61st A N N U A L REPORT 1933 OF ''GEORGIA % PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONS COMMISSIONERS JU D P. W ILH OIT, Chairman GEO. L. GOODE THOS. K. DAVIS BEN T. H UIET J. B. DANIEL JA CK M. FO RRESTER, Secretary 1935 STEIN PRINTING COMPANY STATE PRINTERS ft n ATLANTA O D dU 6 THE GENERAL LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ATHENS, GEORGIA 145 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Letter of Transmittal....... ................. ........................... ................................... 1-16 Telephone Order...... ................................ 1-10 Freight Rates........ ................ ............................. ......... ...10-11 Electric Service Rates_________ ___________ __ _____ 11-16 Alphabetical List of Utilities under Jurisdiction__ L...................... ......... 17-22 Telephone Companies...................... 17-19 Telegraph Companies........ ................................ ............... 20 Electric Utilities....................... .................... ..................... 20 Gas Utilities_____ __________________ ____ ________ 20 Transportation Utilities____________ 20 Common Carriers--Railroads ........... ............................ .20-22 Express Companies____ ____ 22 ANNUAL REPORT LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL A tlanta, Georgia, Dec. 1, 1034. To H is E xcellency, G overnor E ugene T almadge: The Georgia Public Service Commission, in accordance with the requirem ents of law, subm its herewith its 61st R eport covering the business and transactions of the Commission for th e year ending D ecem ber 31, 1933. T he Commission, as a t present co nstituted, took th e o ath of office On Ju ly 21, 1933, and organized by selecting Honorable Jud P. W ilhoit as Chairm an and Honorable J. M. Forrester as Secretary. I t was a m atter of common knowledge th a t the country as a whole was in the m idst of a business depression w ithout parallel within the experience of the present generation. The Government of the U nited States was entering upon the widest experim entation in an effort to relieve the distressing conditions. A large portion of our population was w ithout em ploym ent and means of supplying th e b arest necessities of life. T he purchasing power of the consuming public was practically gone and industry generally was in a state of well-nigh collapse and prostration. Inform ation relating to the utility situation in Georgia indicated th a t the public was either abandoning or curtailing service with the result th a t most, if not all, the utilities faced diminishing incomes. The Commission, mindful of its obligation as a regulatory body, and of the need for utility service of the best available standard, a t fair and reasonable rates, undertook comprehensive investigations of the rates, charges and services of the utility companies under its jurisdiction, which have n o t yet been concluded. There follows a resume of its accom plishm ents betw een th e d ate i t took office and th e end of th e calendar year. UTILITY RATES T e le p h o n e On A ugust 3, 1933, th e Commission issued its rule nisi to all telephone companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why all local and long distance rates on telephone service should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, be reduced a n d /o r eliminated. T he investigation under th is rule nisi was begun on Septem ber 12, 1933, an d as th e investigation progressed, orders were issued reducing the monthly charge for hand set or french type telephones from fifty cents m onthly to fifteen cents effective October 20, 1933; an order elim inating all extra charges for desk set equipm ent effective October 20, 1933; an order reducing the installation charge for individual line service from three 1 . t h e g e n e r a l lib r a r y t h e UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ATHENS, GEORGIA dollars to tw o dollars effective N ovem ber 1, 1933; a n order reducing th e extra exchange line mileage charge from sixty-three cents to forty cents per m onth per quarter mile; an d a general subscriber's sta tio n ra te order reducing subscriber statio n service effective D ecem ber 1, 1933. T he reductions under th e general order were m ade upon local exchange bases and am ounted to a reduction of approximately tw enty per cent to individual tele phone subscribers. H ereinafter follow the opinions and orders of the Commission in the sequence named: N um ber Docket 6-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION R E : T elephone Companies Operating in the State of G eorgia OPINION ON HAND SET EQUIPM ENT By T h e Com m ission T he Commission on A ugust 3rd, 1933, issued a rule nisi directed to all telephone companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why telephone rates, both local and long distance, should not be reduced, and why extra charges should not be reduced or eliminated. T he rule nisi was made returnable on Septem ber 12th, 1933, on which date hearings began. Answers were filed by a large m ajority of th e m ajor companies an d testim ony taken by the Commission pursuant to the rule nisi. These hearings are still in progress on the general rate structures and miscellaneous charges. On the hearings the companies assumed the burden of establishing the justness and reasonableness of rates and charges a t the present time, and under prevailing economic conditions. The hearings on the general rate structure and miscellaneous charges have not been completed, and additional tim e will be required to complete th a t record and make a finding thereon. T he Commission, however, has had volum inous evidence, b o th Oral and documentary, produced before it by the companies relative to the additional rate charged by various companies for services in connection w ith th e h and set or F rench ty p e of telephone, and the record on this subject is sufficient to enable the Commission to de termine the justness and reasonableness of this extra charge. I t has appeared on the hearings, th a t while the smaller companies have in use a lim ited num ber of th e hand set telephones, th e subscribers of th e Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company (hereinafter called the Bell Company) are the principal users of this type of telephone and the Bell Company alone has produced m aterial evidence in support of th e ex tra charge. I t is therefore a p p aren t th a t th e Commission m ust deal with this subject in the light of the evidence presented by the Bell Company, together w ith all the facts and circumstances as they appear to the Commission as bearing on the justness and reasonableness of such a charge. The Bell Company and several of th e other companies make an extra charge of fifty cents per month for use of this type of equipm ent. T he Bell C om pany's exhibit No. 37, pu rp o rts to show present costs, f. o. b. ware house, of types of equipm ent involved in this particular inquiry. Oral testim ony in support of this exhibit was given to the effect th a t there should be added to these costs eight per cent, for handling charges. Their exhibit No. 43, purports to show approxim ately the relative use of hand sets to other types of subscribers' station equipm ent in this State. T heir exhibit No. 16, purp o rts to show each item of ad ditional annual charges for h and sets as compared with desk stands. The Company introduced oral testim ony by its accountants and experts in support of the exhibits enumerated, and further facts with reference thereto were developed on cross examination. 2 E xhibit No. 16 purp o rts to show th e additio n al annual charges for h an d sets as com pared with desk stands and was offered in justification of the present extra charge. I t is claim ed by th e Bell C om pany th a t according to its books th ere is an additional investm ent of $5.32 in a h and set over a desk set. I t was developed, however, on cross exam ination, from th e Bell C om pany's record, th a t th e com parable actual present addi tional investm ent is $4.57. E x hibit No. 16 is herew ith inserted w ith a parallel colum n showing th e com parable figures: (Based on M anual Common B attery Stations Now in Plant) Average Per Hand Set Original Exhibit Additional Column (a) Additjonal Present Investment in Hand Set Over Desk Set Additional Present Cost in Hand Set Over Desk Set $5.32 $4.57 Additional Annual Charges: (b) Interest on Additional Investment at 8% .43 .37 (c) Depreciation Expense ($14.70 x (5 minus $9.38 x 7%) .67 .59 (d) Maintenance (present excess for hand set) .54 .54 (e) Maintenance (future additional excess account of aging) .20 .20 (f) Interest on Desk Set Junked .45 .41 (g) Annual Service Loss and Cost Resulting from Junking of Desk Set .68 .60 (h) General Expenses .09 .09 (i) Uncollectible Revenue (l.% x $6.00) .06 .06 (j) Licensee Revenue--Dr. (1.5% x $5.94) .09 .09 (k) Property Taxes .08 .07 (l) Gross Receipts Tax .01 .01 (m) State Income Tax * .18 .18 (n) Federal Income Tax .58 .59 Total Additional Annual Charges on Hand Sets 4.06 3.80 T he Bell Company subm its $4.57 as being the present excess cost of th e hand set over the desk set. Conceding this am ount to be correct present excess cost, the Com mission, from th e evidence before it, is of th e opinion t h a t th e difference in original in vestm ent will substantially diminish. T he " additional annual charges" set fo rth in exhibit N o. 16 will now be analyzed item by item. I tem b. The Company sets up under this item an interest ra te of eight per cent, on th e additional investm ent. I t appears from th e evidence th a t it is necessary for th e Company to carry in stock equipm ent am ounting to three per cent, of the equipm ent in service. The additional investm ent, therefore, am ounts to $4.71. The Commission thinks six per cent, an adequate ra te of interest to be charged under this item . The am ount allowed under this item is, therefore, found to be six per cent, or $4.71, am ounting to 28.3 cents. I tem c. This item deals w ith depreciation expense. I t does not conclusively appear th a t the depreciation rate on the hand set should be greater than th a t on the desk set. We accept th e C om pany's estim ate of a seven per cent, depreciation ra te on desk sets as being reasonable, and apply the same rate to the hand set. The am ount allowed under th is item is, therefore, found to be seven per cent, or $4.57, am ounting to 32.0 cents. I tem d. This item deals w ith excess cost of m aintenance. The Company has in troduced evidence of a very recent study of the average station tenure throughout its system. The report of the study indicated th a t on the average a telephone rem ains in one place approxim ately 3.J years. T he m aintenance item here set up is based on this turnover and on th e evidence is allowed a t 54.0 cents. We believe, however, th a t under more norm al conditions this period will be longer and m aintenance correspondingly reduced. 3 I tem e. T he claim here is for fu tu re excess m aintenance of h an d set on account of aging. We regard this item as entirely speculative and w ithout evidence to support it, an d it is therefore n o t allowed. I tem f. T his claim is for interest a t eight per cent, on desk set junked. To allow this item would be to conclusively presume th a t with the installation of every hand set a desk set. m ust be junked. The Commission cannot entertain this presumption, and th e evidence on this subject is th e contrary. T he evidence discloses th a t in th e p a st year 15,000 instrum ents of all kinds were junked, b u t no effort was made to show the relation betw een this junk in g an d th e use o f h and sets. This item is n o t allowed for th e reasons stated. I tem g. The Company insists th a t it should be rem unerated for service still remaining in a desk set and lost by prem ature junking. E xhibit No. 43 shows th a t there are now in use in the S tate of Georgia 100,602 instrum ents of this general type (wall sets n o t included). I t is fu rth e r shown th a t of this num ber 11,113 are h an d sets, or 11.05 per cent, of the to tal. We are again called upon to presume th a t the installation of a hand set results in junking a desk set. For the reasons heretofore given we are not authorized to indulge this presumption. The record shows th a t the increase in demand for hand sets has grown rapidly and therefore tends to render obsolete any earlier and less desirable ty p e of instrum ent. Obsolescence is a factor necessarily entering into th e establishm ent of a depreciation reserve. W ithin its experience the Bell Company has seen the wall type instrum ent become relatively obsolete and supplanted by the desk type; and being under provident management the element of obsolescence m ust have been carefully considered in determining the rate to be applied in creating an adequate depreciation reserve. In additio n it is clearly shown by th e record th a t th e present norm al dem and for th e desk set is far in excess of such sets displaced by h an d sets. This item is n o t allowed as we do not think the evidence sufficient to support the claim. v The am ounts allowed on the remaining items are m athem atically deducible from th e fu rth er conclusions of th e Commission and will appear in proper sequence. T he following table shows the findings of the Commission on each item of addi tional annual charge set up in exhibit No. 16: (a) Additional Present Cost over Desk Set (b) Interest on Additional Investment on $4.57 plus 3% @ 6% (c) Depreciation Expense 7% on $4.57 (d) Maintenance--as claimed (e) Future Additional Maintenance (f) Interest on Desk Set Junked (g) Service Loss on Junked Desk Set 15 (h) General Expense--9.0jS x --1-- 50 (i) Uncollectibles--Loss 1% of___________ $1.80 (j) License Expense 1.5% on $1.80 minus 01.8 4.57 (k) Property____________________________ 8.0 x --------- 1.78 5.82 (l) Gross Receipts Tax__________.1.0 x --------- 5.94 .57 28.3^ 32.0 54.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2,7 1.8 2.7 6.9 ,_ _ m . (m) State Income Tax 1.80 minus 1.287 plus 28.3 @ 4% (n) Federal Income Tax .796 minus .032 @ 13.75% Sub total 128.7 3.2 10.7 Total 142.6ji The above finding of $1.43 by the Commission as the to tal additional annual charge for hand set over desk set requires the following comm ents: On th e item of uncollectibles i t is n o ted th a t one per cent, would probably be an excessive percentage under norm al business conditions. The allowance for property ta x is based on 100 p e r cent, value while actu a lly tax es are assessed an d p aid on a much lower basis. Incom e taxes are paid on net income and while we allow these items the Commission is n o t to be understood as com m itting itself to th e proposition th a t such taxes should be passed on to the subscriber. 4 T he item w ith respect to licensee revenue is allowed because it is presented for determ ination in this inquiry, however, the Commission does not commit itself to the justness and reasonableness of the percentage set up by the Bell Company insofar as it may relate to the general rate structure. The Commission thinks the only justification for an additional charge for the French type or hand set telephone is to be found in the additional cost for providing th a t service. The Commission does not agree th a t this type of telephone is a luxury, b u t regards it as a distinct im provem ent in the developm ent of telephone service, and one which the public is entitled to have a t reasonable cost. Based upon the findings of the Commission, hereinabove set out, and after con sideration of all the evidence, facts and circumstances adduced and of record we are of th e opinion th a t a m onthly charge of fifteen cents as an additional charge for a hand set is ju s t and reasonable and provides adequate com pensation to all telephone companies operating in the State of Georgia for this additional service, and therefore an order should be m ade accordingly an d th a t O ctober 20th, 1933, be th e effective d ate hereof. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERV ICE COM MISSION, This the fifth d a y ^ i O ctober, 1933. J ud P. Wilhoit, J. M. F orrester, C hairm an, Secretary. ORDER O ctober 5, 1933. TO ALL TELEPHO N E COM PANIES OPERATING IN TH E STATE OF GEORGIA: You, and each of you, are hereby advised th a t th e Commission, Under its rule nisi issued A ugust 3, 1933, has considered th e ex tra charge for French ty p e or h and set tele phones and has directed th a t an order be entered effective October 20, 1933, allowing a charge of fifteen cents m onthly for such extra service, until further order of the Com mission. I t is therefore ordered th a t each of you file tariffs w ith th e Commission in accordance V) therew ith, effective October 20, 1933. BY ORDER OF GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. ORDER O ctober 6, 1933. TO ALL TELEPHO N E COM PANIES OPERATING IN TH E STATE OF GEORGIA: You, and each of you, are hereby advised th a t the Commission, under its rule nisi issued A ugust 3, 1933, has considered ex tra charges made by th e companies under its jurisdiction for the use of subscribers' station equipment. I t appears th a t some of th e telephone companies are making an extra charge for use of the desk set type of telephones, and th e Commission being of th e opinion th a t such charge is n o t justifiable, regarding as it does th a t th e desk set ty p e is sta n d a rd equipm ent, it is, T H E R E F O R E O R D E R E D : T h a t effective October 20, 1933, all extra charges for desk set type telephones by companies operating in Georgia, be, and the same are hereby elim inated, an d all com panies m aking such charges are directed to file tariffs in accordance herew ith . BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. W ilhoit, Chairm an. OPINION ON INSTALLATION CHARGE, By the Commission: T he Commission on A ugust 3, 1933, issued a rule nisi directed to all telephone companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why telephone rates, both local and long distance, should not be reduced, and why extra charges should not be reduced or eliminated. T he rule nisi was made returnable on Septem ber 12, 1933, on which d ate hearings began. Answers were filed by a large m ajority of th e m ajor companies and testim ony taken by the Commission pursuant to the rule nisi. These hearings are still in progress on the general rate structures and miscellaneous charges. On the hearings the companies assumed the burden of establishing the justness and reasonableness of rates and charges a t the present tim e and under prevailing economic conditions. T he hearings on th e general ra te stru ctu re and miscellaneous charges have vv 'labjen com pleted, and additional tim e will be required to com plete th a t record an d m ake a finding thereon. The Commission has had before it the representatives of many of the municipalities of th e State, together w ith telephone subscribers who testified as witnesses, protesting th e service connection charges, as well as th e prevailing ra te level. These witnesses were representative business men of the various localities and they have uniformly testified to the opinion th a t th e service connection, or in stallation charge, of $3.00 now in effect was retarding the return of old subscribers and the addition of new ones for telephone service. The Commission does not regard the telephone as an absolute necessity, generally speaking; however, its use is so common in th e business and social relations of th e people, and th e desire for it, when available a t reasonable rates, so general, th a t th e Commission feels th a t an encouraged use will not only be beneficial to th e public, b u t will increase the revenue of the Companies, accordingly w ith th e increased use. From the evidence before us above referred to, the Commission feels th a t th e deure for such service on th e p a rt of th e public is in reality a dem and. I t fu rth e r feels th a t the obligation rests upon it to use the regulatory powers conferred upon it by law to see th a t th is dem and is m et in keeping w ith th e ability of th e public to pay ju s t and reasonable charges adequate to meet the expense incurred for each individual as and when he desires the benefits of the service. T he initial connection charge of $3.00 is intended to cover th e cost of, (1) th e in stallation and connection of a " new u n it of service," an d (2) " la te r discontinuing th a t u n it of service." Evidence before th e Commission is th a t th e charge has been effective since M arch 1921 w ith o u t change an d th e tariffs on file in th e office of th e Commission verify the statem ent. T he installation of a new u n it of service is of m utual benefit; th e Com pany gets a subscriber and th e subscriber th e service. The rem oval of th e u n it is of no benefit to th e Com pany and this cost is properly assignable to th e subscriber. E v id en ce before th e Commission is th a t actual physical installation and disconnection, including labor, m aterial and equipm ent, is a Capitalized Cost Charge. I t therefore appears th a t th e present service connection charge includes only non-capitalized cost, principally clerical. I t appears a t this tim e th a t th e tren d is decidedly tow ard resum ption of connections an d addition of new subscribers, an d it is n o t unreasonable to assum e th a t th e service connection charge will have a bearing in accelerating or retard in g this trend. I t is also reasonable to conclude th a t as this tren d progresses disconnections will decrease, and therefore, th e tenure of statio n equipm ent in one locality will be lengthened. This con dition, in our opinion, will necessarily result in increased revenues to the Companies, restore to service idle equipm ent and increase the value of the service to the public w ithout material increase in operating costs. 6 The Commission has given due consideration to all of the evidence adduced on the hearing, both oral and documentary, and all the facts and circumstances incident to, or connected with, the service connection charge, and has reached the conclusion th a t th e record on this subject is now sufficient to enable th e Commission to determ ine a ju st and reasonable charge for this service. F or th e reasons stated th e Commission is of th e opinion, and so finds, th a t th e present service connection charge of $3.00 for individual line, or p a rty line, m ain stations is not justified. The Commission finds th a t a proper service connection charge for individual line, or p a rty line, main stations is th e sum of $2.00 which is adequate for this service, and th a t an order issue in accordance herew ith, effective N ovem ber 1, 1933. T he Commission finds th a t it is ju s t and reasonable th a t a change of desk set or wall set equipm ent to hand set type equipm ent shall be deemed and considered as a service connection and the charge for service connection herein fixed shall apply. