St. Louis Post-Dispatch
May 31, 1908

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en Stand. With the Post-Dispatch i in Its Demand for Regulation: of Public

= ee ints ~~ as:

i. i con injured by, Arbitrary to- rease in Charges, Says One, and Only "ut af nicity, Now Being Provided by Post- Juki patch, Can Force Powerful Monop- ly ‘to Make Its Rates Reasonabic. a ae

n—many of them consumers of electric ‘the Post-Dispatch’ s insistence on uniform their indorsement. of a public service , by the Post-Dispatch ' to investigate the service charges made by ric Light and Power Co. and other public service corporations. such as the Municipal Assembly is authorized to create, would. ull powet tions and “power to make a thorough investigation of public service corpora on to ‘the Municipal Assembly the reasonable rates they may charge for their as, he 5 ae, : 54. Bade views on the subject are given below: the Post-Dispatch is Seuthaantty fair. Fa Miter Sommer of the Unloa. Boctrle com- ,, the lights for our establishment being previded Tage vecas plant. .I have learned that our rates are those charged by the Union Biectric. “Oe Sy tae Boat Diagates ro Ra ato of three menibers, one ap- company, one by the Post-Dispatch ti py those two. - BRUNO SCHROETER, y and ccaaapag or" Schroeter Bros. Hardware sete ‘whether. the ha Electric Light company & n, of would abide by its findings. ean pee shown in this way, it. would a «wD Sot: familiar enough with the facts to say y hether. the. Union. Blectric Light company is_ 7 @isert ating ‘against its customers. i tee cominittee of éxperts can be agreed on to de- . de’ thie points at issue, I think every citizen, who Be a ea sai L. CARLISLE, attorney, Former Postmaster of St. Louis. The pe site is doing well in its investigation } | light and power monopoly in this y. The _revelations already made in its columns ow that owe are ‘being ridden rough-shod. by this sULLU S$ LANGSDORF, Bros. Jewelry Co. ng thé facts regarding lighting rates to the ic. The suggestion of a commission to de- . Electric Light company. if the city could regulate of all other public service the Municipal Assembly : BSS men interviewed by Post -Dispateh reporters were . at : in the , aed that the lighting company is charging excess almost unanimous ive prices for elec- I am with the Post-Dispatch in its ——— for rea- sonable rates for light. Store Olive reets sine toes small yo0a_ olive lights in my show | windew at night. The company used to charge me $1 a month for them. But now the company charges me $2 for the same service. I used to burn electric light in my store, -but- the price was too much and I put in gas. I read all the Post-Dispatch says about the Electric Light Trust and its extortions. The Post- Dispatch is gees the facts, and I hope it will keep it up. Cc. W. MeCULLOUGH, Artificial Limbs, 420 Market Street. E LOOK to the Post-Dispatch te save us from W being eaten up alive by the cormorant corpo- rations which seem to own this town, among them the Union Electric Light and Pewer Co. -The Post-Dispatch has always been the champion of the people against corperate monopoly. It has fought our fights before. It is fighting them now. I read every word of the electric light articles it prints. It’s plain to be seen that we are. overcharged for electric > And we ‘have ne chance for. re- lief; except through the publicity campaign the Post- Dispatch is making. EDWARD T. JETT, . President thé EB. ian Jett Rook and News Co. 912. Olive Street. We get our light from the bullding company in this block. We know nothing personally of the. extortion of the Union Electric Light and Power Co. But the Post-Dispatch is making a good fight, and I hope it will win for the people. F. J. WICKENDEN, Wall Paper, 1012 Pime Street. I’m with the Post-Dispatch in its fight for reason- able light rates. I read it every night. I read the defense the company is making, too. It doesn’t satis- fy me. The two put together convince me that the company is wrong. Any company which has a monopely of a public utility Mke electric lighting in a city the size of St. Louis is bound te overcharge. That is the nature of a monopoWw. . H. WILLIAM KIRCHNER, Architect, 1512 Chemical