit. In this is found a motive, the authorities declare. Wilkins lingered about for three weeks after the murder, declared he was being unjustly) suspected, then the day a warrant was issued for him he disappeared. He was recog- nized in the Pennsylvania station here, thaugh he had shaved off ‘iis whiskers, and was arrested as he was buying a ticket for Mineola. Wilkins claimed his wife had been killed by burglars. Wilkins had been married twice before, to a San Francisco woman who divorced him, Grace Mansfield, and to Suzanne: Kirkland. ARR eee MINNEAPOLIS GRAIN. Flour unchanged; shipments 83,796 barrels. Earley 94 to 1.04. Rye No. 2 1.62 1-2 to 64. Bran 40. ‘Minneapolis wheat cars compared with 72 a cash 2.35 to 2.42; corn No. 1.52; flax 3.76 to 3.76. receipts 144 TABQ; 1.50 to} o « | | Vote Next Tuesday | | Every man and woman in | Bismarck Who has the right to vote owes it to himself or herself and the future of the city to go to the polls next Tuesday and ballot on the | city com-missionership. There are four candidates in. field for two city commis- sionerships, and in this con- test women may vote. A po- lice magistrate also is to be‘ elected, and there are three. candidates for this. office. Tuesday, April 1, is election, day. .) SCANDINAVIAN FROM FAR WEST IS MICHIGAN VARSITY’S HOPE Dame méet, and scored 15 in the Michigan-Chicago. games. In the oNtre:Dame games he won the high jump, five feet ten inches, and took the 60-yard high hurdles in :08 15. Smith in his last official appearance tossed ‘the 16-pound weight 4) feet.ss 1-4 inches, Captain Sedgewick, when in form covers the mils in from 4:31 to 4.32. Cross and Westbrook, pole vaulters, are declared to ebgood for close to 12 feet indoors. Every university in the conference, with the exception of Ohio state and Indiana, has teams entered. Indiana was forced to withdraw at the elev- enth hour owing to a series of unfor- tunate circumstances. Collier, In- diana’s star dash man, was expected back from the war two weeks ago, but has not appeared at the university. Briggs, also entered in the dashes Williams. who hag entered in the hurdles, has for his team in the Michigan-Notre ' Then hitch a horse t rough roads— What for? the equivalent? Sudden, hard application : wheels so that your car’ stroys the tire. needless brake abuse. Put about 1000 pounds weight on a tire— Exactly ! Perhaps you constantly are doing tires over the road, is equivalent. This grinds the treads needlessly, and rapidly de- Control your car more by thé throttle and ne by Our free booklet “Care Saves lad shows you aiey ) other ways to save tire money. been declared ineligible. o it and drag it over of brakes, that locks the Ss momentum, drags the BLOODY BILL, BIT OF STRING “BACK WIFE MURDER CHARGE case of murdering his wife in their Long in, the rooming house which|, The dollar bi}l was found under}. String also cling to the hammer Mrs. Walter Wilkins and her hus- band, charged with murdering her. SECOND DEATH IN ANDERSON HOME IN WEEK The home of John Anderson of Baldwin was darkenéd by death the second time within a week when Miss Ida Anderson, daughter of this well known Burleigh county pioneer, pass- ed away at Harvey-on Monday aftera brief illness. M{ss Mary Anderson, a younger sister of. the deceased, died last week at LaGrance, Ill, where sie was attending college, and funeral services were held here Sunday. The remains of ‘Miss Ida Anderson will be brought to Bismarck ‘this evening and funeral. services ¢ will be held at the First Baptist church .at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The deceased was’ born).and: reared: in Burleigh county. and leaves Bane dreds of warm friends here: RUBBER.-BOOTS: Full line of Children’s Rubber The revised suggesting that —_ recently announced, make the Oldsmobile the most attractive investment today, ' \ among cars of unquestioned merit. We:tepeat these stabilized prices, we. are able to make early delivery: aed: ‘Western Sales” this will make: Pe axceltent general Purpose “farm, JH. Holfhan, Lu- an Block, Bisraare D FOR SALE—160 acres of land 18 miles north of Bismarck and & miles from Baldwin, $800, Ajnd 380 acres adjoining thin lund: that can be bought cheap; running wator) SLOW WORK GETTINGJURY TOTRY MILLS Fargo, March 26.LUp to this after- noon ‘ihe jury in the trial of Walter Thomas Mills, charged in United. States district court here with vie lation of: the espionage act on five counts, had not been drawn. Each venireman was asked whether he had. ontribyted to any fund to fight thie league or whether he was a membe! of any organization opposed to the league. MAY CANONIZE JOAN OF ARC Paris, March 26.—The canonization of Joan of Arc is regarded certain. Pope Benedict, is is understood, will give a decision March '26. 4: MOTHERS Should see that the whole family take at least 3 or 4 doses of a thoro, purifying, system cleaning medicine this spring. Now is the time. The family will be healthier, Dappier, and get along better if the blood is given a thoro purifying, the stomach and bowels cleaned out, and the germs of} Winter, accumulated. in the system, | driven away. Hollister’s Rocky Moun- tain Tea is one of the very best and surest Spring medicines to take. Get it and see the difference in the whole family. Their color will be better. they’ll feel fine and be well. and happy. , Jos. Breslow. RUBBER BOOTS Full line of Children’s Rubber B oots just received.—Webb ros. Read the A. W. Lucas Co. Daily Ads on page 5. Dark Tans "THe correct styles of the season are Flor- sheim Dark Tans. . You, will bee them at this store in various shapes and patterns— just the thing , for you men| who want up-to-the-min- ute footwear. EL DALLO Come _ in---look weet them on---there’s a pair cragy for you. re » Rosen's CiotHinG SHOP. Prices Power—Beauty: Whether your aclec- ae tion is a Six or an Eight, these qualities dominate, backed by economy of operation’ and maintenance, sound utility and i nae of twenty-one years’ standing. prices on Oldsmobiles you purchase now while The diversity of the line absurds Oldsmobile precisely suited to the need of SIXES Model 37 Touring or Roadster $1295.00 chaser. ; Model 37 Sedan or Coupe. $1895.00 Oe ere ce i EIGHTS | ; We take both pleasure and pride in Model 45A Touring Car $1700.00 demonstrating these cars, Call or phone Model 45A Pacemaker $1700.00 at your convenience. All prices F. O, B. Lansing, Michigan a# ot