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PU BLIC SERV ICE COM M ISSION, This, th e 20th day of October, 1933. J M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. W ilh o it, C hairm an. ORDER October 21, 1933. TO ALL TELEPH O N E COMPANIES OPERATING IN TH E STATE OF GEORGIA: You, and each of you, are hereby advised th a t the Commission, under its rule nisi issued A ugust 3, 1933, has considered th e service connection charge for individual line, and p arty line, main stations for a new unit of service, and has directed th a t an order be en tered effective N ovem ber 1, 1933, fixing said charge a t th e sum of $2.00; an d finding th a t a change of desk set or wall set equipm ent to hand set type equipm ent shall be deemed and considered as a service connection. I t is therefore ordered th a t each of you file tariffs w ith th e Commission in accordance th erew ith , effective N ovem ber 1, 1933. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. Jud P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. OPINION ON EXTRA EXCHANGE LIN E MILEAGE CHARGE By The Commission: The Commission in the course of its investigation under the rule nisi in the telephone cases has had evidence before it, both oral and in the form of exhibits, relating to non revenue producing charges th a t affect the public. These extra charges are n o t so in ter-related w ith each other or a general ra te structure as th a t they m ust be dealt w ith in a single general order, and it seems to the Commission th a t these m atters should be disposed of in a separate order. An extra exchange line mileage charge is collected m onthly from those subscribers who reside beyond a base ra te area. A base ra te area is an area having arbitrarily estab lished boundaries within which the distance factor does not enter into the exchange tariffs, and wherein all subscribers pay a uniform rate. 7 Outside this area subscribers are required to pay a monthly charge oyer and above exchange tariffs, predicated upon distance from the boundary of the base rate area and measured in fractions of a mile. The Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company uses th e quarter mile u nit; other companies vary in the fractional unit. The m onthly charge increased proportionately with the unit distance from the boundary of the base rate area. T he tariffs for th e several companies operating in Georgia v ary in am ount. This is probably due to the fact th a t they have been established a t different times and under different conditions. T he Bell Com pany is th e only com pany th a t has given detailed evidence in justifica tion of its u n it charge which is 63(i m onthly per q u a rte r mile for an individual line; p ro rated to 32f! an d 16j respectively for stations on two p a rty and four p a rty lines. On this subject th e Bell Company introduced exhibit No. 64, as supplem ented by exhibit No. 107. E xhibit No. 64 p u rp o rts to set up in d etail original costs and annual charges for th e construction and the operation of a typical line outside a base rate area. T he set up of figures used by th e Bell C om pany in its exhibits Nos. 64 and 107 ap p aren tly fix th e extra Cost for service on which th e charge is based a t 64 fi per q u arter mile. The Commission has checked the items set forth in these exhibits, and the evidence in the record as to prices of labor, material, etc., and as shown by the exhibit hereto attached, finds th a t th e actual cost for this extra exchange line mileage charge does not exceed 38j per q u arter mile per m onth. T here are five companies operating in Georgia who have filed tariffs showing a mileage charge. In the course of our investigation of this charge we have examined the comparable charges for this service in oth er sections, and we find th e Bell C om pany charge of 63j to be the highest of any as shown by available records. After considering the evidence before the Commission, including the figures set forth in the exhibit hereto attached, and after a careful consideration of all of the per tin e n t facts before it on th is subject th e Commission is of th e opinion, an d so finds, th a t th e extra exchange line mileage charge ra te now in force is excessive, u n ju st an d un reasonable, and th a t th e said ex tra exchange line mileage charge ra te should be 40 per m onth per quarter mile, for individual line service, and prorated for two and four p a rty line service to 20j and lOji per m onth respectively, which ra te th e Commission finds to be reasonable ju st and com m ensurate with the cost of rendering said service and w ith the reasonable value of said service to the public, and th a t an order issue in accordance herew ith, effective December 1, 1933, directed to all companies operating in the State of Georgia. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM MISSION, This, the 17th day of N ovem ber, 1933. J. M. F orrestek, Secretary. J ud P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. ORDER N ovem ber 17, 1933. TO SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, BROOKLET TELEPH O N E COMPANY, BROOKLET Ge o r g ia , t h e d a l t o n t e l e p h o n e c o m p a n y , d a l t o n , Ge o r g ia AND W ESTERN CAROLINA TELEPHO N E COMPANY, FRANKLIN, NORTH CAROLINA: 8 You, and each of you, are hereby advised th a t the Commission under its rule nisi issued A ugust 3, 1933, has considered th e e x tr a e x c h a n g e lin e m ile a g e c h a rg e , as shown by th e tariffs on file w ith th e Commission, and in effect in Georgia. T he Commission finds th a t a reasonable an d ju s t charge for this service is 40ji per m onth per q u arter mile, for individual line service, prorated for two and four party line service to 20 and 10j per m onth respectively, which am ounts th e Commission finds com m ensurate w ith th e cost of rendering th e service an d w ith th e reasonable value of th e service to th e public. I t is therefore ordered th a t each of you file tariffs w ith th e Commission in accordance therew ith, effective Decem ber 1, 1933. BY O RDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud p> W il h o it , C hairm an. OPINION GENERAL EXCHANGE RATES N ovem ber 17, 1933. By The Commission: T he Commission on A ugust 3, 1933, issued a rule nisi directed to all telephone companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why telephone rates, both local and long distance, should not be reduced and why extra charges should not be reduced a n d /o r elim inated. T he rule was m ade retu rn ab le on Septem ber 12, 1933, on which d ate th e Commission commenced its investigation. Answers were filed by a large m ajority of the Companies and the hearings were continued from day to day lasting oyer a period of approxim ately six weeks. T he record m ade is volum inous, consisting of both oral and docum entary evidence. The Commission dispatched to each of the telephone companies a questionnaire requesting information as to the name of the company, location of exchange and toll station, value of property, assessed taxable value, rates charged, annual income, annual expense and other information. The investigation was general, covering all phases of telephone rates and charges in the S tate of Georgia as contem plated by the rule nisi. The Commission has considered all of the evidence, facts and circumstances to gether w ith records and inform ation pertaining to th e subject m atter of th e rule nisi in its files, and upon such consideration th e Commission finds th a t th e rates and charges for telephone service by th e various companies now in force in this S tate are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t said rates and charges should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t reasonable rates and charges for said service by the various telephone companies furnishing same in this State should be as set forth in the exhibit attached hereto, which rates and charges it finds to be reasonable, just and comm ensurate with the cost of rendering said service and commensurate with the reasonable value of said service to the public, and th a t said rates and charges will afford adequate compensation to the companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herew ith issue to become effective D ecem ber 1, 1933. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERV ICE COM M ISSION, This, th e 17th day of N ovem ber, 1933. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. W ilhoit, C hairm an, 9 ORDER N ovem ber 17, 1933. TO ALL TELEPHO N E COMPANIES OPERATING IN TH E STATE OF GEORGIA: You, and each of you, are hereby advised th a t th e Commission has on this date made its finding wherein it finds th a t th e schedule of rates and charges for telephone service in the State of Georgia now in force is unreasonable, unjust and excessive, and has further found th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, which said rates and charges as shown in said schedule have been found by the Commission to be reasonable, ju st and commensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service and commensurate with the reasonable value of said service to the public, and you are, therefore, ordered and directed to file tariffs w ith this Commission in accord ance therew ith, effective D ecember 1, 1933. IT IS FU R T H E R O RD ERED : T h at nothing herein shall be construed as affecting th e orders heretofore passed by th is Commission on O ctober 5, 1933, fixing th e ra te for hand sets or French type telephones, or the order of the Commission passed on October 6, 1933, m aking desk stands stan d ard telephone equipm ent, or th e order of th e Com mission passed on O ctober 21, 1933, fixing th e special installation charge and rem oval charge, or th e order of th e Commission passed on N ovem ber 17, 1933, fixing th e extra exchange line mileage charge, b u t all of said orders shall rem ain of full force and effect. Subject to the further order of the Commission. BY O RD ER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION, This, th e 17th day of N ovem ber, 1933. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. All the rates prescribed in these orders were p u t into effect by th e various telephone companies in th e S tate on Decem ber 1, 1933, except th e following companies which applied for and obtained injunctions against the orders in the D istrict C ourt of the U nited States for the N orthern D istrict of Georgia: Georgia Continental Telephone Company Southeastern Telephone Company Central Telephone Company Douglas Telephone Company D alton Telephone Company Consolidated Telephone Company Chatsworth Telephone Company Statesboro Telephone Company Cairo Telephone Company Thomaston Telephone Company RAILROAD F reight R ates: The Commission found a generally unsettled and unsatisfactory condition as to class and commodity freight rates in trastate w ithin the State of Georgia. The prevailing rate level was substantially the same as th a t established during Federal control. The Commission further found th a t due to com petition brought about by m otor vehicle transportation, the rate structure had practically lost all uniformity because of the estab lishm ent of so-called tru ck com petitive rates. These rate s were also lacking in uniform ity in th a t some were point to point and some were comm odity rates, while still others were 10 based on mileage scale. In view of th is situation, th e Commission on A ugust 17, 1933, issued its rule nisi directed to all rail carriers in Georgia to show cause why class and commodity rates between points in Georgia, which were higher th an the rates of July 1, 1913, should n o t be reduced to th e rates in effect on Ju ly 1, 1913. T his rule nisi was later am ended on Septem ber 27, 1933, an d a scale of m axim um class rates was prescribed by the Commission and the carriers were required to show cause why this scale should not be p u t into effect for in trastate traffic by rail in Georgia. Investigation under this nisi was still in progress a t the end of th e year. Passenger Fares: On application of the carriers in Southeastern territory the Interstate Commerce Commission granted permission for an experim ental rate of three cents per mile one way, in Pullm an cars; round trip for fifteen days a t two cents per mile, good in Pullm an cars, and one and one-half cents per mile one way, good in day coaches. This order of th e In te rsta te Commerce Commission was m ade effective Decem ber 1, 1933, in terstate, and was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission for application intrastate within the State of Georgia. Regardless of the result of the experimental rates the Com mission will make its own investigation as to passenger rates. T allulah Falls Railroad: An application was filed with the In terstate Commerce Commission by the Receiver of the Tallulah Falls Railway Company for a certificate of convenience and necessity to abandon this railroad. The Commission made a thorough investigation of the situation as it related to this road and appeared before the Interstate Commerce Commission in objection to such an order. These objections, however, were not sustained, and the Interstate Commerce Commission ordered the certificate granted. In this connection, however, it is interesting to relate th a t th e Federal Judge under whom th e receivership proceedings were pending has so far refused to pass an order of sale for this property. This we are advised is due to th e indication of increased earnings of th e railroad property. ELECTRIC LIGHT. On A ugust 30, 1933, th e Commission issued its rule nisi directed to all electric lig h t and power companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why the prevailing rates for domestic and commercial electric service should not be reduced and all extra charges for service, by w hatever name called, should not be reduced and/or eliminated. Investigations under this rule nisi were not concluded within the year. The following orders, however, were passed by the Commission in connection with electric rates to become effective as shown therein: N um ber D ocket 54-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION R e : G en era l R ev isio n of all D omestic and C ommercial R ates in G eorgia. O PIN IO N GEORGIA PO W ER CO. By The Commission: T he Commission on A ugust 30, 1933, issued a rule nisi directed to all electric light and power companies operating under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Public Service 11 Commission to show cause why the prevailing rates for domestic and commercial electric service should not be reduced and all extra charges for service by whatsoever name they are called should not be reduced and/or eliminated. The Georgia Power Company was notified to appear on November 7th, when it filed its answer and a hearing was commenced. D uring th e hearing th e Georgia Public Service Commission formulated a schedule of rates which it deemed to be fair, just and reasonable and comm ensurate w ith the cost of furnishing said service, and the Georgia Power Company agreed to accept said rates effective on bills rendered on meter readings made on or after Ja n u a ry 1, 1934, for consum ption of electric current wholly w ithin th e month of December. The Commission having thus obtained its objective, an order will be passed directing the Georgia Power Com pany to file a complete schedule of rates in accordance w ith th e rates fixed as hereinabove set out and w ith the effective date as above set forth. When the Georgia Power Company has complied with said order and has filed its schedule of rates in accordance therewith, an order will be passed by this Commission dissolving the rule nisi as to th a t company. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this 29th day of November, 1933. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. W il h o it , C hairm an. ORDER DOM ESTIC SERVICE. Nov. 29th, 1933. TO THE GEORGIA POW ER COMPANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it finds th a t th e schedules of rates and charges for electric power for domestic consum ption now in force in the S tate of Georgia are unreasonable and excessive, and has further found th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance w ith the schedules hereto attached, said rates to become effective on bills rendered on meter readings made on or after January 1, 1934, for consum ption of electric current wholly w ithin th e m onth of December, subject to the further order of this Commission, and you are, T H E R E F O R E O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Com mission in accordance therewith. BY ORDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. Wilhoit, C hairm an. GEORGIA POW ER COMPANY RESIDENTIAL SERVICE S C H E D U L E " A-2 and A-3." (To replace present Schedule " A -l" ) 1 1 5 // 230 Volts, Single. Phase A pplicability: Applicable on the basis provided herein for all territory served by the existing dis tribution lines of the Company. 12 Residential lighting, cooking, heating, refrigeration, and incidental power not to exceed 3 H. P. served through a single m eter in each individual residence, also hall and basement lights in apartm ent houses when served through a separate meter. Any service used for commercial purposes such as central un it refrigeration systems and other apartm ent house power, and dwellings accommodating more th an four paying guests will not be served under this schedule. " I m m e d ia te " R a te "A -2" F irst 25 K W H, per m onth....... ................................................... ....................7.22ff per K W H N ext 35 K W H , per m onth..... ................................... ......... ......v. 5.55j per K W H N ext 140 K W H, per m onth....... ............................ ............................... ...... 3.33jf per K W H Over 200 K W H, per m onth.............................................................................. 1.67?f per K W H "In d u c e m e n t" R a te "A-3" F irst Next Next N ext Over 15 K W H , or less, per m o n th $1.11 50 K W H, per m o n th.................. ........... :........................ ......................5.00ji per K W H 135 K W H, per m o n th.................... ............. ............................................ 2.22 ff per K W H 500 K W H, per m onth....... ...... .....................................................__ ___ 1.39^ per K W H 700 K W H , per m onth.... ................................. .................... ............... ...1,1 Iff p er K W H A pplication o f R ate P la n : A base bill will be established for each customer for each m onth of the year in the following manner: (a) For present customers, the base bill will be th e kilow att-hour use for th e same m onth of th e year preceding th e d a te when th is ra te becomes effective, figured a t R ate A-2. (b) For custom ers connected during th e 12 m onths preceding th e d ate when this ra te becomes effective, and for new custom ers th e ir first 12 m onths of m onthly use figured a t R ate " A-2" shall constitute th e base. (c) W henever R ate A-2 results in a bill equal to or less th a n th e Base Bill, th e cus tom er will be billed on A-2. (d) W henever R ate A-3 results in a bill greater th a n th e Base Bill, th e custom er will be billed on A-3. (e) W henever R a te A-2 would give a bill greater th a n th e Base Bill and R a te A-3 would give a bill less th an the Base Bill, then the customer will be billed the Base Bill for th a t m onth. No bill on th e " Inducem ent" R a te can be less th a n th e Base Bill and no bill on R ate A-2 will be rendered for an am ount greater th a n th e Base Bill. (f) E very custom er's base bill shall be reduced five per cent a t the expiration of th e 12 m onths ending Jan u ary 1, 1935, and th e re su lta n t base bill shall be reduced an o th er five per cent (5%) a t th e expiration of 24 m onths, ending Jan u ary 1, 1936. On and after Jan u a ry 1, 1937, th e " Inducem ent" R a te shall apply to every residential customer. M inim um M onthly Charge: $1.11 (gross) per m onth. Prom pt Paym ent D iscounts: All bills paid w ithin ten days from p resentation are subject to a discount of 10 per cent. Contract Period: One year. December 1, 1933. OPINION SAVANNAH ELECTRIC & POW ER COMPANY By The Commission: The Commission on A ugust 30, 1933, issued a rule nisi directed to all electric light and power companies operating under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Public Service 13 Commission to show cause why the prevailing rates for domestic and electric service should not be reduced, and all extra charges for service by whatsoever name they are called should not be reduced and/or eliminated. The Savannah Electric & Power Company was notified to appear on November 7th, when it did appear, and was excused until further notified by the Commission for a hearing. Before a hearing was scheduled and after an informal investigation, the Georgia Public Service Commission form ulated a schedule of rates for domestic electric service, which was deemed to be fair, ju st and reasonable and com m ensurate w ith th e cost of furnishing said service, and the Savannah Electric & Power Company agreed to accept said rates effective on bills rendered on m eter readings m ade on or after Jan u ary 1, 1934, for consum ption of electric cu rren t wholly w ithin th e m onth of December 1933. The Commission having th u s obtained its objective, an order will be passed directing the Savannah Electric & Power Com pany to file a complete schedule of rates in accordance w ith the rates fixed as hereinafter set out, and w ith th e effective date as above set forth. The Savannah Electric & Power Company has complied w ith said order, and has filed its schedule of rates in accordance therew ith. Therefore, th e said rule nisi is hereby dissolved. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, This th e 20th day of December, 1933. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. ORDER J xtd P . W il h o it , C hairm an. DOM ESTIC SERVICE December 20, 1933. TO THE SAVANNAH ELECTRIC & POWER COMPANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein i t finds th a t th e schedules of rates and charges for electric power for domestic consumption now in force in the territory served by the Savannah Electric & Power Company, are unreasonable and excessive, and has further found th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance w ith th e schedules hereto attach ed , said rates to become effective on bills rendered on m eter readings made on or a fter Jan u a ry 1, 1934, for consum ption of electric current wholly w ithin th e m onth of December, subject to further order of this Com mission, and you are, T H E R E F O R E O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance therewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. SAVANNAH ELEC TRIC & POW ER CO. RESIDENTIAL SERVICE SCHEDULE " A" A pplicability: Available to all residential customers served by the Company by its existing dis tribution lines, except as otherwise provided herein. For residential lighting, cooking, heating, refrigeration and other small residential power, also hall and basement lighting in apartm ent houses when served through a separate meter. 