Building. The Post-Dispatch is right to the point in its in- vestigations inte the rates charged for electric light and power by the Union Electric company. It squeezes up on the rates whenever it gets a chance. I have had experience with the concern and I know its game pretty well. EDGAR B. wotawakb. President the Woodward & ee Printing Ce., 300 Nerth Third Stree If all the Post-Dispatch is = soe about electric light and power rates is true, there is something wrong. As far as we are concerned, we have a five- year contract under. the old rate, which is much to our liking, and we hope to be able to renew it, for we use a great deal of electricity, H. F. DAVIS, | President the American Blackboard Co., Burling- ten Building. The Post-Dispatch. has get the lighting company on the defensive. The company is spending a good deal of money trying to refute the evidence presented. But the Post-Dispatch has the better of it. The evi- dence it has presented is convincing, while that pro- duced by the lighting cempany is vague. elgg Soeamaget eo BAIN, President a. Msgs -. a -senpageed Ce., 114 The Wasi Stainton ts: Aslag'a eerie work in its ef- fort to’ get nable rates for light in St. Louis. I ‘hope it will not weary, and will win... ‘DINKS L. PARRISH, Laundry, 3126-28 Olive Street. VERYONE is bound to admit that the Post-Dis- patch is doing a great work in stirring up in- vestigation of the methods of the Union Elec- tric Light and Power Co, — It is a good thing te let the company know that attention was called to it. Dispatch is to be highly commended for it 16 doing, A. T. AVERILL, President Milis & Avert Tailoring [o. P z fh FF > « Ca s E electric light bills of the Christian Pub- lishing Co., 2712 Pine atrest. increased from $15.96 in March, 1907, to $34.97-—-120 per cent— in March, 1908, without any apparent increase in the consumption of current. The company’s me- ‘ters showed a consumption of 140 kilowatt hours for March, 1907, and 350 kilowatt hours for March, 1908, but W. Davies Pittman, general manager.of the company, is unable to account for any such increase. The company’s power bill for March, 1907, was $63.87, as compared with $96.96 for 1908, an increase of 62 per cent. The company has operated the same machinery for the same number of houfs each day during the comparative pertods, oist Building, paid $70.86 for light in Mareh, 1907, and $106.50 in March, 1908, and $40 for power in 1907 and $9 for power in 1908. There was an increase of 52 per cent in his light bill and 125 per cent in his power bill. Mr. Benoist formerly had a contract with Union Electric for light at 5 cents a kilowatt hour, and a $40 flat rate on his el- evator. “Union Electric terminated his contract, and the best rate he could get was 8.4 cents from the Phoenix, which is also owned by the Nerth American Co. Union Electric demanded a still higher rate. Can: A. BENOIST, proprietor of the Ben-

STRIKING EXAMPLES THAT LIGHT BILLS ARE INCREASING _ : UNDER UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY’S NEW RATING SYSTEM al LOUIS HARDWARE MANUFACTURING S JO., 14519 North Eighteenth street, was in- . duced to give up a contract’ at 3 cents a horsepower hour of 746 watts, for a contract at . 10.8 and 6 cents a kilowatt hour, 1000 watts, Its average monthly bill under the old contract was | $15.31, under the new contract, $30.40. Average monthly consumption under the old contract was 405 kilowatt hours, under the new contract, 433 kilowatts. S had an old rate of 6 cents a kilowatt hour, ®. which was increased: to 12 cents under a contract made last September. His bill for April, 1908, under the new rate, was $20.44. Under the old rates his bills seldom ‘exceeded $10 or $12. UPERIOR MANUFACTURING CO., 79 Washington avenue, formerly paid 6 2-3 cents ' a kilowatt hour for electric light. It gets, ander the new schedule, a rate of 11% cents. Un- der the increased rates the company’s bill Jumped from. $12.47 for light in April, -1907, to $33.56 in April, 1903, an increase of 141 per cent. T's BLANTON CoO., 115 Spruce street, put In BEARMAN, 1415 Market street, show dealer, ; a plant of its own rather than submit to an increase in its rate from 5 cents a kil- owatt hour