Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1917 — Remington Paper Takes a Rap at Public Service Co. [ARTICLE]

Remington Paper Takes a Rap at Public Service Co.

There seems to be much dissatisfaction among the patrons of the Interstate Public Service Company at T? or tri n lino 1 a cf* "wppk s K.Pm iritrf.QTi r JVvlllHlgVVn OIIU V •» ******* ***& ***** Press has the following to say. “That the town should own its own electric plant has been fully demonstrated by a couple of years experience with the Interstate Public Service Co. From every side comes complaints of unjust bills, unpaid balances where none exist and a general mix-up of all things concerned. There is not a month passes but what we hear the same old story. There are any number cf towns where municipal owned plants are operated and they are self supporting too, but even if they were not self supporting, would it not be better to pay the balance and have the matter entirely under our own control, than to be tied up to a corporation so conceived that the responsible head could not be found without the aid of a detective and a “ferret. We are paying altogether too high a rate for the service and every one knows it, still there is no possible chance of relief t as long as the company controls it. Even the high rate could be endured if people kiiew that they were paying for only that which they are using. In the absence of any other relief wc should like to suggest that the town have a man of known responsibility and reliability, from the state department, if there be’ such a one, to come here and test out any meters on which there is any question and if they are running fast report the same to the State Commission. A few jolts cf this kind might have some effect, and in the absence of Ihis we would suggest cutting out the lights entirely until something definite was accomplished. A great deal of the trouble seems to originate with the incompetent help the company keeps in its book-keeping departments.” This is from the Goodland Herald: “Many of the Goodland patrons of the Interstate Public Service Company, have complained for months about the high meter readings—and some of them have just cause to complain, because their meter readings have been high—and some out of reason.” We suspect that not enough attention has been taken by the man who is sent here to read the meters—-but then the patrons should not be the losers. In several cases the monthly receipts have been filed and upon comparison found to be out of reason.