14 Any service used for commercial purposes such as central unit refrigeration systems and other apartm ent house power, and dwellings accommodating more than four paying guests will not be served under this schedule. F irst Next Next Over RATES 30 K W H , per month....... ........ 1_______ _______________________ 8.33(1 per K W H 30 K W H, per m onth..... ............................ ............................................7.22(i per K W H 140 K W H, per m onth____________ ________ _____ ____________ 3.33(5 per K W H 200 K W H , per m onth....... ........................................... .......................... __2.22ff per K W H M inim um M onthly Charges $1.11 (gross) per m onth. Prom pt P aym ent D iscount: All bills paid w ithin ten days from presentation are subject to a discount of 10 per cent. C ontract Period: One year. FOR SEASONAL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AT SAVANNAH BEACH T he abqve rates will apply plus 25% where service is rendered for less th a n th e contract period. December 20, 1933, SAVANNAH ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY O ptional Off Peak W ater-H eating Rate. Schedule A -l. Class o f Service Any residential customer using electric water heating. Energy Charge For th e first 30 K W H per m onth 2.22ff per K W H For all over 30 K W H per m onth 1.1 Iff per K W H M inim um Charge: $1.11 per m onth. Prom pt P aym ent Discount: Above rate subject to 10% discount on all bills paid on or before 10 days after D ate of Bill. The w ater heater service shall be supplied through a separate meter and no other appliance shall be connected to this meter. L im itations A. W ater H e a tin g E q u ip m e n t. , T his ra te is lim ited to a tw o-unit type of w ater heater, of construction approved by the Company. Each unit shall be non-inductive and shall be controlled by a separate therm ostat. The upper unit and therm ostat are located J of tank capacity below the top of tank; the lower u n it and therm ostat near the bottom of tank. Per gallon of tan k capacity, the connected load shall be as follows: P lain ty p e w ater heaters: Lower u n it approxim ately 20 w atts; upper unit, 30 w atts. W ater heaters of special construction to deliver hot water to top of tank with minimum mixing; Low er u n it approxim ately 25 w atts; upper unit, 50 w atts. The equipment shall be such th a t the capacity of the heating units connected at any one time shall not exceed the connected load of the upper unit. 15 B. H ours of Use. T he lower u n it only is controlled by a tim e switch restricting th e use of c u rre n t for th is u n it to hours 9:00 A. M. to 11:30 A. M .; 2:00 P. M. to 5:30 P. M .; a n d 9:00 P. M. to 7:00 A. M .; a n d /o r such other hours as th e Com pany m ay specify. (The to ta l hours of use m ay not be less th a n 15 per day). December 20, 1933. The orders with reference to electric light service shown above include only domestic or residential service. The effect of these orders will not become known for som e tim e a s th ey begin with m eter readings as of Jan u ary 1, 1934. An investigation of th e Georgia Power & Light Company which serves the Southern portion of the State was under way a t th e end of the year, as well as other small companies. MOTOR TRANSPORTATION. The Commission has administered the motor vehicle laws in the in terest of the general public to as great an extent as possible. In view of th e com petitive situation between motor carriers for hire and other forms of transportation, a thorough study of this form of transportation and its rates and services seems to be dem anded. CONCLUSION. Studies made by th e Commission over th e period ending December 31, 1933, indicate th a t the general level of all utility rates in Georgia has remained unchanged over a long p erio d of years. A pparently there has been little, if any, effort on th e p a rt of th e utilities to reduce rates in keeping with the general fall in commodity prices which the consumer has experienced. Service to the public a t reasonable rates, has, and will be, th e objective of t he Georgia Public Service Commission. Respectfully Submitted, J ttd P. W ilhoxt, C hairm an. Geo. L. G oode T hos. K . D avis J. B. D a niel B en T . H uiet 16 PUBLIC UTILITIES OPERATING UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS UTILITIES Telephone Companies: Andersonville Telephone Company, B. O. Holloway, Andersonville, Georgia. Arnold, N. D. Telephone Company, H. H. Hardin, Pres., Forsyth, Georgia. Bartow Telephone Company, Mrs. Ella D. Archer, Owner, Bartow, Georgia. Blakeley Telephone Company, Mrs. Mattie Powell, Pres. & Gen. Mgr., Blakeley, Georgia. Bowman Telephone Company, A. G. Brown, Owner, Bowman, Georgia. Brooklet Telephone Company, J. L. Matthews, Mgr., Statesboro, Georgia. Broxton Telephone Company, W. M. King, Owner, Broxton, Georgia. Bntler Telephone Company, (Public Service Tel. Co.) Mrs. Bessie Bond, Owner, 617 West Adams St., Macon, Georgia. Byron Telephone Company, O. B. Lineburger, Owner, Byron, Georgia. . Cairo Telephone Company, J. W. Southall, Owner Cairo, Georgia. Canton Telephone Company, A. A. Fincher, Gen. Mgr. Canton, Georgia. Central Telephone Company of Ga., W. E. Glisson,' Gen. Mgr., 215 East Park Avenue, Tallahassee, Fla. Chatsworth Telephone Company, J. L. Kirk, Pres., Moultrie, Georgia. Chester Telephone Company, W. H. Floyd, Sr. Mgr.. Chester, Georgia. Chickamauga Telephone Company, A. E. Yates, Owner, Flintstone, Georgia. Clermont Telephone Company, Miss Hattie Chandler, Owner, Clermont, Georgia. Climax Telephone Company, Ben Wright, Owner,Whigham, Georgia. Collins Telephone Company, U. S. Williams, Owner, Pembroke, Georgia. Commerce Telephone Company, W. A. Echols, Mgr.,_ Commerce, Georgia. Consolidated Telephone Company, J. L. Kirk, Pres., Moultrie, Georgia. Crawfordville Telephone Company, J. C. Rhodes, Owner, Crawfordville, Georgia. Culloden Telephone Company, (Public Service Tel. Co.) Mrs. Bessie Bond, Owner, 617 West Adams St., Macon, Georgia. Dahlonega Telephone Company, R. C. Meaders, Owner, Dahlonega, Georgia. Dalton Telephone Company, J. L. Kirk, Pres., Moultrie, Georgia. Danielsville & Comer Tel. Co., Gerald Birchmore, Mgr., Comer, Georgia. Danville Telephone Company, W. G. Spears, Owner &Mgr.( Jeffersonville, Ga. Darien Telephone Company, Mrs. Mary Jackson Collier, Owner, Odum, Georgia. Davisboro Telephone Company, Mrs. J; E. Woodbury, Owner, Davisboro, Georgia. Denton Telephone Company, Dr. E. A. Lambert, Owner, Denton, Georgia. Dixie Telephone Company, C. L. Crawley, Owner, Milner, Georgia. Doles Telephone Company, W. R. Spillers & K. R. Giddens, Mgrs., Doles, Georgia. Douglas Telephone Company, J. L. Kirk, Pres., Moultrie, Georgia. Dudley Telephone Company, F. Cannon, Owner, Dudley, Georgia. Duluth Telephone Company, J. S. Brown, Owner, Duluth, Georgia. Effingham Realty & Investment Co., Geo W. Fetzer, Jr., Pres. & Gen. Mgr., 16--18 Commercial Building, Savannah, Georgia. 17 Empire Telephone Company, Mrs. E. O. Ethridge, Mgr., Empire, Georgia. Fairmount Telephone Company, H. D. Lacey, Owner, Fairmount, Georgia. Farmers Telephone Company, It. K. Rahn, Mgr., Springfield, Georgia. Farmers Telephone Exchange, J. R. Redfern, Owner, Warthen, Georgia. Gay, E. C. Telephone Company, E. C. Gay, Owner, Matthews, Georgia. Georgia Continental Telephone Co., W. O. Randall, Gen. Mgr., Sumter, S. C. Georgia Telephone Company, Herbert C. Tinker, Pres. & Gen. Mgr., Hiawassee, Georgia. Glennville Telephone Company,' C- R. Sikes, Owner, Glennville, Georgia. Glenwood Telephone Company, C. R. Stanford, Owner, Glenwood, Georgia. Gordon Telephone Company, Mrs. J. J. Brooks, Gordon, Georgia. Gray Telephone Company, C. S. Bryant, Owner, Gray, Georgia. Haddock Telephone Company, D. T. Haddock Owner, Haddock, Georgia. Hampton Telephone Company, H. M. Barnett, Owner, Hampton, Georgia. Harlem Telephone Company, W. F. Hardy, Owner & Mgr., Harlem, Georgia. Hart County Telephone Company, F. P. Linder, Mgr.,' Hartwell, Georgia. Hawkinsville Telephone Company, W. A. Jennings, Pres. & Gen. Mgr., Hawkinsville, Ga. Hepzibah Telephone Company, fi. L.Murphy, Owner, Hepzibah, Ga., Hinesville Telephone Company, B. Parker, Mgr., Ludowici, Georgia. Hiram Telephone Company, Mrs; Nellie Shipp, Mgr., Hiram, Georgia. Homerville Telephone Company, W. E. Musgrove & R. E. Wilson, Mgrs., Homerville, Georgia. Hoschton Telephone Company, Judge R. B. Russell, Sr.,JPres., Braselton, Georgia. Ideal Telephone Company, J. R. Weeks, Owner, Ideal, Georgia. Interstate Telephone Company, J. Smith Lanier, Pres., West Point, Georgia. Interstate Telephone Company, T. J. Barrow, Owner, Attapulgus, Georgia. Jasper Telephone Company, A. A. Fincher, Owner, Canton, Georgia. Jeffersonville Telephone Company, W. G. Spears, Owner, Jeffersonville, Georgia. Kennedy Telephone System, Jerome Kennedy, Owner, Dexter, Georgia. Kite Telephone Company, J. M. Neal, Mgr.` Kite, Georgia. Lenox Telephone Company, J. F. Brady, Mgr., Lenox, Georgia. Leslie--DeSoto Telephone Company, E. R. Jordan, Mgr., Ellaville, Georgia. Ludowici Telephone Company, Mrs. Katie Parker, Owner, Ludowici, Georgia. Luthersville Telephone Company, F. M. Bryant, Gen. Mgr., Luthersville, Georgia. Macon County Telephone Company, Mrs. Nellie C. Henderson, Owner, Oglethorpe, Georgia. Madison Telephone Company, L. C. Seagrove, Route No. 1, Hull, Georgia. Midville Telephone Company, Mrs. Sallie Tersons, Owner, Midville, Georgia. Milledgeville Telephone & Telegraph Co., J. T. King, Sr. Mgr., Milledgeville, Georgia. Mutual Telephone Company, James S. Peters, Manchester, Georgia. Nelson--Ball Ground Telephone Co., J. H. Cook, Owner, Ball Ground, Georgia. Newton Telephone Company, R. J. Griffin, Mgr., Newton, Georgia. Oconee Telephone Company, W. T. Brightwell, Maxeys, Georgia. 18 Odum Telephone Company, C. Moody, Owner, Odum, Georgia. Omega Telephone Company, C. J. Swain, Mgr., Omega, Georgia. Parker Telephone Company, L. Parker, Owner, Folkston, Georgia. Pearley Telephone Company, C. R. Stanford, Owner, Glenwood, Georgia. Pembroke Telephone Company, U. S. Williams, Owner, Pembroke, Georgia. Pinehurst Telephone Company, Mrs. J. W. Broxton, Owner, Unadilla, Georgia. Plains Telephone Company, A. C. Murray, Owner, Plains, Georgia. Reynolds Telephone Company, (Public Service Tel. Co.) Mrs. Bessie Bond, Owner, 617 West Adams Street, Macon, Georgia. Ringgold Telephone Company, J. E. Evitt, Owner, Ringgold, Georgia. Roberta Telephone Company, (Public Service Telephone Co.) Mrs. Bessie Bond, Owner, 617 West Adams Street, Macon, Georgia. Sandy Cross Telephone Company, Mrs. F. C. Stevens, Route No. 1, Carlton, Georgia. Savannah Valley Telephone Company, Geo. D. Perry, Receiver, Savannah, Georgia. St. Marys & Kingsland Telephone Co., J. F. Bailey, Jr., Mgr., St. Marys, Georgia. Seminold Telephone Company, E. R. Jordan, Owner, Ellaville, Georgia. Simpson Telephone Company, William Simpson, Owner, Trenton, Georgia. Soperton Telephone Company, 0 . M. Denton, M^r., Soperton, Georgia. Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co., T. Barton Baird, Georgia Manager, Atlanta, Georgia. Southeastern Telephone Company of Ga., W. E. Glisson, Gen. Mgr., 215 East Park Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida. Standard Telephone Company, M. C. York, Manager, Clarksville, Georgia. Statesboro Telephone Company, J. L. Mathews, Pres., Statesboro, Georgia. Tarrytown Telephone Company, C. W. Beckworth, Mgr., Tarrytown, Georgia. Taylorsville Telephone Company, G. O. Lumpkin, Owner, Taylorsville, Georgia. Telephone Service Company, H. A. Chichester, Receiver, Summerville, Georgia. Thomaston Telephone & Telegraph Company, W. M. New, Pres., Thomaston, Georgia. Toccoa Electric Power Company, (Tel. Division) J. C, Guild, Jr., Pres., Power Building, Chattanooga, Tenn. The Trion Company, J. E. Elliott, Trion, Georgia. Union Point Telephone Company, J. H. Darby, Mgr., White Plains, Georgia. Utelwico Telephone Company, C. L. Battle, Pres., Ellaville, Georgia. Vienna Telephone Company, . W. M. Turton, Mgr. & Owner, Vienna, Georgia. Walker County Telephone Co., W. C. Burney, Pres.,' LaFayette, Georgia. Warwick Telephone Company, H. P. Gleaton, Owner, Warwick, Georgia. Waverly Hall Telephone Company, Geo. T. Whisnant, Mgr., Waverly Hall, Georgia. Wayne Telephone Company, Mrs. Mary Jackson Collier, Owner, Odum, Georgia. Wayne Telephone Company, Mrs. Mary Jackson Collier, Owner, Screven, Georgia. Western Carolina Telephone Company, G. J. Johnston, Mgr., Franklin, N. C. Whigham Telephone Company, Ben Wright, Owner, Whigham, Georgia. White Plains Telephone. Company, J. H. Darby, Mgr., White Plains, Georgia. Wilkes Telephone Company, 0 . S. Dyson, Mgr., Washington, Georgia. Yatesville Telephone Company, J. J. Fincher, Mgr., Yatesville, Georgia. 19 Telegraph Companies: Postal Telegraph-Cable Company, Charles R. Rimpo, Asst. Treas., 67 Broad St., New York, N. Y. Western Union Telegraph Company, H. W. Ladd, Gen. Auditor, 195 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Electric Utilities: Blairsville Electric Company, H. T. Patterson, Pres., Healey Building, Atlanta, Ga. Coastal Public Service Company, Guyton Newington Springfield Mr. R. A. Easterling, Guyton, Georgia. Georgia Power Company, Statewide System, Mr. Preston S. Arkwright, Pres., Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Power & Light Company, System in Southern part of Georgia, Mr. R. H. Ferguson, President, Valdosta, Georgia. Georgia Public Utilities Corp., St. Marys Plant Mr. W. W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Hiawassee River Power Corp., Mr. H. C. Tinker, President, Hiawassee, Georgia. Sardis Light Company, Mr. Geo. D. Perry, Receiver, Sardis, Georgia. Savannah Electric & Power Company, Mr. H. C. Foss, President, Savannah, Georgia. Toccoa Electric Power Company, System in Northern part of Georgia, Mr. J. C. Guild. Jr. Pres., Chattanooga, Tenn. Toccoa Falls Light & Power Co., Mr. E. P. Simpson, Pres., Toccoa, Ga. Gas Utilities: Atlanta Gas Light Company, Mr. W. W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Consumers Gas & Coke Company, Way cross Mr. W, W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Natural Gas Corp., Barnesville Calhoun Carrollton Cedartown Forsyth Milledgeville Newnan Rockmart Thomaston Mr. W. W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Power Company, Americus Plant Gas Light Company of Columbus Mr. Preston S. Arkwright, President Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Public Utilities Company, Augusta Plant Griffin Plant Rome Plant Mr. W. W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Public Utilities Corp., Athens Plant Brunswick Plant Mr. W. W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Macon Gas Company, Mr. W. W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Savannah Gas Company, Mr. J. A. P. Crisfield, President, Savannah, Ga. Valdosta Gas Company, Mr. W. W. Winter, Vice President, Atlanta, Georgia. Transportation. U tilities: Georgia Power Company, All Subsdiaries Mr. Preston S. Arkwright, President, Atlanta, Georgia. Savannah Electric & Power Company, Electric Railway & Buses Mr. H. C. Foss, President Savannah, Georgia. Toccoa Electric Power Company, Electric Railway Mr. J. C. Guild, Jr., President, Chattanooga, Tenn. COMMON CARRIERS UTILITIES Railroads: Alabama Great Southern R.R. Co. (The) T. H. Seay, Comptroller, Washington, D, C. Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast R. R. Co., A. D. Daniel, Auditor, Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta & West Point Railroad Co., W. H. Vincent, Comptroller, Atlanta, Georgia. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, W. D. McCaig, Comptroller, Wilmington, N. C. Bowdon Railway, Mrs. J. L. Lovvorn, President, Bowdon, Ga. Central of Georgia Railway Company, W. B. McKinstry, Comptroller, Savannah, Ga. Charleston & Western Carolina^ Rwy. Co., W. D. McCaig, General Auditor, . Wilmington, N. C. 20 Chattahoochee Valley Railway Company, Frederick Hewey, Treasurer, West Point, Georgia. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry. Co., G. F. Burkhardt, Auditor, Misc. Accts., Nashville, Tenn. Collins & Glennville Railroad Company, J. D. Bradley, President, Glennville, Ga. St. Marys Railroad, P. N. Holst, Auditor, Savannah, Ga. Elberton & Eastern Railroad Company, W. H. Vincent, Auditor, Atlanta, Ga. Flint River & Northeastern R.R. Co., I. C. Johnson, Auditor, Moultrie, Ga. Sandersville Railroad Company, B. J. Tarbutton, General Manager, Sandersville, Ga. Savannah & Atlanta Railway, J. L. Strong, Auditor & Treasurer, Savannah, Ga. Gainesville & Northwestern R.R. Co. (The) F. P. Lockhart, Auditor, Gainesville, Ga. Savannah & Statesboro Railway Co., H. W. Purvis, Receiver, Augusta, Ga. Gainesville Midland Railway, G. H. Purvis, Auditor Gainesville, Ga. Seaboard Air Line Railway, L. L. Enight, Auditor, Portsmouth, Va. Georgia & Florida Railroad, L. O. Todd, Auditor for Receivers, Augusta, Georgia. Shearwood Railroad, H. M. Robertson, Jr. Vice-Pres. & Gen. Mgr, Brooklet, Ga. Georgia, Ashburn, Sylvester & Camilla Ry. Co., I. C. Johnson, Auditor, Moultrie, Ga. South Georgia Railway Co., (The) C. F. Carter, Auditor, Quitman, Ga. Georgia Northern Railway Company, I. C. Johnson, Auditor, Moultrie, Ga. Southern Railway Company, T. H. Seay, Comptroller, Washington, D. C. Georgia Railroad, W. H. Vincent, Comptroller,. Atlanta, Ga. Statesboro Northern Railway, H. W. Purvis, President, Augusta, Ga. Georgia, Southern & Florida Railway Co., T. H. Seay, Comptroller, Washington, D. C. Georgia Southwestern & Gulf R. R. Co., J. H. Conley, Auditor, Albany, Georgia, Sylvania Central Railway Co., M. F. Harden, Auditor, Savannah, Ga. Talbotton Railway Company, B. E. Persons, Gen. Mgr., Talbotton, Ga. Greene County Railroad Co., A. H. Wilson, Auditor Monroe, Ga. Tallulah Falls Railway Co., H. L. Brewer, Auditor, Cornelia, Ga. Hartwell Railway Company, L. N. Adams, Auditor Hartwell, Ga. Lakeland Railway, G. C. Dougherty, Traffic Mgr., Valdosta, Ga. Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway, D. E. Hedges, Comptroller, Chattanooga, Tenn. Wadley Southern Railway, M. F. Harden, Auditor, Savannah, Ga. Lithonia & Arabia Mtn. Railway, S. H. Venable, Pres., Atlanta, Ga. Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad Co., M. F. Harden, Auditor, Savannah, Ga. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, A. J. Pharr, Comptroller, Louisville, Ey. Western & Atlantic Railroad, G. F. Burkhardt, Auditor of Misc. Accts, Nashville, Tenn. Louisville & Wadley Railroad Company, W. B. McEinstry,'Auditor, Savannah, Ga. Macon, Dublin & Savannah R.R. Co. L. L. Enight, General Auditor, Portsmouth, Va. Terminal Companies Atlanta Terminal Company, Mr. E. C. Becker, Auditor, Atlanta, Ga. Augusta & Summerville Railroad, J. J. O'Shea, Auditor, Augusta, Ga. Milstead Railroad Company, J. E . Boatwright, Secty.-Treas., LaGrange, Ga. Augusta Union Station (The) L J. O'Shea, Auditor, Augusta, Ga. 21 Georgia Midland Terminal Company. T. H. Seay, Comptroller, Washington, D. C. Savannah River Terminal, J. J. O'Shea, Auditor Augusta, Ga. [ Savannah Union Station Company, la. T. H. Seay, Comptroller, It Washington, D. C. Express Companies Railway Express Agency, Inc. J. F. Brizzie, Gen. Aud., Chattanooga, Tenn. Southeastern Express Company, Mr. J. E. O'Keefe, Auditor, 50 Pryor St., Atlanta, Ga. 22 62nd ANNUAL REPORT 1934 OF GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS JUD P. W ILHOIT, Chairman GEO. L. GOODE THOS. K. DAVIS BEN T. HUIET J. B. DANIEL JACK M. FORRESTER, Secretary 1935 STEIN PRINTING COMPANY STATE PRINTERS ATLANTA TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Letter of Transmittal............................... _................ mJ ........ - ................. 1-12 Electric Orders and Rates____ ____ *.......... _................-........................ 13-23 Motor Carrier Orders and Rates............ __....... ...................................... --- 23-29 Passenger Order and Rates.________................................... ........................ 29-33 Gas Orders and Rates__________ ___________________________ _____ 33-54 Class Rate Order.......................... ......................... ......................--- .......... 54-65 General Revision of Class and Commodity R ates............................ ........ 63-89 Naval Stores.................. ........._........ ...................................................------ 90 Petroleum and Petroleum Products------------ -------------- ------------------- 91-95 ANNUAL REPORT L etter of T ransm ittal A tla n ta , Georgia, Jan u ary 10, 1935. To His Excellency, Governor Eugene Talmadge: The Georgia Public Service Commission, in accordance w ith the requirem ents of law, subm its herewith its 62nd R eport covering the business and transactions of the Commission for th e year ending Decem ber 31, 1934. As stated in our last report, the Commission had entered upon a comprehensive investigation of utility rates in the S tate of Georgia. This investigation had not been concluded a t th e end of th e y ear 1933. H earings were resum ed early in 1934 and orders were issued from tim e to tim e throughout th e year as records were completed. We deem it unnecessary to recite th e conditions developed on these hearings w ith respect to the various utilities serving the public in Georgia. The opinions and orders of the Com mission published in this report are sufficiently full and clear as to tne reasons moving the Commission in its general orders which have had the effect of substantially reducing all public utility rates to be paid by the consuming public of this State. UTILITY RATES T elephone T here has been no change in local exchange rates during th e year 1934, except in the rates of those companies mentioned in our form er report which applied for and ob tained injunctions against th e general ra te order of N ovem ber 16, 1933. T he Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Company applied for an injunction, which was heard on December 11, 1933, before a three-judge Federal C ourt. On Jan u a ry 2, 1934, th is C ourt handed down an opinion refusing th e application for tem porary injunction of th e Bell Com pany. This case is pending in th e D istric t C o u rt of th e U hited S tates for N orthern D istrict of Georgia in the same status as of Jan u ary 2, 1934; and in the meantim e the rate reductions ordered by the Commission are in effect over the territory served by the Bell Company. The Commission has not received the annual report of the Bell Com pany for the year 1934 and is therefore unable to determ ine th e effect of th e order on the revenues of th e Company; however, the Commission has inform ation to the effect th a t whereas th ere was a general decline in telephone exchange service in th e year 1933, there has been a steady increase th ro u g h o u t th e y ear 1934 indicating th a t lower rates are bringing in new, and restoring form er subscribers. The companies which obtained injunction's have put into effect the orders of the Commission except on exchange subscriber stations, and have filed tariffs w ith the Com mission on exchange subscribers stations lower th a n those prevailing when the rule nisi was issued, b u t somewhat higher th an those prescribed by the Commission. 