to 12 cents. ‘ j REAT WESTERN PAINT ‘AND COLOR ‘CO., 814 Manchester avenue, paid $68.74 for 1812 kilowatt hours of service under the old full rate schedule of the Union Electric Light. and Power Co., on a basis of 10 cents a kilowatt hour for the first 100, 8 cents for the next 100, ¢ cents for the next, 4 cents for the next 300 and 3 cents for the excess. Under the Novémber sched- ule the company paid $77 for. 1500 kilowatt hours. — The net rate under the old schedule was 3.8 cents _ a kilowatt hour; under the new schedule, 5215 — cents. HE T. Dunn Loan and Mercantile Co., 912 / Franklin avenue had a net rate of 5 cents ~. @ Kilowatt hour under a contract expiring in November, 1907. It. got in under the new. sched- ule at 10% cents a kilowatt hour. Under the old contract. it got 1138 kilowatt hours of - electricity for $67: Under the new schedule it got 114 kilo- watt hours for $86.50. There was a decrease of 198 kilowatt hours in the pea and an increase, of $19.95. in the bill. HE Plows Candy Co. got electricity at 3 cents. ba a kilowatt hour in 1905, when there was competition: . Union Electric ‘increased its rate to 7.5 cents last fall, an increase in the rate of 150 per cent. With a smaller consumption of electricity the company’s power bill has in- creased 100 per cent.

tion than it has ever done before. It is the greatest fight ever made in the interests-of the people in St. Louis. “ADAM GOLDMAN, Merchandise Broker, Century Building. I am with the Post-Dispatch in this controversy. I. know the rates for electricity are too high. My house was closed all last summer, and my bill for electric light was just the same right along as if the house had been open. When such things as that occur, something is wrong. It looks like we were being held up. And the Post-Dispatch is proving that we are being held un. JAMES M. BRECKENRIDGE, President Phoenix Planing Mill Co., Twelfth and Spruce Streets, I have read all the lighting articles in the Post- Dispatch very closely. They are convincing argu- ments. We make our own electricity, but I believe the Union company charges its customers too much. pak “ene fas TE, Burlap a oes rth Commercial Street. I think the st- Dispaten is all right, and the agita- tion it, is making for lewef electric light rates is proper without a doubt. c V. GREGG, 3814 Page Boulevard. I have read the articles in the Post-Dispatch, and I emphétically think ~they-are all right. The Union Electric Light and Power Co. is oppressive in its rates. J, 8S. THURMAN, President Compressed Air House Cleaning Co. O I think the investigation is a good ene? Well, .) I guess yes. The Union Electric Light and Power Co. robbed us so that we now have our own plant for the manufacturing business. We only use their lights fer a few lamps now—about a $3 bill. And we are even going to give up that. We don’t want to have any further business. rela- tions with them. Keep at them hard. ‘. J. H, BLYTHE, Carpcutes an@ Builder, 310 North Channing Ave- n e. The only fault.I have to find with the Pest-Dispatch is that it is not going after the electric company : herd eneugh in proportien to the oppression prac-’ ticed. I have had bitter experiences with the lighting ¢om- pany, and I gave its officers a good talking to in their offices. This giant monopoly cares little for an individual, but the multitude, speaking through the Post-Dispatch, is effective. PETER IBSEN, Candies, Century Building. The Post-Dispatch should receive the support of every. citizen in the good work it is doing for relief from ‘high rates. I hope it will result in bringing the rates down. F. H,. LOGEMAN, » Chair Manufacturer, 2000 North Main Street. My opinion is that the rates. are away too high. I am glad the Post-Dispatch is doing good work in try- ing to have a just scale of rates established. CHARLES SPECHT, Cigars, 708 Chouteau Avenue. I certainly think the Post-Dispatch is doing great work for the people, and I hope it will keep up until some equitable arrangement is made between the peo- ple and the electric light company as te rates. HENRY A. BAKER, Attorney, Merchants-Laciede Building. I think the Post-Dispatch is exactly right in its campaign for lower electric light rates. It ts doing a great public service. H. C, GRAWE, Jeweler, G11 North Broadway. : I always said just as the Post-Dispatch is sayirg new. The electric light doubled my rates in one month. vestigations and efforts. THOMAS CANNON, Attorney, Times Building. ‘This electric light company is a monopoly which squeezes the consumers, and it will continue to do so until public opinion becomes so strong that the com- pany @ill not dare to go further. The Post-Dispatch is saving the people from oppression, and I congrat-