1 The Commission therefore reports th at there has been a general State-wide reduction for telephone service in the S tate of Georgia. The am ount of this reduction to the public using telephone service a t th e end of th e year 1934 is conservatively estim ated a t n o t less th a n $1,000,000. RAILROADS F reig h t R ates: The investigation of the Commission into the freight rate structure was thorough and exhaustive, insofar as the facilities of the Commission would perm it. Class and commodity rates as found by the Commission a t the tim e of the investigation may be divided into two levels; th e pre-w ar level, th a t is, th e rates prevailing prior to th e period of Federal control; and the level established during Federal control. On June 25, 1918, th e D irector G eneral of R ailroads ordered an increase of tw entyfive per cent in general class rates and again on Septem ber 1, 1920 an additio n al increase of twenty-five per cent was granted. These increases grew out of the general increase in all prices which prevailed in th a t period. D uring th e years 1921 and 1922 th e general level of commodity prices declined and this general decline was recognized to the extent of a general order reducing rates ten per cent, which became effective Ju ly 1, 1922. W ith minor adjustm ents this level of rates prevailed u n til Ja n u a ry 1928 a t which tim e an order of the In te rsta te Commerce Commission in th e Southern Class R ate Investigation (I. C. C. D ocket 13,494) became effective on Georgia in tra sta te traffic under an order of the Georgia Public Service Commission made in conform ity to the order of the Inter state Commerce Commission. As to th e general effect of th e order in th e Southern Class R ate Investigation, a member of the In terstate Commerce Commission, in Docket 26,000, made this comm ent: " The Southern Class R ate Investigation theoretically left the class rate level unchanged; in effect it perm itted the withdrawal of many lower rates and thus worked a real increase." The Georgia Public Service Commission found th a t the prevailing level of rates in Georgia a t the time of the investigation was approxim ately forty per cent higher than the pre-war level. The Commission in the same connection found th a t the pur chasing power of the public and the ability to pay for this class of service had receded alm ost to the vanishing point, and considering changed conditions might well be said to be below the pre-war level. The increase in the level of freight rates on the one hand and the general decrease in the ability of the public to m arket its commodities a t a fair value on th e other hand, resulted in bringing about a disparity between the cost of transportation and the means and ability of th e users of tran sp o rtatio n to pay which was so m arked as to raise a strong presumption th a t transportation rates were too high and should be brought down within the reach of the shipping public. W ith the records made in this investigation, the Commission passed orders and prescribed rate reductions in general class rates w ithin the States of Georgia; fertilizer and fertilizer materials; sand and gravel; cotton; cottonseed; petroleum and petroleum products and naval stores. Of these orders, all were in effect and in operation in Georgia a t th e end of th e year 1934 except th e reduction in rates on fertilizer and sand and gravel, 2 which reductions were enjoined by the Federal Court. The opinions and orders in effect appear in this report as p a rt of Appendix " A" . Passenger R ates: On Jan u ary 12, 1934, th e Commission issued a rule nisi requiring th e carriers to show cause on F ebruary 13, 1934, w hy all passenger fares in Pullm an cars and/day coaches, which were the prevailing maximum fares, should not be reduced. The Commission conducted hearings which term in ated on M arch 15, 1934 on th is subject. A t th e con clusion of the hearing the Commission passed an order prescribing a maximum passenger fare rate of two cents per mile in trastate in Georgia; this fare to apply to all carriers in Georgia and to all classes of equipm ent. This order had the effect of abolishing the Pullm an surcharge in effect by the rail carriers and reduced the maximum fares in Pullman cars to two cents per mile on all trains in trastate in Georgia. The order did not revoke the authority granted to the carriers to continue the experimental rate of one and onehalf cents per mile in day coaches. A copy of th e opinion and order in this m atter appears in this report as a p art of Appendix " A" . The rail carriers made this order the subject of a T hirteenth Section case under the Interstate Commerce Act before the Interstate Commerce Commission. Hearings have been had before the In terstate Commerce Commission, but no decision has been made. I t is interesting to note in this connection th a t th e In te rsta te Commerce Com mission is conducting on its own m otion an investigation of th e general passenger ra te structure throughout th e U nited States and it is an ticip ated th a t th e Georgia case will be decided along with the general passenger rate investigation. In te rsta te C om m erce C om m ission: Under the law, the Interstate Commerce Commission has the power to consider and revise all in trastate rates, both freight and passenger, prescribed by State Com missions to determine whether such rates are discrim inatory or constitute an undue burden on interstate commerce. These powers are vested by Congress in the Interstate Commerce Commission under the commerce clause of the Federal Constitution. In addition to the passenger-rate case, the carriers have carried to the Interstate Commerce Commission the class rate order, the petroleum order, and the naval stores order. The rates, however, will rem ain in effect until these cases are decided by th e Interstate Commerce Commission. The Commission is also defending before the In terstate Commerce Commission th e case brought by th e Jacksonville C ham ber of Commerce in which it is claimed th a t certain intrastate rates applicable in the State of Georgia are discrim inatory against certain shippers located in the State of Florida, principally in the City of Jacksonville. ELECTRIC LIGHT The Commission, a t th e end of th e y ear 1933, had passed tw o orders affecting electric light rates. These reduced the rates of the Georgia Power Company and the Savannah Electric & Power Company for domestic consum ption only and went into effect on Jan uary 1, 1934. An additional revision dow nw ard was ordered in th e rates of th e Savannah Electric and Power Com pany effective M arch 1, 1934. A copy of th e opinion an d order in this m atter appears in this report as a p art of Appendix " A" . 3 The Commission, after an investigation of the rates of the Georgia Power & Light Company which serves a large area in the Southern p a rt of th e State, prescribed the same rates for this company as those for the Georgia Power Company and the Savannah E lectric & Power C om patiy. This com pany resorted to th e F ederal C ourt a,nd an in junction was granted restraining the Commission from putting into effect this scale of rates for the Georgia Power & Light C om pany. Subsequent to the passage of the Johnson Bill, the Commission again had hearings on th e Georgia Power & Light Com pany and issued an order prescribing a scale of rates som ewhat higher th an the Georgia Power Company and the Savannah Electric & Power Company rates, but materially lower th an th e prevailing rates a t th e tim e th e Commission begun its investigation of thip Com pany. The Power Company, under the provisions]of the Johnson Act, applied to the Superior Court of Fulton County for an injunction, which, after thorough hearing, th e C ourt refused. T he Power Company dismissed its bill and th e rates prescribed for the Georgia Power & Light Company are now in effect. A copy of the opinion and order in this m atter appears in this report as a p art of Appendix " A" . The investigation under the rule nisi of th e Commission provided for an investiga tion of rates for commercial light and power, w hich have been upon a different scale and basis to th a t for domestic or residential service. Orders were passed providing for sub stantial reductions to users of this class of electric service, which appear in this report as a p a rt of Appendix " A" . U nder a rule nisi issued on N ovem ber 24, 1934, th e Commission now has before it further investigation of the rates for commercial light and power service. The Com mission has called upon all companies supplying this service to furnish it w ith a complete customer analysis, and when these are completed and furnished to the Commission, additional hearings will be had on this phase of electric service. I t is beyond cavil to assert th a t we are living in a power age. In every community perm anent prosperity and economic progress are becoming more and more dependent upon adequate and cheap power. T his applies not only to manufacturing processes, but to practically all ranges of commercial activities, agriculture, the home, and con stan tly enlarging public uses. Cheap pow er is essential to expanding ranges of economic and social uses. A recent survey by the Federal Power Commission brings forth the startling yet highly interesting fact th a t the consuming public in the United States today has a greater investm ent in appliances and consuming equipm ent th an the utility companies have in equipm ent to supply the electricity. The statem ent, as given in round numbers, shows $12,900,000,000. invested in equipm ent to supply electricity and $13,200,000,000, invested in appliances and consuming equipm ent by the public. This investm ent of the con suming public manifests its desire to make use of electric energy, and the comparative values of the utilities' investm ent with th e consumers' investm ent brings the question of electric rates as probably the most im p o rtan t before utility Commissions a t this time. For th e most p art, electric rate levels have rem ained unchanged since before th e de pression, when th e y were already excessive. I t is tru e th a t revisions have tak en place here and there, however, these reductions have not corresponded with the tremendous decline in price levels and contraction of purchasing power. W ith th e increasing uses t h a t are being found for electrical energy, b o th for industrial and social uses, i t is m an d atory th a t close and com petent supervision over the rates and practices of utility com- 4 panies supplying electrical energy shall be m aintained to the end th a t the service be extended to the greatest possible num ber of th e public on the cheapest possible rates. The effect of the reductions th a t have been made in th e rates of electric energy in Georgia will mean a saving of approxim ately $1,500,000.00 if th e same am ount of energy be consumed in 1934 under th e prevailing rates as a t th e tim e th e Commission begun its investigation. The result of the reduction orders has been to very greatly add to th e use of electrical energy. This is especially tru e in th e dom estic field where thousands of homes are adding equipm ent th a t lessens the burdens, and adds to th e pleasures and comforts by the use of these facilities. The Commission is giving to th is phase of regulation its m ost thorough and in tensive study and will continue to make such revisions and adjustm ents, as it may legally do, as will most effectually aid in th e progress and up-building of every class of industry and of urban and rural home life in the S tate of Georgia. EXPRESS The Commission issued a rule nisi directed to all express cpmpanies operating in the State and conducted its investigation. The investigation disclosed th a t the rates on commodities which can be moved upon passenger trains w ithout m aterial inconvenience to the passengers using said trains have been voluntarily reduced to the less-carload freight rates. This had been done only between the larger cities, jvhich are the m ain distributing points within the State, and the interm ediate points or smaller cities were still paying the old high express rates. The Commission ordered the express companies to reduce their rates to these inter mediate points to the same basis as th a t in effect between the head-line points. The express companies agreed to do this an d th e rates w ent into effect on December 15, 1934. This will result in giving th e sm aller cities in Georgia th e same low rates th a t now prevail between the larger cities, and the Commission has ordered the express companies a t th e end of six m onths to file w ith th e Commission a statem en t of th eir tonnage and revenue to show the effect of these rates on their earnings. GAS The Commission issued its nisi to all gas com panies operating in th e S tate of Georgia, to show cause why their rates should not be reduced. Investigations were started in th e fall of 1934 and much inform ation was requested of th e companies as to th e heatunit value of their gas, the cost of generation of the gas, customer analysis showing the quantity of gas consumed by the customers of the companies, and information as to their investm ent accounts, and other general information pertinent to these investiga tions. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Commission first considered the rates of the Savannah Gas Com pany and ordered a reduction in its rates. Following this the Commission ordered reductions on all gas rates in effect over the State, effective after Ja n u ary 1, 1935. These reductions, in th e opinion of th e Commission will encourage an increased use of gas, and th e companies as well as th e public will be benefitted. Copies of the opinions and orders appear as a p a rt of this report in Appendix " A" . 5 MOTOR CARRIERS T he " M otor C arrier Act of 1931" and th e " M otor Common Carriers Act of 1931" placed regulation of all motor carriers transporting persons and property over the high ways of the State of Georgia for hire under the jurisdiction of the Commission. The enforcement of these laws has m aterially added to th e duties and personnel of th e Com* mission's staff, as proper regulation requires extensive and con stan t supervision of those engaged in this form of transportation. The Commission has undertaken to perform its duties under these laws to the best interests of the public and with the desire th a t this form of transportation be developed along dependable lines. M otor carriers for hire, both passenger and freight, are restricted by law in the size of the vehicles th a t operate, the load capacity, and the travelling speed. The law also requires th a t adequate protection by insurance be afforded to those using th is for'm of tra n sp o rta tio n as well as the general public. The Commission has earnestly endeavored to administer these laws im partially and fairly to the general public and those desiring to engage ip this kind of business. The Commission on its own m otipn on F eb ru ary 7, 1934, issued its rule nisi to all the carriers to show cause why their class rates should n o t be reduced. Hearings were h ad on th e rule nisi and on M arch 27, 1934, th e Commission issued its order prescribing the rates for m oto r carriers for hire in Georgia. T his order was am ended on M ay 17, 1934; a copy of the opinions and orders in this m atter appear in this report as a p a rt of Appendix " A" . Inform ation in possession of the Commission indicates th a t there has been a very m aterial increase of short-haul freight in Georgia by m otor carriers. This form of trans p o rtatio n has passed th e experim ental stage and is now well recognized in th e public u tility field. T here is a t present little uniform ity in th e provisions of th e various regulatory statutes of the several States. The requirem ents for qualification, the mileage taxes, and the regulatory features have no semblence of uniform ity. The Commission, a t present, has no discretion in effectuating reciprocal agreements w ith the Commissions of other States. This works a severe handicap to th a t class of com m odity th a t is seasonal and highly perishable in its nature, principally, products of the farm, grove and orchard. I t is suggested th a t if th e General Assembly could vest some discretion in th e Commission as to these m atters, it would inure to the benefit of these industries in Georgia. PUBLIC SERVICE The law requires the Georgia Public Service Commission to prescribe ju st and reasonable rates to be observed by all utility companies under its jurisdiction; to in vestigate and pass upon all issues of securities proposed by these corporations, and to regulate and supervise the various classes of service in the interest of the public who use the service and pay the rates. These duties m ust be discharged not only to the satis faction of the Commission but to the public. Voluminous records, both current and historical, are required, and competent staff assistants in each particu lar field are necessary if th e greatest service is to be rendered. 6 W ithin the means a t its command, the Commission has undertaken to organize a staff to provide dependable assistance to the Commission and adequate service to th e public. T he duties of such a staff comprise the following: (1) A djustm ent of complaints. This class of service involves investigation of ra te schedules and their application to the class of service, checking of bills, testing meters, and giving personal consideration to bona fide complaints th a t are made from tim e to tim e to the Commission. (2) A dvisory and supervisory relationships w ith th e utilities regarding economy of operations and adequacy of service. (3) A nalyzing and recording m onthly reports, annual reports, and such special reports as th e Commission may from tim e to tim e require. I t is through these rep o rts th a t the Commission keeps advised as to the effect of its rate schedules on the revenues of the utilities under its jurisdiction. (4) G athering and recording statistical inform ation obtainable from th e D ep art ments of the United States Government, the various S tate regulatory bodies, and general research into conditions, values and rates for reference and use when required by the Commission. (5) A ccounting supervision and investigation is required by th e sta tu te . T he law gives the Commission the authority, either in person or by authorized assistants, to make personal inspection of the books and records of all utilities under its jurisdiction. Under this head comes study and interpretation of operating records and a check of records so th a t the Commission may determ ine th e correctness of charges to operating expenses and the requiring of revisions in th e systems of accounts where such accounts are improperly kept. Believing th a t a greater service could be rendered to the consuming public, th e Commission established a field inspection service under a com petent field engineer. T he engineer has visited 87 towns and cities, has inspected 465 electric meters and 56 gas m eters. The tests have not all been made upon com plaint, b u t under the direction of the Commission, the engineer has made spot checks in many instances. The results obtained from this effort have been most satisfactory to the Commission and have m et with the very general commendation of the public. Such instrum ents and laboratory equipment as was found to be absolutely necessary was purchased. O ther instrum ents and equipment are needed and the scope of this work can be extended by the purchase of additional equipment and the addition of sufficient personnel to visit all sections of the State and reach those to whom this service should be extended. The Commission has had many requests for its intervention and influence to secure more extended u tility service. T he Commission is w ithout au th o rity to compel th e con struction of service extensions. I t is believed, however, th a t in m any cases if th e Com mission had sufficient staff, surveys and investigations could be made th a t would result in bringing the members of a community in understandable contact with the utility companies in such a way th at these extensions would be made to the satisfaction of the community and the profit of the utility. 7 L E G IS L A T IO N The law makes it the duty of the Commission to recommend from tim e to time such legislation as they may deem advisable (Code Section 2644). The following remedial legislation is suggested: (1) T here appears to be no uniform ity of rates in m unicipalities who either own and operate their own plants or those who purchase a t wholesale and m aintain their own distribution systems. Based on numerous complaints, the Commission issued its rule nisi calling upon these municipalities to show cause why their rates should not be reduced. A petition for injunction was filed by th e C ity of A lbany and practically all municipalities intervened in this case. The Superior Court of Fulton County granted th e injunction, which halted all efforts on the p art of the Commission to regulate municipal rates. An appeal was tak en by th e Commission to th e Suprem e C ourt of Georgia and is now pending in th a t Court. (2) I t is suggested th a t provision be made for th ree Superior C ourt Judges to try all ra te cases. T he venue of all actions against th e Commission is now in F u lto n County. Since the enactm ent of the Johnson Bill, all ra te cases m ust go to th e S tate Courts. These ra te cases are of the utm ost im portance and the statu te can easily be amended so as to require three Superior Court Judges to preside in these cases. (3) A rule of evidence should be enacted making th e record before th e Commission adm issable as original evidence in a ra te hearing before th e C ourts. As th e law now is witnesses may appear before the Commission and testify and a voluminous record be made. The case may then be carried to the Courts and the action of the Commission reviewed on entirely different evidence and th e record before th e Commission thus goes for naught. In addition th e expense incident will be very m aterially reduced as it will not be necessary for witnesses from distant points to attend C ourt when their testimony is already in th e Commission's records. (4) T he sta tu to ry requirem ents for notice and hearing in ra te m atters should be clarified. The statute requires the Commission from time to tim e to revise schedules of rates. A simple amendm ent should be added providing for notice and hearing. I t is believed th a t rem edial legislation along th e lines suggested will m aterially aid the Commission in the performance of its duties as a regulatory body and enable it to determine rate questions much more expeditiously. 8 W ESTERN & A TLANTIC RAILWAY This Commission is vested w ith authority under the lease acts to supervise the W estern & A tlantic R ailw ay properties. T he condition of th e railw ay property is ex cellent, and th e N . C. & S t. L. R ailw ay is m aintaining th e physical property, in our opinion, as efficiently as th a t of any similar railway property in the S tate of Georgia. We append hereto th e report of a special com m ittee jof this Commission relating to the hotel properties which are under lease to M r. J. B. Pound of C hattanooga. This report is self-explanatory. In this connection, we desire to state th a t under authority of an act of the General Assembly th e history of the W estern & Atlantip Railway properties was compiled by th e Honorable J. H oustoun Johnston and published in 1932, and copyrighted in th e name of the Georgia Public Service Commission. The Commission has on hand several hundred copies of th is publication, which i t i unlikely will ever be sold. We suggest th a t we be given the au th o rity to distribute copips of this book to the various high school libraries and public libraries }n th is S ta te as i t contains much m a tte r th a t should be of interest to future citizens of Georgia. D ecember 14, 1934. H on. J. P. W ilhoit, Chairman, Georgia Public Service Commission, A tlanta, Georgia. Dear Mr. W ilhoit: Acting upon your appointm ent as a committee to investigate the hotel property of the State of Georgia located a t Chattanooga, Teneessee, under lease to Mr. J. B. Pound, we subm it the following report: We find the hotel buildings to be in excellent condition and fully insured. The furnishings in the hotels, on which the S tate has a mortgage, are also in good condition. The lessee of this property, due to th e business depression, has fallen behind with his rent, and we append hereto a statem ent showing th e condition of the rent account of Mr. Pound. I t will be observed from th e statem ent attached th a t the lessee has been making paym ents from tim e to tim e on account, th e effect of which is to reduce th e to ta l in debtedness. The S tate holds U nited States Governm ent bonds of the face value of $9,550. and a mortgage on the furniture and fixtures in both hotels as security to the lease contract. The furniture in place for use in the hotels is w orth from eight to ten thousand dollars, so th a t as th e lease account now stands, th e S ta te is secured su bstantially to th e am ount of the unpaid rents. The lease contract was entered into for a period of fifty years, beginning December 27, 1919 and ending December 27, 1969. F o r th e first ten-year period, th e annual rental, payable in m onthly installm ents, was $8,340.00; for th e second ten-year period $9,540.00; 9 for th e third ten-year period $11,340.00; for th e fourth ten-year period $14,640.00; for the fifth ten-year period $16,140.00. In addition to th e paym ent of rents, th e lessee obligated himself to spend $35,000.00 in im provem ent of the premises w ithin three years after th e d a te of th e lease contract, all of which th e lessee did. T here is no dou b t b u t th a t th e business depression has severely curtailed th e income and rentals from th is pro p erty to th e lessee, and in view of prevailing conditions, we believe the m atter should be subm itted to th e General Assembly for its consideration. Respectfully subm itted, J. B. D a niel, C ommissioner J. J. E . Anderso n , Ass't. A ttorney Gen'l. G eorge B. H amilton, S tate T reasurer A tlanta, Ga., Dec. 19, 1934. Mr. J. B. Pound, Chattanooga, Tenn., In account with State of Georgia. Under Hotels Lease Contract. 1930 R ent, 1930__________......________ ______ 9,540.00 C red its: Feb. 28,______ .....__________________________ .......... Apr. 30,____ .._______ _____ ....__ __________________ June 30,________ _____ ______________ _______ _______ Aug. 31,_____ ............__ _________________ _________ Oct. 31,_________ _________ ..._____________________ Dec. 31........_____ 1,390.00 1,790.00 1,590.00 1,590.00 1,590.00 795.00 1931 R ent, 1931,....................................................... 9,540.00 C re d its: Jan. 28,__________ ________________ __________ ______ Feb. 2,______________ Mch. 24,.......................... ..............__ _____ ____________ M ay 1,..... ............................. ............... ..._______ .....___ M ay 16,................... .............................................................. June..........:......................................... ................ ;................. Ju ly 27,..:________________ _____ ____.....____________ Sep. 21,........................................ Oct. 26,............................:......... ........... ....................... .......... Nov. 12,____ ____________ ____________ ........___I____ Dec. 28,_________ ______ .'.________ _______ .........____ 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 10. 8,745.00 8,745.00 1932 R ent, 1932,__________________________ 9,540.00 Credits: Jan . 25,..--------- .....----------------------------------------------Feb. 23.......------------------------------------------ _------------M ch. 23,..----------- ------------------------ --------------------..... M ay 13,.....,.-- ................. .-- -----------------------..--------- 795.00 795.00 795.00 795.00 3,180.00 1933 R ent, 1933,____________________________ 9,540.00 Credits : Jan . 11,.............................................. Feb. 13,----------- -------------------------------......_________ M ch. 28,...,..---------------...----------------- ...._________..... Apr. 10,................ I ------ ------ ..------------------------- -----M ay 1,...------------ 3,.................. --- .-------- .......--------------------------June 9,......................................................... 15........------ ...J ________ _______ _____________ Aug. 2,................... ....................---------------------------Oct. 3,.________ _____________ ____ __________ ..___ 20,--------- -------------- ........-- ..-- ------- ;----------Nov. 16,................................ 25,----Oec. 30,------ ------------------------------- --------- ------------- 795.00 795.00 400.00 395.00 202.94 592.06 400.00 395.00 250.00 500.00 202.94 300.00 200.00 200.00 5,627.94 1934 R ent, 1934___________ _______ .....______ 9,540.00 Credits: Jan . 22,--------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------------------Feb. 21,----------------------- .....----------------------------- ..... Apr. 6,------------------------------------------------------- --- 19,-............... -----------------------------------------------M ay 5-------- --------------- --------- ---------------------------June 14,-------------------- _------------------------------- -------July 26,-------------------------------- ;---------------------------Sept. 4,..----------------------------------------------------------- 28.. ..-Oct, 17,..................................... ....................................... .... 200.00 500.00 500.00 202.94 500.00 500.00 300.00 200.00 250.00 195.50 3,348.44 Balance Due,. 47,700.00 29,646.38 ------------------------ -------------- 18,053.62 CONCLUSION We stated in our last annual report th a t studies by the Commission indicated th a t the general level of all u tility rates in Georgia had rem ained unchanged over a long period of years. Our investigation th ro u g h o u t th e y ear 1934 lead to th e inevitable conclusion th a t utility rates as a whole were unduly high and out of line w ith the ability of the general public to pay for utility service. As a result of these investigations, the Com mission has from time to tim e ordered substantial reductions in the rates of all utility corporations th a t have been under investigation. T here is no d o u b t b u t t h a t th e passage of th e Johnson bill by th e Congress will have a salutary effect on rate regulation and th a t much of th e tedious and long-drawn out litigations over rate orders which has obtained in th e Federal C ourts will be avoided in the future. I t is not possible a t th is tim e to com pute in dollars and cents th e savings to th e people of Georgia brought about by the reduction orders which this Commission has ordered and are now in effect, however, it is believed th a t a conservative estim ate will place th e am ount a t n o t less th a n six million dollars for th e y ear 1934. I t has been the practice heretofore to incorporate in the annual reports the statutes applicable to the Commission. In view of the fact th a t a new code of laws has been adopted by th e G eneral Assembly and is ready to be prom ulgated, it is considered a useless expenditure to merely copy statutes in the annual report. The annual reports have also carried the general rules of the Commission. The Commission has on hand a large num ber of copies of its 60th report which can be used to supply those who m ight desire copies of these rules, and it is th o u g h t unnecessary to go to th e expense of incorporating th e rules in this report. Respectfully submitted, J tjd P. W il h o it , C hairm an G eo. L. G oode T hos. K . D avis B enaT . H ttiet J. B. D aniel 12 GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION ATLANTA File-- 18971 IN R E : G eneral R evision of all D omestic and C ommercial R ates in G eorgia BY TH E COMMISSION: T he Commission on Ja n u a ry 12, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to th e S av an n ah Electric & Power Company to show cause why the prevailing rates for domestic and elec tric service should not be reduced, and all extra charges for service by whatsoever nam e they are called should not be reduced and/or eliminated. The Savannah Electric & Power Company was notified to appear on January 15th, when it did appear, and was excused until further notified by the Commission for a hearing. Before a hearing was scheduled and after an informal investigation, the Georgia Public Service Commission form ulated a schedule of rates for domestic electric service, which w as deemed to be fair, just and reasonable and commensurate with the cost for furnishing said service, and the Savannah Electric & Power Company agreed to accept said rates effective on bills rendered on m eter readings m ade on or after M arch 1, 1934, for consum ption of electric current wholly within the m onth of February ,1934. The Commission having thus obtained its objective, an order will be passed directing th e Savannah E lectric & Power C om pany to file a complete schedule of rates in accordance with th e rates fixed as hereinafter set out, and with the effective date as above set forth.. BY O RD ER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, This th e 29th day of January, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. _ Jud . P. W ilhoit, C hairm an., GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION ATLANTA Ja n u a ry 29, 1934. F ile --18971. TO TH E SAVANNAH ELECTRIC & POW ER COMPANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it finds th a t the schedules of rates and charges for electric power for domestic consum ption now in force in the territory served by the Savannah Electric & Power Company, are unreasonable and excessive, and has further found th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the shedules hereto attached, said rates to become effective on bills rendered on m eter readings m ade on or after M arch 1, 1934, for consum ption of electric current wholly within th e m onth of February, 1934, subject to fu rth er order of th is Commission, and you are, T H E R E F O R E O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Comm ission in accordance therewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary J. P. W ilhoit, C h airm an 13 SAVANNAH ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY RESIDENTIAL SERVICE SCHEDULE " A" A pplicability: Available to all residential customers served by the Company by its existing dis tribution lines, except as otherwise provided herein. For residential lighting, cooking, heating, refrigeration and other small residential power, also hall and basement lighting in apartm ent houses when served through a separate meter. Any service used for commercial purposes such as central unit refrigeration systems and other apartm ent house power, and dwellings accommodating more than four paying .guests will n o t be served under this schedule. First Next Next Over RATES 25 K W H, per m onth...................................... | ............ 7.22c. per K W H 35K W H, per m onth.....................................................5.55c. per K W H 140 K W H , per m onth..................... 3.33c. per K W H 200 K W H , per m onth.....................................................1.67c. per K W H M inim um M onthly Charges: $1.11 (gross) per m onth. Prom pt Paym ent D iscount: All bills paid w ithin ten days from p resentation are subject to a discount of 10 per cent. C ontract Period: One Year. FOR SEASONAL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AT SAVANNAH BEACH T he above rate s will ap p ly plus 25% where service is rendered for less th a n th e con tr a c t period. Provided no custom er billed! under th is schedule shall pay a minim um bill for any m onth in which no c u rren t is consum ed. SAVANNAH ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY O ptional Off Peek W ater-H eating R ate. Schedule A -l. C lass o f Service Any residential customer using electric water heating. Energy Charge For th e first 30 K W H per m onth 2.22c. per K W H For all over 30 K W H per m onth 1.11c. per K W H 14 M inim um Charge $1.11 per m onth. Prom pt Paym ent D iscount: Above rate subject to 10% discount on all bills paid on or before 10 days after D ate of Bill. The w ater heater service shall be supplied through a separate m eter and no other appliance shall be connected to this meter. Lim itations A. W a ter H ea tin g E quipm ent This ra te is lim ited to a tw o-unit ty p e of w ater heater, of construction approved by the Company. Each unit shall be non-inductive and shall be controlled by a separate therm ostat. The upper unit and therm ostat are located \ of tank capacity below the top of tan k ; th e lowfer u n it and th erm o stat near th e b ottom of tank. Per gallon of ta n k capacity, th e connected load shall be as follows: Plain ty p e w ater heaters: Lower u n it approxim ately 20 w atts; upper unit, 30 w atts. W ater heaters of special construction to deliver hot w ater to top of tank with mini m um mixing; Lower u n it approxim ately 25 w atts; upper unit, 50 w atts. The equipm ent shall be such th a t the capacity of the heating units connected a t any one tim e shall not exceed the connected load of the upper unit. B. H ours of U se The lower u n it only is controlled by a tim e switch restricting th e use of current for this u n it to hours 9:00 A. M. to 11:30 A. M .; 2:00 P. M. to 5:30 P. M .; and 9:00 P. M. to 7:00 A. M .; a n d /o r such other hours as th e com pany m ay specify. (The to ta l hours of use may n o t be less th a n 15 per day). Jan u ary 29, 1934. GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ATLANTA File-- 19214 Case-- 54-- A IN R E : General R evision of all D omestic and C ommercial R ates in G eorgia. BY TH E COMMISSION: T he Commission on A ugust 30, 1933, issued a rule nisi directed to all electric light and power companies operating under th e jurisdiction of the Georgia Public Service Commission to show cause why th e prevailing rates for domestic and commercial electric service should not be reduced and all extra charges for service by whatsoever name they are called should not be reduced and/or eliminated. The Georgia Power Company was notified to appear on November 7th, when it filed its answer and a hearing was commenced. D uring th e hearing th e Georgia Public Service Commission form ulated a schedule of rates for domestic consum ption which were accepted by the Georgia Power Company and further hearings on commercial rates were suspended. D uring said period of suspension th . p y n Ga. R. R.-- G . S. & F ........ L &N M fy O XT n *r R+ T. N . O. & N . E._ SA L Sou. R y ........... 16,862 3,345 8,744 4,098 6,189 223,078 107.41 $ 1,294.52 83.23 331.00 D 995.00 D 83.63 2,626.29 4.574.00 D 246.09 D7.698.00 D 66.25 D 654.40 D 137.50 2,851.07 D l l , 295.00 D 2.775.00 D 6,719.00 D 2,281.39 8,346.37 97.47 D 313.58 D 2.68 5.47 0.30 8.18 5.40 0.35 7.30. 4.01 13.31 2.60 10.40 8.90 11.04 3.08 0.04 4,152 3,100 7,95l 3,237 5,328 195,088 149.80 $ 3,368.50 117.07 207.00 44.422.00 90.04 1,476.39 6,476.27 3,354.94 24.581.00 72.53 D l,614.63 D 121.42 180.74 11.762.00 2,848.00 751.00 2,349.05 77.520.00 109.30 59,998.20 11.18 5.34 8.80 4.70 8.00 5.36 14.10 12.60 0.67 3.10 15.40 1.10 17.84 27.85 10.75 E 13,148 5,562 11,611 4,498 E 5,820 E 169,507 159.06 $ 2,794.59 301.13 1,465.00 5,032.07 E 10,468.00 123.13 403.49 148.85 E 3,814.57 E 78,498.58 99.48 E 79,115.45 10.12 51.91 19.36 12.53 3.93 16.28 28.64 16.38 E-Estim ated (Actual figures are n o t available; however, testim ony shows th a t estim ates are always under actual figures.) These are only figures m ade available to th e Commission for th is comparison. APPENDIX "A " LIST OF CARRIERS OYER WHICH MAXIMUM PASSENGER FARES PRESCRIBED IN ATTACHED ORDER SHALL BE APPLIED Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company. A tlanta, Birmingham & Coast Railway Company. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. Atlanta & West Point Railroad Company. Bowdon Railway. Central of Georgia Railway (H. D. Pollard, Receiver). Charleston & W estern Carolina Railway. Collins & Glennville Railway. Elberton & Eastern Railroad. Flint River & Northeastern Railroad. Gainesville M idland Railway (Gordon C. Carson, W. B. Veazy-Receivers). Georgia Railroad. Georgia, Ashburn, Sylvester & Camilla Railway Company. Georgia & Florida Railway (W. Y, Griffin, H. W. Purvis-Receivers). Georgia N orthern Railway. Georgia Southern & Florida Railway Company. Georgia Southwestern & Gulf Railroad (W. M. Legg, Receiver). Greene County Railroad. Hartwell Railway. Lakeland Railway. Lexington Terminal Railroad Company. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company. Louisville & Wadley Railroad. Macon Dublin and Savannah Railroad. Milstead Railway. Monroe Railroad Company. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (W estern & A tlantic Railroad). St. M arys Railroad. Sandersville Railroad. Savannah & A tlanta Railway (Chas. E. Gay Jr., Receiver). Seaboard Air Line Railway (L. R. Powell Jr., and H enry W. Anderson, Receivers). Shearwood Railway. Southern Railway Company. South Georgia Railway. Statesboro & N orthern Railway. Sylvania Central Railway Company. Talbotton Railroad. Tallulah Falls Railway (J. F. Gray, Receiver). Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railroad. Wadley Southern Railway. Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad. 33 File 16866-2. D ocket 392-A. IN R E : G eneral R evision of R esidential and C ommercial Gas R ates in G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: The Commission on th e 6th day of June 1934, issued its R ule Nisi to all Gas Com panies operating under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Public Service Commission to show cause on July 16th, 1934, why all gas rates should n o t be reduced and all extra charges for service by whatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced a n d /o r eliminated. The hearing on the Nisi as regards the rates of th e Savannah Gas Company was taken up on August 8th, 1934, a t which tim e inform ation of various kinds and character as to value, customer analysis, cost of production,etc., were requested. A recess was taken in order th a t the Company might furnish the desired information and the case was again tak en up on Novem ber 5th, 1934, when said case was completed insofar as oral testim ony and exhibits were concerned. Requests for other information was a t th a t time made and the Commission now finds th a t all said inform ation has been furnished and th e record is now complete, and has been closed, and th e Commission now proceeds to make its findings and fix its order, establishing the rates and charges which the Savannah Gas Company may collect for its gas service for domestic or residential and commercial consumption. U nder th e law of th e S tate of Georgia, it is th e d u ty of th e Public Service Commission from time to time to inquire into the rates and charges of utilities which comes under its jurisdiction. In accordance with the law and the duty imposed upon it, the Commis sion has issued its Rule Nisi, set its dates for hearings and given the Savannah Gas Com pany opportunity to present such evidence as it desired to present in rponse to the rule. I t appears from the record th a t the present rates and charges for gas in the terri-, tory served by the Savannah Gas Company has been unchanged for more th a n twelve years. I t is common knowledge th a t during th e twelve year period since th e now prevailing rates were fixed, many changes have come about in th e economic situation and in the cost of rendering th e service. The rates now prevailing were fixed in th e Spring of 1922 when a reduction of 150 per thousand feet was made in all brackets of th e R esidential and Commercial Rates of the Savannah Gas Company. For th e six years immediately following this the total gas sales of the Company gradually increased. In th e year 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933 th e gas sales have decreased until th e record shows in 1933 th e to ta l sales of gas by this Com pany are less th an the am ount sold in th e year 1922. The record also shows th a t the cost of production of gas by this Company in the year 1921 (which was th e year ju st previous and was th e latest inform ation available to the Commission when the investigation was being made out of which came the rate re duction order which was issued in 1922) was .6620 per thousand cubic feet as compared w ith th e figure of .2810, as th e cost for th e same operation in 1933, a reduction of .3810 per thousand cubic feet in the cost of th e production of gas since th e present rate was put into effect. The Savannah Gas Company has a t no time given this Commission information upon which to base th e present value of th e property, upon which they are entitled to earn a reasonable retu rn . T he Commission was furnished certain inform ation, th a t is, th e sum m ary of an appraisal m ade in 1922 by Parsons, K lapp, Brickerhoff and Douglas, which has been brought forward to show additions and betterm ents since th a t time, but the inventory which was subm itted in verification of th e 1922 appraisal shows no u n it prices and, therefore, is impossible to check. Inform ation as to th e book or historical 34 cost which was subm itted is inform ative b u t is far from satisfactory for establishm ent of a present rate base. In short, the Company has failed to furnish this Commission with information th a t would establish the present value of their property used and useful in the rendition of the service which would fix th e present ra te base. The record discloses th a t the Savannah Gas Company operates under a managerial contract with the American Gas and Power Company. The American Gas and Power C om pany is th e sole owner of all th e stock and securities of th e Savannah Gas Com pany which carries th e righ t to nam e th e B oard of D irectors and Officers of th e Savannah Gas Company. Under this managerial contract the Savannah Gas Company pays to th e American Gas and Power Company as a m anagem ent fee, 3.75% of its gross operat ing revenues. The Commission seriously criticized this contract for the reason th a t with the stock ownership set up, the American Gas and Power Company stands in loco parentis and is in fact contracting w ith its child, the Savannah Gas Company, over which it has com plete authority and is in fact contracting w ith itself. A study of the evidence of the claimed benefits derived from the managerial services through experiments or other managerial services are m utual insofar as all the Companies under th e control and ownership of th e p a re n t C om pany are concerned, and off set each other. The ultim ate benefits if any, in every instance goes to the p arent company who owns all th e stock and receives all th e dividends, and if m anagerial fees are allowed, re ceives all the managerial fees in addition. The contract discloses th a t th e agreem ent between the parent Company and its child may be term inated a t any time by thirty days written notice by either party. This would p erm it th e co n tract to be annulled a t any tim e and th e fees increased ^or de creased a t th e will of th e p a re n t C om pany and could easily result in th e im possibility of any of the regulated, utilities from ever earning a net return over and above the manaagerial fees th a t would constitute a fair retu rn on th e reasonable value of its pro p erty used in the rendition of its service. T he Commission is of th e opinion th a t th e 3.75% m anagerial fee is unw arranted and is of the opinion th a t such managerial fees are simply a subterfuge which allows the parent' holding com pany to collect from its child a sum which is set up as an operating expense of th e C om pany and is therefore deductable from its earnings before its n et in come can be established and is a charge which th is Commission deems unnecessary and un earned in the rendition of the service which the utility performs. The Commission expressly disallows the managerial expense item which has cost, th e Savannah Gas C om pany ip th e year 1930, $24,177.00; in th e year 1931, $23,416.00; in th e year 1932, $20,467.00 and in th e year 1933, $19,255.00, together w ith such expenses as is shown were paid o u t of th e T reasury of th e Savannah Gas C om pany for expenses of various officials who have visited th e p la n t under th is m anagerial contract. I t is common knowledge th a t a reduction in price tends to increase th e consum ption of any highly competitive commodity. Gas is a highly com petitive com m odity, com peting w ith such comm odities as coal, electricity, fuel oil, etc. T he reduced prices of th e comm odities w ith which gas com petes has resulted in a large measure in the reduction of the to tal sale of gas by this Com pany. This Commission is of th e opinion th a t th e record in this case, shown am ong oth er things, the reduction of the cost of production of gas, w arrants a reduction in the rates and charges for gas by this Company. The Commission expressly disallows the item of managerial expense under the managerial contract and this am ount should be stricken from the operating expenses of the Company. 35 THE GENERAL LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ATHENS, GEORGIA The Commission is of th e opinion th a t a reduction in th e rates of th e Savannah Gas Com pany in th e year 1934 will have an effect to increase consum ption and thereby increase the revenues of this Company. As pointed out elsewhere in these findings, th e reduction of the rates of this Com pany in th e year 1922 bears o u t th e opinion of th e Commission on th is point. An order will be taken accordingly. This the 6th day of December, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J tjd. P . W il h o it , C hairm an. D ocket No. 392-A. TO TH E SAVANNAH GAS COMPANY; You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it finds th a t th e schedule of rates and charges for domestic, residential and commercial consumption now in force by th e Savannah Gas Company are unreasonable and exces sive and it further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with th e schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings made on and after Janu ary 10th, 1935, for consum ption of gas, betw een th e dates of December 10th, 1934, and Jan u ary 10th, 1935, subject to th e fu rth e r order of th is Commission, and you are hereby F U R T H E R O R D E R E D to file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of its opera tions, showing gross earnings and itemized statem ent of expenses, including taxes, and you are, T H E R E F O R E O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith th is Com mission in accordance therewith. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PU BLIC SERVICE COM MISSION, This, the 6th day of December, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J tjd. P . W il jo it , C hairm an. ATTEST: A True Copy J. M. F orrester, Secretary. SCHEDULE "A" RATES For th e first 10,000 cubic feet per m onth $1.35 per 1,000 cub. ft. F or th e next 20,000 cubic feet per m onth $1.25 per 1,000 cub. ft. For th e next 20,000 cubic feet per m onth $1.20 per 1,000 cub. ft. F o r all over 50,000 cubic feet per m onth $1.15 per 1,000 cub. ft. All bills calculated on th e above rates are subject to a discount of ten (10ff) cents per 1,000 cubic feet, if paid on or before th e 10th day of th e m onth. M inimum Charge: $1.00 per m onth per meter. 36 D O C K E T N U M B E R 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION R E : G as C ompanies Operating in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: T he Commission on June 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by whatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced a n d /o r eliminated. The Georgia Public Utilities Corp., filed its answer, and hearings were duly con ducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it per taining to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service, and with the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate com pensation to th e Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Athens to become effective on m eter readings on and after February 1, 1935. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this D ecember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION To Georgia Public Utilities Corp., You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings made on and afte r F ebruary 1, 1935, for consum ption of gas between Jan u ary 1, 1935 and February 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this December 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. 37 E X H IB IT " A" SCHEDULE " O" GEORGIA PUBLIC U TILITIES CORPORATION ATHENS R ate N et Gross Service Charge-- per m eter, per m onth....................... .................. $0.75 Plus the following charge for gas used: (Per 1000 Cu. F t.) For th e first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m onth...................................,,,.$1.25 For th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per m onth....... .......................... 1.10 All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per m onth....... ................. 1.00 $1.35 1.20 1.10 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the discount for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid within ten days of their date. M INIM UM BILL: The minimum m onthly bill shall be $1.00. DOCKET N UM BER ^92-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION R E : Gas C ompanies Operating in the State of Georgia BY TH E COMMISSION: T he Commission on June 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced and/ or eliminated. T he Georgia Gas C om pany filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Com pany. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith th e cost of rendering said service, and with the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to the Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order In accordance herewith should issue applicable to th e City of Gaines ville to become effective on m eter readings on and after February 1, 1935.. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. 38 TO GEORGIA GAS COM PANY; You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after February 1, 1935, for con sum ption of gas between Jan u ary 1, 1935 and F ebruary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commis sion in accordance herewith. BY O RDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary J tjd. P. W il h o it , C hairm an. SCHEDULE "A" GEORGIA GAS COMPANY E X H IB IT "A ': N et Gross For th e next 1,800 cu. ft. used per month... For th e next 37,700 cu. ft. used per month. For th e next 30,000 cu. ft. used per month. All over 70,000 cu. ft. used per month. $11..550 1.00 .90 .85 $ 1.60 1.10 1.00 .95 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid in full a t th e office of th e C om pany w ithin ten days of their date. M IN IM U M M O N TH LY CH A R G E: $1.25. Docket Number 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RE: G as C ompanies Operating in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COMMISSION: The Commission on June 4,-1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced and/ or eliminated. T he M acon Gas C om pany filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Company. 39 The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it per taining to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by the Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t th e same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju s t and com m ensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service, and with the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to the Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Macon to become effective on m eter readings on and after F ebruary 1, 1935. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. JUD. P . WlIiHOIT, C hairm an. TO MACON GAS COM PANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings made on and after February 1, 1935, for consum p tion of gas between Jan u ary 1, 1935 and F ebruary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herewith. BY O RDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERICE COMMISSION this De cem ber 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. JuD . P. WlLHOIT, C hairm an. EXH IBIT "A" Service Charge--per meter per month.. N e t Gross .$ 0.60 Plus^the following charge for gas used (Per 1,000 Cu. F t.) F or th e first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m o n th ........................... . For th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per m onth.... .......................... All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per month... ....... .................. ......... .$ 1.10 $ 1.20 .85 .95 .60 .70 PRO M PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid w ithin ten days of thei!r date. M INIM UM BILL: The minimum m onthly bill shall be $0.85. 40 Docket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RE: G as C o m pa n ies O p e r a t in g in t h e S ta te of G eo rg ia BY THE COMMISSION: T he Commission on Ju n e 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced a n d / or elim inated. The Georgia Public Utilities Co. filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under th e rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and documentary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t th e schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its O rder hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith th e cost of rendering said service, and w ith the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to th e Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Augusta to become effective on m eter readings on and after F eb ru ary 1, 1935. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ttd. P . W il h o it , C hairm an. TO GEORGIA PUBLIC U TILITIES COM PANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after F eb ru ary 1, 1935, for con sum ption of gas betw een Jan u a ry 1, 1935 and F eb ru ary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F o rerster, Secretary. J u d . P. W il h o it , C hairm an. 41 EXH IBIT "A" SCHEDULE " O" GEORGIA PUBLIC U TILITIES COMPANY AUGUSTA RATE N et Gross Service Charge-- per m eter, per m onth.......................................... ................ $ 0.65 Plus the following charge for gas used (Per 1,000 Cu. F t.) F or th e first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m o n th ............. ......................................... $ 1.20 For th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per m onth........ .......................................... . 1.10 All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per m onth....................................... .....................^ .95 $ 1.30 1.20 1.05 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for pro m p t p aym ent if bills are paid w ithin ten days of th eir date. M INIM UM BILL: The minimum monthly bill shall be $1.00. D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION R E : Gas C ompanies Operating in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: T he Commission on Ju n e 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be re duced and/ or eliminated. T he Gas L ight Com pany of Columbus filed its answer, and hearings were duly con ducted under th e rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and ser vice of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by the Company are excessive, unjtist and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service, and w ith the reasonable value of said service to the pub lic, and will afford adequate compensation to th e Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue, applicable to the City of Americus to become effective on m eter readings on and afte r F eb ru ary 1, 1935. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. . J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. TO GAS LIG H T COMPANY OF COLUMBUS: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con- 42 sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after F ebruary 1, 1935, for consum p tion of gas betw een Jan u ary 1, 1935 and F eb ru ary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M . F orrester, Secretary. J tjd. P . W il h o it , C hairm an, SCHEDULE " A" EXH IBIT "A" GAS LIG HT COMPANY OF COLUMBUS A M ER IC U S RATE For the first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m onth----------------------------------- ,---------------- $ 1.85 For th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per month.....----------------- ------------------ ------------- 1-20 All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per m onth-------- --------,-------------------- ~-------------------- 1.10 All bills calculated on th e above rates are subject to a discount of ten (10?f) cents per 1000 cubic feet, if p aid on or before th e 10th day of th e m onth. M IN IM U M C HA RGE: $1.00 per m onth per meter. D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION RE: G as C o m pa n ies O p e r a t in g in t h e Sta te op G eo rg ia BY THE COMMISSION: T he Commission on June 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be re duced and/ or eliminated. T he Georgia N atu ra l Gas Corp., filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its O rder hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service, and with the reasonable value of said service to the 43 public, and will afford adequate compensation to the Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City wherever served to become effective on th e m eter readings on and after F ebruary 1, 1935. BY O RDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. TO GEORGIA NATURAL GAS CORP.: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings made on and after February 1,1935, for con sum ption of gas betw een Jan u ary 1, 1935 and February 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are ,, FURTHER ORDERED AND DIRECTED: To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. j u d . p . W ilhoit, C hairm an. SCHEDULE "O" EXHIBIT "A" GEORGIA NATURAL GAS CORPORATION ALL CITIES RATE Service Charge--per meter, per month N et Gross .$ 0.75 Plus th e following charge for gas used (Per 1,000 Cu. F t.) F or th e first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m onth........................................... $ 1.15 F or th e n e x t 3,000 cu. ft. used per m onth.___________ _______" ^ .90 For th e next 15,000 cu. ft. used per m onth_______ .....______________ _ .65 All over 20,000 cu. ft. used per month______________________ .60 $ 1.25 1.00 .75 .70 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between th e net and gross rates stated above shall constitute th e dis count for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid within ten days of their date. M INIM UM BILL: The minimum m onthly bill shall be $1.00. 44 D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION R E : Gas C ompanies Operating in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: T he Commission on Ju n e 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas C om panies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by whatever name the same may be called, should not be re duced a n d /o r eliminated. T he V aldosta Gas C om pany filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. T he investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Com pany. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such .consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t th e same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set forth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, just, and commensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service, and with the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to th e Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Valdosta to become effective on m eter readings on and after F ebruary 1, 1935. BY O RDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J tjd. P . W il h o it , C hairm an. TO VALDOSTA GAS COMPANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after F ebruary 1, 1935, for consum ption of gas between Jan u ary 1, 1935 and February 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J ud. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. 45 SCHEDULE " O" EXH IBIT "A" VALDOSTA GAS COMPANY RATE N et Gross For th e first. 300 cu. ft. or less used per m onth........ ..................................._$ 1.00 Per 1,000 Cu. F t. For th e next 1,700 cu. ft. used per month..........._................................ .......,,.$. 1.35 For th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per month*.............................................. ...... 1.15 All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per month.*......................................................_p.,, 1.00 $ 1.45 1.25 1.10 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid in full a t th e office of th e Com pany within ten days of their date. M IN IM U M M O NTH LY C HA RGE: $1.00. D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION R E : Gas C ompanies Operating in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: The Commission on June 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be .reduced a n d /o r eliminated. T he Consumers Gas & Coke Co. filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set forth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith th e cost of rendering said service, and w ith the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to the Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Waycross to be come effective on m eter readings on and after F eb ru ary 1, 1935. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cem ber 20, 1934. J. M. F orresger, Secretary. J ud. p. W ilhoit, C hairm an. TO CONSUM ERS GAS & COKE CO.: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds 46 th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on an d a fter F ebruary 1, 1935, for consum ption of gas between Jan u ary 1, 1935 and F ebruary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, nd you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith th is Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J . P- W il h o it , C hairm an. EXH IBIT "A" SCHEDULE " O" CONSUMERS GAS AND COKE COMPANY RATE - N et Gross For th e first 200 cu. ft. or less used per m onth............... ............................. $ 1.00 P er 1,000 Cu. F t. For th e next 800 cu. ft. used per m o n th .........................................................$ 1.45 For th e next 1,000 cu. ft. used per m onth...... ......................................... ...... 1.25 For th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per m onth...................... ............................... 1.15 All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per month.......................... .............. ........... . 