ding. high for electric light. experience, but I be- Heve the Post-Dispatch will show us before it is through. . WILLIAM R. GENTRY, . Atterney, Missouri Trust Butlding. Iam mighty anxious to see the electric light rates a ee FH MOS Mosinee al spe sriere ‘ Hor I wish the Post-Dispatch success in its in-. ders from the Eastern millionaires who own it to put up the price so that larger dividends can be paid on watéred stocks, theecompany simply raises the price. Ten per cent added to the bill of each individual may be little noticed by each one, but is a tremendoug total, di has proved itself, as usual, a mighty good fighter, in its controversy with the Union Elec- tric Light and Power Co. It certaifily has made the company struggle for its Hfe.- The paper is certainly doing a great service for the publie. It takes a good deal of courage and the conviction of being in the right to tackle a big mo- nopoly like the Union. Fortunately for me, I do not buy any of their ‘juice’ myself, but I haven’t a tenant who is not kicking about their high rates and bad treatment. CHARLES W. MARTIN, St. Louis Tent, Awning and Fishnet Co., 120. North Main Street. The Post-Dispatch exposures of the high rates and of the recent increase in*rates by the Union Piectric Light and Power Co. -48 the greatest. thing that ever happened. - It’s fine. .Keep it up. DR. H. L. Copy, Drugegist, 6025 Manchester Avenue. I think it’s a fine thing the Post-Dispatch is doing, and I hope it will succeed in getting the rates low- ered. A. R. SCHOLLMEYER, Real Estate. H® Post-Dispatch is in a mighty_good fight and "E. F. DAVIS, Druggist, 854 North King’s Highway. My electric, light bills were se high that I was forced to give up using electricity. I hope the Post- Dispatch’s investigations will bring about a reduction in the rates, so.that we can all use electricity. J. J, FERGUSON, . Murillo’s Studio, 12814 Olive Street. It is a fine thing that the Post-Dispatch is doing. I hope it will succeed in arousing such a public opinion against extortionate electric light rates that the com- pany will have to be reasonable. HARRY TROLL, Public Administrator, The efforts of the Post-Dispatch to get fair electric light rates are very commendable. THOMAS E. MULVIHILL, ‘Excise Commissioner of St. Louis. I am with the Poest-Dispateh in its efforts to get relief from high electric light rates. R. T. HILL, Druggist, 4881 Easton Avenue. * It will be a great thing if the Post-Dispatch brings around a reduction of electric light rates. I'll be- gin using electricity. myself then. Keep it up. THOMAS LEONARD, Clerk of the House of Delegates. I am against the Union Biectric Light and Power Co., as I am against all monopoly. I think the Post- Dispatch is in the right in its crusade. DR. HENRY LLOYD, Deputy Coroner. I have been reading the articles in the Post-Dis-, patch carefully. I do not understand some of the technical points, but if it is a fact that the rates under the new schedule are higher, the Post-Dis- patch is doing g00d work. OSCAR W. MILLER, President Boggs ae Co. 15 South Main Stree I think that the Post-Dispatch is deing a noble work in this matter of electric lighting.. When a newspa- per undertakes a thing of that kind In the interest of he people, it is fulfilling the highest ideals of the modern hewspaper. It ig a great thing for St. Louis that it has a newspaper that stands between the pévuple and the extortion of monopolies. JOHN W. BETZOLD, Brush Manufacturer, 914 South Fourth Street. Of course the electric light rates are too high, but ; ‘what can we do? Our only hope is that the Post-Dis- patch’s exposures may bring us relief. LLIAM BAGGERMAN, ‘ President Baggerman Bros, Commission Co. We don't use much electric light ourselves, but I thing the investigation is a good thing. it is $2 a month for the same service.--Something is wrong when it doubles in a year. GEORGE KE. BENZ, Badges, 310 Olive Street. The Post-Dispatch ig all right. I use people of St. Louia. /HENRY C. DUERING, Druggist; Ninth and Pine Streets, AM pleased to see the fight the Post-Dispatch is. making for lower electric light and power rates,» I am sure they are too high, and that the Union Electric Light and Power Co is too arbitrary in its dealings with the public. around wi light at one-third less than that-company charges the something Itt! This company has a monopoly, and so what can & would think nie.4 , . person do? Our bill here is $40 one month and $30 the We had a sat fac next, but what’s the use of kicking? - all right with the compa ni Bs. : As. chairman of the Pine Street Improvement Asso- ®@ contract The rate signing it, ~~ 3 “You will have ti % go ahead with our plans, and the rate would be 5 * you ‘want lights. ~ We had no gagpt When all our plans were complete I went again; and .—-we were ‘f I haven't ciation, which is planning to illuminate Pine street from Fourth to Tenth streets, I went to the com- pany to see what it would charge us. It told us to cents. ; vas told that the rate would be 6% cents. That was certainly unfrair and I said so. We-are yet dicker- come out, G. D. MERNER, Treaaurer Pfeiffer Chemical Co. | Our own electric plant furnishes us. with © ev- erything except pewer for our elevator. When our contract for the latter power came up for - renewal a short time ago, it-was not at all #atis- factory. It was mtich highér than we éxpected. or thought just. Severkl months before the Post-Dis- patch, started its investigation I thought such an th- has taken. , Cc. H. R. DAVIS, Realty Dealer. HAVE been studying the exposition of the burden | imposed upon the public.by the Union Electric Light and Power Ce., Post-Dispatch has got the monopoly on the run. Asa matter of fact, the Union Electric Light- and rower: Co. is a big cinch. The Post-Dispatch is doing a great and courageous work for the people, and from the expressions of opinion I hear every day it-is appreciated and meets ‘neo with the warmest public approval. MRS. LEVYHE, diaiiedaiats Albert A. Aal Cleak Co, We can prove by our books that our electric Mght bills are too high. Three months ago a bill came fn, and Mr. Aal went around to complain about it. They told him he would have to pay or else lose the discount for cash payment. ae and it seems to me that the. ° but by the w ing over the matter, and I do not know how it will neny sit up a — % aetioh,, r¢ Fé aye ites ting ‘a? he ‘ahh om | Sea he show ee ¥ om tardy 9 ton i n x in of the Post: red 6: ve tyranny ath Whe power ofthe ce np n omer ecttially: br vestigation would be just the thing, and I think the °me the con rum a Post-Dispatch is. entirely warranted in the stand it Oreken. ~ On account of vane Electric Light ‘ei fight of the Boat Diep aguink’ al , ght and” in St. 4 We paid the bill, but we only did so because there reason, ot wa< no appeal. The Post-Dispatch is doing a great service in ite investigations. H. C. ACHENBACH, 1704 Market Street. It’s a magnificent argument the Post-Dispatch is patch making against the Union Electric Light and Power Co. I hope it will succeed in lowering the rates. HH. W. BARKHOEFER, Drugsist, 4201 North Eleventh Street. It’s a good work the Post-Dispatch is doing. heartily approve of its policy in its latest cam for the people. : CHARLES P. JOHNSON, Attorzuey, Temple Building. The Post-Dispatch is always making some so campaign for the public good. This for relief oppressive electric light rates is ene of them. hope it will succeed. ~ GERALD B. O'REILLY, Real Estate. HE Union Electric Light and Power vasa do I think of it? I think its fag shou black flag, with & Ske Sele ea “Ready to Sever,” instead of “Ready I have had experience with the company know. In the past three years my bills have been. ad-. vanced 100 per cent. When my bills doubled, I wrote to the company complaining and thought they would send a around to say it was all a mistake. one of the silliest letters I ever got

out, I