1.00 $ 1.55 1.35 1.25 1.10 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid in full a t th e office of th e Com pany w ithin ten days of their date. M IN IM U M M O N TH LY CH A R G E: $1.00. D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION R E : G as C ompanies Operating in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: The Commission on June 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced an d / or elim inated. T he Gas L ight C om pany of Columbus filed its answer, and hearings were duly con ducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and ser vice of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now 47 in force by the Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith th e cost of rendering said service, and w ith the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to th e Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Columbus to become effective on m eter readings on and afte r F eb ru ary 1, 1935. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. TO GAS LIG H T COMPANY OF COLUMBUS: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after February 1, 1935, for consum ptipn of gas betw een Jan u ary 1, 1935 and F eb ru ary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith th is Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. E X H IBIT "A " SCHEDULE " A" GAS LIG HT COMPANY OF COLUMBUS COLUMBUS RATE Net Service Charge-- per m eter per m onth........................................... .......... | __ $ o.75 Gross Plus the following charge for gas used (Per 1,000 Cu. F t.) For th e first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m o n th ................................. .....................$ 1.10 For th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per m onth................... 1.......................... ...... .85 All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per month...................... ............................................... 60 $ 1.20 .95.70 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for prom p t paym ent if bills are paid w ithin te n days of th eir date. M INIM UM BILL: The minimum m onthly bill shall be $1.00. 48 D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION R E : Gas C ompanies Operating in the State op G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: T he Commission on Ju n e 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be re duced and/ or eliminated. The Georgia Public Utilities Company filed its answer, and hearings were duly con ducted under th e rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and ser vice of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t th e same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju s t and com m ensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service, and w ith the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to th e Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Rome to become effective on m eter readings and on after F ebruary 1, 1935. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P- W ilh o it, C hairm an. TO GEORGIA PUBLIC U TILITIES COMPANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings made on and after F ebruary 1, 1935, for con sum ption of gas betw een Jan u ary 1, 1935 and F ebruary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D AND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commision in accordance herewith. BY O RD ER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W illhoit, Chairman., 49 EXHIBIT "A" SCHEDULE " O" GEORGIA PUBLIC U TILITIES COMPANY ROME RATE N et Gross Service Charge-- per m eter per m onth.................... ............. ......................... $ 0.75 Plus the following charge for gas used (Per 1,000 Cu. F t.) For the first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m onth.......................................................$ 1.15 For the next 3,000 cu. ft. used per m onth.... .......... ...................................... .90 For th e next 15,000 cu. ft. used per month..........................~................. .65 All over 20,000 cu. ft. used per m onth................................ ............ :.......................60 $ 1.25 1.00 .75 .70 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid w ithin ten days of their date. M INIM UM BILL: T he minimum bill shall be $1.00. D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COM M ISSION R E : Gas C ompanies Operating in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COM MISSION: T he Commission on Ju n e 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced and/ or eliminated. The Georgia Public Utilities Company filed its answer, and hearings were duly con ducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Company. The Commission has considered all of the evidence and th e record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by the Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t the same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t th e schedule of rates and charges for said ser vice set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju st and com m ensurate w ith th e cost of rendering said service, and w ith th e reasonable value of said service to th e pub lic, and will afford adequate com pensation to th e Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to th e City of Griffin to be come effective on m eter readings on and after F ebruary 1, 1935. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. 50 TO GEORGIA PUBLIC U TILITIES CO: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t th e schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after F ebruary 1, 1935, for con sum ption of gas between Jan u ary 1, 1935 and February 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herewith. BY O RDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M . F o K K E S T E B , Secretary. J- W lL H O X T , C hairm an. EXHIBIT "A" SCHEDULE " O" GEORGIA PUBLIC U TILITIES COMPANY RATE G R IF F IN Service Charge--per m eter per month..........-- -Net ............ ............... 0.75 Gross Plus the following charge for gas used (Per 1,000 Cu. F t.) For th e first 2,000 cu. ft. used per m onth...,............. .................................---S 1-10 F or th e next 3,000 cu. ft. used per month.............................................................. 85 All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per month-- ......................... .-- ---- --,.........- .............60 $ 1.20 .95 .70 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the dis count for prom pt p aym ent if bills are paid w ithin ten days of th eir date. M INIM UM BILL: The minimum m onthly bill shall be $0.85. D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION R E : Gas C ompanies Operating in the State of Georgia BY TH E COM MISSION: T he Commission on Ju n e 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be re duced a n d /o r eliminated. T he Georgia Public U tilities Corp., filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Company. 51 The Commission has considered all of the evidence and the record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by the Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t th e same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set fo rth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju s t and com m ensurate w ith th e cost of rendering said service, and with the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to the Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of Brunswick to be come effective on m eter readings on and after F eb ru ary 1, 1935. BY O RDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cem ber 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W lL H O IT , C hairm an. TO GEORGIA PUBLIC U T ILITIES CORP.: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determined th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th a t said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after F eb ru ary 1, 1935, for consum ption of gas betw een Jan u a ry 1, 1935 and F eb ru ary 1, 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith th is Commission in accordance herewith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P., W lL H O I T , C hairm an. EXHIBIT "A" For th e first 2,000 cu. ft. used per month. For th e first 3,000 cu. ft. used per month. All over 5,000 cu. ft. used per m onth___ _ .$ 1.50 1.20 1.10 All bills calculated on th e above rates are subject to a discount of ten (10j) cents p er 1,000 cubic feet, if paid on or before th e 10th day of th e m onth. M IN IM U M C H A R G E: $1.00 per m onth per m eter. 52 D ocket N um ber 392-A GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RE: Gas C ompanies Operating in the State of Georgia BY TH E COM MISSION: T he Commission on Ju n e 4, 1934, issued a rule nisi directed to all Gas Companies operating under its jurisdiction to show cause why gas rates should not be reduced and all extra charges for services, by w hatever name the same may be called, should not be reduced and/ or eliminated. The A tlanta Gas Light Company filed its answer, and hearings were duly conducted under the rule nisi. The record as made, consists of both oral and docum entary evidence. The investigation covered all pertinent phases of gas rates, charges and service of the Com pany. The Commission has considered all of th e evidence and th e record before it pertain ing to said Company, and upon such consideration, finds th a t the rates and charges now in force by th e Company are excessive, unjust and unreasonable, and th a t th e same should be reduced. The Commission further finds th a t the schedule of rates and charges for said service set forth as an exhibit to its Order hereon, is reasonable, ju st, and com m ensurate w ith the cost of rendering said service, and w ith the reasonable value of said service to the public, and will afford adequate compensation to the Companies rendering said service, and th a t an order in accordance herewith should issue applicable to the City of A tlanta and Vicinity to become effective on m eter readings on and after F ebruary 1, 1935. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. P. J . W lL H O IT , . C hairm an. TO ATLANTA GAS LIG H T COM PANY: You are hereby advised th a t the Commission on this date made its findings wherein it determines th a t the schedule of rates and charges for Domestic and Residential con sum ption in force by your Company are unreasonable and excessive, and further finds th at said rates should be reduced in accordance with the schedule hereto attached, said rates to become effective on m eter readings m ade on and after F ebruary 1, 1935, for con sum ption of gas between Jan u ary 1 , 1935 and F ebruary 1 , 1935, subject to th e order of this Commission, and you are O R D E R E D : To file w ith th e Commission, m onthly statem ents of your operations, gross earnings, and itemized statem ent of your expenses, including taxes, and you are F U R T H E R O R D E R E D A ND D IR E C T E D : To file tariffs w ith this Commission in accordance herwith. BY ORDER OF TH E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, this De cember 20, 1934. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. P. J . W lL H O IT , C hairm an. 53 EXHIBIT "A" SCHEDULE "O" ATLANTA GAS LIG H T COMPANY RATE N et Gross Service Charge-- per m eter, per m onth...............................1___ _______ 4i.....$ 0.60 Plus th e following charge for gas used (Per 1,000 Cu. F t.) For th e first 1,000 cu. ft. used per month|_......................................................$ 1.10 F or th e next 2,000 cu. ft. used pter m onth,... ....................................................... 1.00 For th e next 17,000 cu. ft. used per month..TM........................................................ 60 All over 20,000 cu. ft. used per m onth............................................................. .65 $ 1.20 1.10 .70 .65 PROM PT PAYM ENT DISCOUNT The difference between the net and gross rates stated above shall constitute the discount for prom pt paym ent if bills are paid within ten days of their date. M INIM UM BILL: The minimum monthly bill shall be $0.65. D ocket No. 18,825 18,212 M arch 30, 1934. IN R E : G eneral R evision of Class and C ommodity R ates betw een P oints w ithin the State of G eorgia BY TH E COMMISSION: The Georgia Public Service Commission, on its own initiative, issued its rule nisi on August 17, 1933, which rule was amended Septem ber 27, 1933. U nder th e rule nisi as amended, all carriers were called upon to show cause why freight class and commodity rates between points within the State of Georgia should not be reduced. H earing on the rule was continued by proper orders until Jan u ary 8, 1934, on which d ate all interested carriers filed appearances and th e general investigation was begun. This hearing and investigation was full and complete; it was conducted from day to day. After the completion of the carriers' testimony on general freight class rates, the investi gation on commodity rates proceeded. After the carriers had concluded their testimony, the hearing was adjourned until M arch 5, 1934, a t which tim e witnesses who testified for th e carriers were called and cross-examined. The shippers and the public were duly notified and attended said hearing and took a part therein by and through their duly authorized representatives. Much historical and statistical data was placed on the record concerning the general operations of all the carriers involved. The entire investigation, both as to class and commodity rates, has been concluded and the record closed. The Commission now has before it for consideration said entire record, and, after full and complete consideration of the same, now proceeds to make its findings and issue an order as relates to cotton. 54 The present maximum rates prescribed by this Commission for the transportation of cotton between points w ithin th e S tate of Georgia becam e effective N ovem ber 15, 1923 (docket No. 15,416). I t is common knowledge th a t a t th e tim e docket 15,416 w ent into effect th e farm ers were receiving around 30 cents per pound for th eir cotton. On Septem ber 6, 1932, th e Georgia Public Service Commission, in docket No. 18,212, issued an order, upon petition of the carriers, relating to the rates on cotton. The find ings of the Commission, in its opinion, recited among other things, as follows: " A t th e tim e th e present rates were prescribed (November, 1923) by th e C om m ission__________ m otor tru ck tran sp o rtatio n was unknow n." " The transportation of cotton by motor truck has been increasing in volume each year during the p ast five years and has made great inroads into the rail carriers' revenues. This is indicated by th e witnesses for th e A tlantic C oast Line who testified th a t five years ago the average revenue received by the A tlantic Coast Line each year on its cotton traffic was from $1,250,000.00 to $1,500,000.00, b u t th e revenue on th is traffic has been decreasing each year and for th e season ending July 31, 1932, th e to ta l revenue by th e A tlantic C oast Line on its cotton traffic was only $73,000.00. Similar testim ony was pre sented by the witnesses for the Central of Georgia Railroad and other rail carriers. The record shows th a t during the past three years the rail carriers have attem pted to hold the cotton movement to their lines by publishing com petitive rates from point to point as approved by the Commission, b u t these so-called competitive rates have only controlled th e movement to the rail lines to-a very lim ited ex tent and it is plain th a t i t is for th is reason th e carriers are proposing the very drastic reduction in this case." " I t is th e observation of th e Commission th a t th e g reat preponderance of th e cotton now moving by motor truck creating the competition which the car riers here seek to meet, is being hauled by m otor trucks th a t do no t come under th e jurisdiction of this C om m ission..................... M any cotton dealers have purchased motor trucks and are performing their own transportation service." In th e order of th e Commission of Septem ber 6, 1932, th e carriers were " authorized to publish tru ck com petitive rates on co tto n to expire Ju ly 31, 1933, unless sooner cancelled, changed or extended." Since the issuance of the above order these truck competitive rates have been, and now are, in effect in Georgia and during th e years 1932,1933 and th u s far in 1934, have been the going rates and the measure of compensation received by the carriers for the movement of cotton intrastate in Georgia. The record in the present investigation repeatedly discloses th a t this ra te is, in th e opinion of th e carriers, com pensatory and affords the only means by which the carriers have been enabled to regain and hold a ma terial portion of this class of traffic. Georgia is prim arily and essentially an agricultural S tate and th e ability of th e people of Georgia to purchase tran sp o rtatio n is based on th e value of th e farm ers' dollar. I t is common knowledge th a t th e value of cotton on to d ay 's m arket is about 12 cents per pound; it requiring 2 pounds of cotton a t to d ay 's m arket price to re tu rn th e farm er th e same num ber of dollars th a t he received for 1 pound of cotton a t the tim e the- present m aximum rates were p u t into effect in 1923. T he In tra sta te Commerce Commission, in a recent case, reported in 178 I. C. C., a t page 563, said: " The relation of the general level of freight rates to the general level of com m odity prices is a factor which cannot be disregarded, particularly in a tim e of general financial prostration. S tated in another way, it means consideration of w hat th e traffic can reasonably be m ade to bear." 55 I t then quoted from the Supreme Court in the Ann Arbor Railroad Company case vs. United States: " The causes of suffering are not only the great shrinkage in volume of business done b u t in the violent fall in the prices received for the products, a fall which has not been experienced by the carriers in the prices which they receive for their service. T he fall in th e price level in. th e case of agriculture has been of extraordinary severity so th a t m any branches of th a t industry are in a state of unprecedented collapse and pro stratio n ...................... H igh rates do n o t neces sarily m ean high revenue, however, if th e public cannot or will not ship in nor mal volume, less revenue may result th an from lower rates." The words of the court are conclusively proven in the history of cotton rates in Georgia for, as stated above, according to the testimony of A tlantic Coast Line Railroad Company witnesses, their revenues decreased from $1,250,000.00, or $1,500,000.00 an nually to $73,000.00 annually under th e high rates prescribed in 1923, which are still th e maximum rates prescribed by this Commission and now in effect, and the rail carriers, recognizing th a t greater revenue would be derived from lower rates, requesting the Com mission to perm it them to p u t into effect truck competitive rates which still prevail in Georgia. I t is common knowledge th a t th e rates fixed in 1923 by th e Commission were largely determined by the W ater competition existing a t th a t time. W hen w ater competition was present on the navigable streams of Georgia, rates were made to key points where competition existed. However, the march of progress and the desire for speedier forms of transportation have practically eliminated river boats and barges, and today we find the carrier faced with a competition th a t moves on our system of highways, namely, trucks. T ruck com petition is present and is known to be a stable, perm anent form of tran s portation th a t th e railroads m ust recognize, and it is th e opinion of th is Commission th a t rates o f a perm anent natu re m ust be prescribed th a t will lend stability to th e rail ra te structure such as will move th e traffic so th a t th e tonnage m ay be brought back to th e railroads in order th a t they may escape the present threat of financial ruin. The public is also interested to th e extent th a t contracts of th e various industries m ay be made with regard to the permanency of the rates under which commodities m ust move. I t is the maxim of business com petition th a t th e price charged is controlling. T he car riers have literally honeycombed the continental area of the United States with truck com petitive tariffs. We fully realize th e need and im portanceof adequate railw ay facilities, how* ever the increasing num ber of truck competitive tariffs, in view of th e decline in railw ay tra f fic lost to m otor carriers, dem and th a t we point o u t th e fact th a t th e shipping public cannot be expected to w ait an indefinite period of uncertain experimentation. The com petition with motor trucks, which the carriers themselves adm it had practically des troyed their traffic in cotton until these truck competitive rates were p ut into effect by them , is perm anent. T he going rates for co tto n in th is S ta te are th e tru c k com petitive rates which the carriers established by authorization of this Commission on September 6, 1932, and which have been in effect since th a t date, and it is th e opinion of this Com mission th a t we should, by proper order, make this the maximum reasonable rate for the movement of cotton intrastate between points within this State, and thereby lend stability and perm anency to the rate which the railroads m ust use if they expect to move this commodity. We are convinced th a t the carriers' attitude with respect to the rates on cotton indi cate th a t the experiment with this truck competitive rate has been successful and has w arranted a continuance of this rate. I t is undoubted th a t th eir revenues from this haul has materially increased since the carriers found it necessary to petition the Commission for the order permitting the rates. We find, upon consideration of the record in this case, th a t the present schedule of rates on cotton applicable on Georgia in trastate traffic on this commodity, which were es- 56 tablished and became effective N ovem ber 15, 1923, are grossly unjust, unreasonable, ex cessive and exorbitant and should be reduced. We further find th a t th e schedules of rates which were fixed voluntarily by th e car riers and authorized by th is Commission as tru ck com petitive rates on Septem ber 6, 1932, are just and reasonable rates for application on the movement of cotton intrastate between points within this State and are ju st and reasonable maximum rates which are commen surate w ith the value of the service rendered by the carrier and which are just and reason able to the carriers. An order for the future will be entered in accordance w ith th e above findings. J. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. D ocket No. 18,825, 18,212. I N R E : G en era l R ev ision of C lass and C ommodity R ates b et w ee n P oints w ithin the State of G eorgia, R ule N is i before G eorgia P ublic Service C ommission After consideration of the record in the above stated case, and in accordance with th e opinion and findings of th is Commission, it is, O R D E R E D : T h a t effective on and after M ay 1, 1934, and u n til fu rth er order of this Commission, the rates shown in Appendix " A", attached hereto and made a part of this order, shall be the maximum rates to be charges for the transportation of Cotton as described in Appendix " A" by all rail carriers operating in the State of Georgia, for single and joint line application. O RD ERED F U R T H E R : T hat the joint rates prescribed in the foregoing order shall be divided on the same basis and under the same condition as prescribed in the Commis sion's order dated Decem ber 7, 1927, effective Jan u ary 15, 1928, D gcket 16,415. Subject to further order of the Commission. BY ORDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. J. P. W ilhoit, C hairm an. 57 APPENDIX "A" R ates on C otton, Join t and Single Line (R a tes in c e n ts per 100 p o u n d s)__________ _______________ D istances D escriptions A B D istances D escriptions A B 5 Miles._____ _ 7 19 190 Miles._____ 21 33 10 miles............ 7 19 200 m iles 22 34 15 miles............ 7 19 21 ft m ile s 23 35 20 miles______ 7 19 220 m iles 24 36 25 miles___ ..... 7 19 230 miles 25 37 80 miles_______ 7 19 240 miles .. 26 38 35 miles_______ 7 19 250 m iles 27 39 40 m ile s ... 8 20 260 m iles 27 39 45 miles............ 9 21 270 m iles 29 41 50 miles............... 10 22 280 m iles 30 42 55 m ile s ... 10 22 290 m iles 31 43 60 miles............ 11 23 300 m iles 32 44 65 m ile s ... 12 24 310 m iles 33 45 70 miles............... 13 25 320 m iles', 34 46 75 miles............ 14 26 3 2 5 m i l e s _____ 80 miles______ 14 26 330 miles 35 47 85 miles............ 15 27 340 m iles 36 48 90 miles............ 16 28 350 m iles 37 49 95 m iles 17 29 360 miles . 38 50 100 miles............ 17 29 370 m iles 40 52 105 miles............ 17 110 m iles 17 115 miles......'.__ 17 120 miles............ 17 130 miles............... 18 29 380 m iles 29 390 m iles 29 400 m iles 29 410 m iles 30 420 m iles 42 54 43 55 44 56 45 57 47 59 140 miles............... 18 30 150 miles............. 19 31 160 miles............... 19 31 170 miles....___ _ 20 32 180 m iles............... 20 32 DEFINITION OF SCALES D escrip tio n A-- Cotton (other than absorbent, carded or dyed) in bales uncompressed, any q u antity, to go through to destination uncompressed. E xcept as. provided in N ote 1 below, rates apply for direct shipm ent on through bills of lading from origin to destination. Cotton (other than absorbent, carded or dyed), delivered to car rier in compressed bales, any quantity. Except as provided in N ote 1 below, rates apply for direct shipm ent on through bills of lading from origin to dsetination. D escrip tio n B-- Cotton (other than absorbent, carded or dyed), in bales uncompressed, any q u antity, wi,th privilege of compression in tra n sit in accordance w ith tra n sit tariffs lawfully on file w ith th e Commission. R ates include an allowance of 12 cents per 100 pounds for compression when th e privilege of Compression is exercised. Except as provided in N ote 1 below, rates apply for direct shipm ent on through bills of lading from origin to destination. N o te 1-- R ates will also apply on cotton accorded tra n sit privileges under tariffs lawfully on file w ith th e Commission. N ote 2-- An additional charge of 5 cents per bale m ay be assessed to cover expense of un loading whenever carrier unloads or pays for unloading except a t its freight depot at destination. 58 D ocket No. 18,835, 19,131. April 5, 1934. IN R E : G en era l R ev ision of Class and C ommodity R ates b etw een P oints in the State of G eorgia BY TH E COMMISSION: The Georgia Public Service Commission, on its own initiative, issued its rule nisi on A ugust 17, 1933, which rule was am ended Septem ber 27, 1933. U nder th e rule niisi as amended, all carriers were called upon to show cause why freight class and commodity rates between points w ithin the State of Georgia should not be reduced. H earing on th e rule was continued by proper orders u n til Jan u ary 8, 1934, on which date all interested carriers filed appearances and th e general investigation was begun. This hearing and investigation was full and complete; it was conducted from day to day. After the completion of the carriers' testim ony on general freight class rates, the investi gation on commodity rates proceeded. After the carriers had concluded their testimony, the hearing was adjourned until M arch 5, 1934, a t which tim e witnesses who testified for th e carriers were called and crossexamined. The shippers and the public were duly notified and attended said hearings and took a p a rt therein by and through theijr duly authorized representatives. Much historical and statistical data was placed in the record concerning the general operations of all the carriers involved. The entire investigation, both as to class and commodity rates, has been concluded and th e record closed. The Commission now has before it for consideration said entire record, and, after full and complete consideration of th e same, now proceeds to make its findings and issue an order as relates to cottonseed. The present maximum rates prescribed by this Commission for the transportation of cottonseed between points within th e S tate of Georgia have been in effect since M arch 15, 1924. T hey were prescribed by th e Commision on A ugust 30, 1923, in D ocket 15,416. T he rates so prescribed, and which have been in effect since th a t date, consisted of sepa rate mileage scales for single line hauls and jo in t line hauls. The chronological statem ent of rates on cottonseed, C. L., effective on Georgia in tra sta te traffic since M ay 1, 1880, and as subsequently changed, is shown on th e car riers' exhibit 466. T he record disclosed th a t th e average rail haul of cottonseed in th e Southeast is ab o u t 75 miles. This com paratively sh o rt h aul results from th e fa c t th a t crude oil mills are generally located in the cottonseed producing areas. N ot more th an 25 per cent, of th e cottonseed m ovem ent in th e Southeast is interstate. In view of the fact th a t this average haul is only 75 miles, it necessarily develops th a t m ost of th e traffic is therefore moving under single line hauls, and th a t a m ost m inute proportion is susceptible to th e jo in t line rate. Because of th e lack of traffic m ovem ent on this commodity over joint line hauls any joint line differential would have very little effect, if any, upon the revenue of the rail carrier. A t the same time, the class rates 1 to 12 under D ocket 13,494, an d as prom ulgated by this Commission in its class ra te order of M arch 23, 1934 makes no differentiation betw een single line hauls and jo in t line hauls. This sam e statem en t is tru e w ith respect to a v a st num ber of com m odity rates in effect throughout th e South, for both interstate and intrastate application. I t is also true th a t the'param ount reason for the differential for joint line hauls over single . line hauls has been the alleged extra or added costs involved in interm ediate interchange, 59 a n d / o r yard switching. T he carriers have n o t proved th a t it is any more expensive to switch traffic divisionally than to switch the same traffic from its line to its connections. In view of th e fact th a t th e differential in favor of th e jo in t line haul is frequently ignored in a vast num ber of cases, there does not appear any particular reason why it should be m aintained as to this commodity. We, therefore, are of the opinion th a t a ju st and reasonable schedule of rates for application in the movement of this commodity should apply both for single and joint line hauls, and w ithout differential. The record also discloses th a t prices paid for cottonseed fluctuate from year to year. W ithout doubt, th e com paratively short haul of th e cottonseed m ovem ent is one reason why a large portion of th e traffic in this com m odity is by m otor trucks. Loss and damage claims in connection with the shipm ent of cottonseed are negligible although this com m odity is moved in box cars m ostly for th e reason th a t, as a practical m atter, it must be kept dry. The carriers' exhibit 492, as well as other portions of the record in this case clearly show th a t there is no uniform ity among th e present scales effective in in terstate traffic in the Southeastern Territory. The rates now in effect for interstate application in Southeastern Territory and given general application by the carriers, are entirely with out uniform ity and some are very m aterially higher than others. As an illustration of this fact, it was testified by the carriers' witness, Mr. Pope, th a t a shipment of seed from Orangeburg, South Carolina, to Augusta, Georgia, a distance of 87 miles, carried a ra te of 7.9fi per 100 pounds. This ra te is 5.6ji less th a n th e single line in tra sta te ra te in Georgia for the corresponding distance and constitutes a clear discrimination in favor of the South Carolina shipper against the Georgia shipper, equidistant from Augusta. I t was also shown th a t the scale of rates applicable on interstate traffic between many points would give generally th e same result. This is only one illustration, which m ight be m ultiplied very generally, as indicative of the fact th a t intrastate rates in Georgia should be revised, and is fu rth er conclusive of th e fact th a t th e present level of rates on this com m odity is unreasonably high and excessive. The witness above mentioned, referred to the present rates in Georgia as "normal rates" and further testified th a t a very small percentage of cottonseed was being moved a t these rates. These tw o statem ents conflict, for a norm al ra te is such a ra te as will, under existing conditions, move the traffic and a t the same time be a ju st and reasonable rate. For distances up to 75 miles, a m ajor portion of th e volume of th e traffic in this com m odity is moving other th a n by rail carriers. A large portion of this traffic is moving by trucks. T he Commission has heretofore, in its opinion in the class rate case, dealt a t length upon this com petitive situation and w hat was there said is forcefully borne o u t by th e adm itted situation as it relates to the movement of cottonseed. We here reaffirm what we have said in previous opinions on this subject w ithout restating it. The Interstate Commerce Commission, in the Highland Park M anufacturing Com pany case, when discussing a num ber of th e interstate scales, said: " The scale applicable in terstate between N o rth Carolina and South Carolina is also lower than any intrastate scale in the Southeastern Territory excepting those in N o rth Carolina and South Carolina and is lower th a n th e Georgia-Ala bama interstate scale and the Georgia-North Carolina-South Carolina inter sta te scale. T he South Carolina S tate scale is applied in terstate from and to C harleston w ith A ugusta and Savannah." (See C arriers' E xhibit 478, page 3). The record discloses th a t th e present in trastate scales on this commodity in effect in the adjoining States are generally much lower than the present rates in effect intrastate in Georgia. Reference is m ade to carriers' exhibit 481 for th e N o rth Carolina scales; exhibit 483 for the. Florida scales; exhibit 484 for the Alabama scales and to various other exhibits for the scales and minima carload weights now in effect in intrastate State traffic in the various States in Southeastern Territory. We have made a tabulation on which we have shown the various single line and joint line scales applied in Georgia as compared with adjoining States. For the purpose 60 of fu rth er comparisons of these rates, we have tak en th e sum of th e single an d jo in t line' scales now being applied in the States shown, and divided this sum by two for the pur pose of arriving a t an average. For convenience, we have on the tabulation designated this as a " merge scale" . This tab u latio n is attach ed hereto as Appendix 1. This appendix shows th a t the Georgia scales applied on intrastate traffic both as to single line and joint line hauls on cottonseed are unreasonably high and should be reduced. This Commission cannot lose sight of th e fact th a t, while it is^ tru e th a t cottonseed and its by-products have, within the past twenty years, found an increased market and th a t while during this tim e the percentage of consum ption has increased, in spite of these facts, th e cottonseed produced and hauled in Georgia is w orth no more th a n cotton seed produced in adjoining States, within which States the aforementioned appendix shows lower rates than now prevalent in Georgia. The record in this case is void of any evidence which would justify a higher rate for intrastate movement between points in Georgia on this commodity th an existing elsewhere in th e Southeastern T erritory. Geor gia is prim arily an agricultural S tate and from th e standpoint of volume of traffic in thiscommodity, as well as from the standpoint of Georgia transportation conditions, includ ing the terrain, the rate should be as low, or lower, th an for similar hauls w ithin any o f the other Southeastern States. We find, after due hearing and careful consideration of the entire record in this case, th a t th e present schedule of maximum rates on cottonseed, carload, application on Georgia intrastate traffic are grossly unjust, unreasonable, excessive and exorbitant, and should be reduced. We further find th a t the schedules of rates prescribed as just and reasonable shall be applicable for either or both, single a n d / o r joint line hauls. An order for th e 'future will be entered in accordance w ith th e above finding. (TABLE OF RA TES, PAGE 62.) J . P . WlLHOIT, C hairm an. D ocket 18,825, 19,131. April 6, 1934. IN R E : G en era l R evision of Class and C ommodity R ates b etw een P oints w ithin the State of G eorgia. R ule N isi before ' th e G eorgia P ublic Service C ommission After consideration of the record in the above stated case, and in accordance with th e opinion and findings of this Commission, it is O R D E R E D : T h a t effective on and after M ay 10, 1934, and u ntil th e fu rth er order of this Commission the rates shown in Appendix " A" hereto attached and made a part of this order shall be the maximum rates to be charged for the transportation of cotton seed, carload, as described in said Appendix, intrastate between points in the State of Georgia, by all rail carriers operating in the State of Georgia for single and joint line application. O RD ERED F U R T H E R : T h at the joint rates prescribed in the foregoing order shall be divided on the same basis and under the same condition as prescribed in the Commis sion's order dated Decem ber 7th, 1927, effective Jan u ary 15th, 1928, D ocket 16,415. Subject to the further order of the Commission. BY ORDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. 61 J . P . WlLHOIT, C hairm an. APPENDIX 1j STATEMENT SHOWING BATES ON COTTONSEED. O. L. IN GEORGIA. S. L. AND J. L. AS COMPARED WITH ALABAMA. MISSISSIPPI. NORTH CAROLINA. SOOTH CAROLINA ANO FLORIDA. ALSO STATEMENT SHOWINGTHE AVERAGE SINGLE AND JOINT ________ LINE OR MERGED SCALE FOR GEORGIA, ALABAMA. MISSISSIPPI, AND NORTH CAROLINA. Miles Georgia Georgia S. L. Scale J. L. Scale Georgia Merged Scale Missis?* Alabama Alabama Alabama Mississ Mississ ipp S. L. Scale J. L. Scale Merged ippi ippi Merged Scale S. L. Scale J. L. Scale Scale North North Carolina Carolina S. L. Scale J. L. Scale North Carolina Merged Scale South Florida Carolina S. L. Scale S. L. Scale 5 5.5 9.5 7.5 5 10 6.5 9.5 8 5 5 7 5 6 5 5 7 7 6 6 4.5 6.25 5.5 5.1 6.85 6 2.85 5.65 3.4 6.2 15 7 10 8.5 6 8 7 5.5 7.5 6.5 5 .6 ' 7.4 6.5 3.95 6.75 20 8 11 9.5 6 8 7 6 8 7 5.65 7.4 6.5 4.5 6.75 25 9 12 10.5 7 9 8 6 8 7 6.3 7.95 7 4.5 7.35 30 10 13 11.5 7 9 8 35 10.5 13.5 12 8 10 9 40 11 14 12.5 8 10 9 45 11.5 14.5 13 9 11 10 GO 11.5 14.5 13 9 11 10 6.5 8.5 7.5 6.3 7.95 7 6.5 8.5 7.5 6.75 8.5 7.5 7.5 9.5 8.5 6.75 8.5 7.5 7.5 9.5 8.5 7.35 9.1 8 8 10 9 7.35 9.1 8 55 12 15 13.5 9.5 11.5 10.5 8.5 10.5 9.5 7.35 9.1 8 60 12 15 13.5 9.5 11.5 10.5 8.5 10.5 9.5 7.9 9.65 8.5 65 12.5 15 14 10 12 11 9 11 10 7.9 9.65 8.5 70 12.5 15 14 10 12 11 9 11 10 7.9 9.65 8.5 75 13 15.5 14.5 10.5 12.5 11.5 9.5 11.5 : 10.5 7.9 9.65 8.5 5.1 5.1 .65 6.2 6.2 7.35 7.35 7.35 7.35 7.9 7.9 8.45 8.45 9.6 M 9.6 10.15 10.7 10.7 11.25 80 13 15.5 14.5 10.5 12.5 11.5 9.5 11.5 10.5 7.9 9.65 8.5 85 13.5 16 15 11 13 12 10.5 12.5 11.5 8.45 10.2 9.5 90 ! 13.5 16 15 11 13 12 10.5 12.5 11.5 8.45 10.2 9.5 95 14 16.5 15.5 11.5 13.5 12.5 11 13 12 9 10.75 10 100 14 16.5 15.5 11.5 13.5 12.5 11 13 12 9 10.75 10 7.9 7.9 7.9 8.45 8.45 11.85 11.85 12.4 12.95 12.95 110 14.5 17 16 12 14 13 11.5 13 12 9 10.75 10 120 14.5 17 16 12.5 14.5 13.5 12.5 14 13 9 10.75 10 130 15 17.5 16.5 13 15 14 13 14.5 13.5 9.6 11.35 10.5 140 15 17.5 16.5 13.5 15.5 14.5 13.5 15 14 9.6 11.35 10.5 150 15.5 18 17 14 16 15 14 15.5 14.5 10.15 11.9 11 9 9 9.6 10.15 10.15 13.5 13.5 14.5 14.65 14.65 160 15.5 18 17 14.5 16 15.5 14 15.5 14.5 10.15 11.9 11 10.27 15.2 170 16 18 17 15 16.5 16 15 16.5 15.5 10.15 11.9 11 10.7 15.75 180 16 18 17 15.5 17 16.5 15 16.5 15.5 10.15 11.9 11 11.25 15.75 190 16 18 17 16 17.5 17 16 17.5 16.5 10.7 12.45 11.5 11.85 15.75 200 16 18 17 16.5 18 17.5 16 17.5 16.5 10.7 12.45 11.5 11.85 15.75 210 16.5 18.5 17.5 17 18.5 18 17 ' 18 17.5 10.7 12.45 11.5 220 16.5 18.5 17.5 17.5 19 18.5 17 18 17.5 10.7 12.45 11.5 240 17 19 18 18.5 20 19.5 17.5 18.5 18 11.25 13 12 260 17.5 19.5 18.5 19.5 21 20.5 18 19 18.5 11.85 13.6 12.5 280 18 19.5 19 20.5 22 21.5 19 20 19.5 11.85 13.6 12.5 12.4 12.95 13.5 14.1 14.65 15.75 15.75 15.75 16.35 16.35 300 18 19.5 19 21.5 23 22.5 20 21 320 18.5 20 19.5 22.5 24 23.5 20 21 340 18.5 20 19.5 23.5 25 24.5 21 22 360 18.5 20 19.5 24.5 25.5 25 22 23 380 19 20 19.5 25.5 26.5 26 23 24 20.5 12.4 14.15 13.5 20.5 12.95 14.7 14 21.5 12.95 14.7 14 22.5 13.5 15.25 14.5 23.5 13.5 15.25 14.5 15.75 16.35 16.35 16.35 16.9 16.9 16.9 400 19 20 19.5 26.5 27.5 27 24 25 24.5 14.1 15.85 15 420 19 20 19.5 27 28 27.5 14.65 16.4 15.5 440 19.5 20.5 20 27.5 28.5 28 14.65 16.4 15.5 460 19.5 20.5 20 28 29 28.5 15.2 16.95 16 17.45 18 18 19.2 APPENDIX "A" MAXIMUM RATES TO BE CHARGED BY ALL RAIL CARRIERS OPERATE IN G IN T H E STATE OF GEORGIA FOR TRANSPORTATION OF COT TO N SE ED , CARLOAD, M IN IM U M W E IG H T 30,000 PO UN DS FO R SINGLE AND JO IN T LIN E APPLICATION. R ates in cen ts per 100 P ounds. M iles R ate M iles R ate M iles R ate 5 5.5 80 8.5 210 11.5 10 6 85 9.5 220 11.5 15 6.5 90 9.5 240 12 20 6.5 95 10 260 12.5 25 7 100 10 280 12.5 30 7 110 10 300 13.5 35 7.5 120 10 320 14 40 7.5 130 10.5 340 14 45 8 140 10.5 360 14.5 50 8 150 11 380 14.5 55 8 160 11 400 15 60 8.5 170 11 420 15.5 65 8.5 180 11 440 15.5 70 8.5 190 11.5 460 16 75 8.5 200 11.5 D ocket No. 374-A IN R E : G en era l R ev ision op C lass and C ommodity R ates betw een P oints in Georgia BY TH E COMMISSION: A rule nisi was issued by th e Georgia Public Service Commission on M ay 15, 1934, directed to all rail carriers operating under its jurisdiction to show cause on M ay 28, 1934, why freight class and comm odity rates between points w ithin the S tate of Georgia should n ot be reduced. T he rule was amended on M ay 26, 1934. H earing under th e rule nisi was postponed u n til Ju n e 11, 1934, on which d ate on m otion of counsel for th e carriers th e hearing was recessed u n til Ju n e 25, 1934. At this hearing, the carriers through their counsel tendered the entire record and all exhibits in docket No. 18825 before th e Georgia Public Service Commission, and th e entire record made in docket No. 18825 was ad m itted in evidence for consideration by th e Commission as applicable to all carriers. The Commission then proceeded to hear evi dence both oral and documentary as it related to the subject m atter of the investigation. W hen all the pertinent evidence was in th e record was closed. The Commission now has before it for consideration th e entire record made in said investigation and now proceeds to make its findings and issue its order thereon as it re lates to class rates. k. . . ...... _ Briefly, the history of freight class rates applicable w ithin the State of Georgia is as follows: T he pre-war level which was in effect prior to June 25, 1918, was by general order No. 28 of th e D irector G eneral of R ailroads increased 25 per cent, effective on th a t d a te . This level of class rates continued in effect u n til Septem ber 1, 1920, a t which tim e 63 th e Georgia Public Service Commission authorized a general increase of 25 per cent, on all class rates w ithin the S tate of Georgia. This order of the Public Service Commission ws in conformity w ith an order of th e I. C. C. under ex p arte No. 74. In this connection, th e Commission refers to Docket 26,000 of the I. C. C. and to th e opinion rendered by Commissioner Aitchison of th a t body, concurred in by Commissioners Porter and Lee, on Ju ly 31, 1933, which gives effect to th e tw o increases above referred to in th e follow ing language : " B u t th e depression of 1921 showed, although less clearly th a n th e la st four years, th a t a pyram ided rate structure stifled traffic,'that its m aladjustm ents seriously impaired the buying power of the community, and by reflection F more and more curtailed the tonnage of the rail lines." A general 10 per cent, reduction was ordered by th e Georgia Public Service Com mission, effective Ju ly 1, 1922. T his reduction was ordered in conform ity w ith a general reduction order of the Interstate Commerce Commission which had the effect of reduc ing th e general level of class rfates in Southern te rrito ry approxim ately 10 per cent. Again referring to D ocket 26,000, supra, it was said: " The increases in 1918 were th e result of an overwhelming dem and th a t th e railroads be p u t in a self-sufficing position; th e reductions in 1922 resulted frbm the demonstration th a t high maladjusted rates stifled business and injured shippers and carriers alike." (195 I. C. C. 75). This rate rem ained in effect u ntil Jan u a ry 15, 1928, a t which tim e th e scale of rates prescribed by th e In te rsta te Commerce Commission in I. C. C. D ocket 13,494, Southern class rate investigation, became effective on Georgia intrastate traffic under an order of the Georgia Public Service Commission made in conformity w ith the order of the In ter state Commerce Commission. The general effect of this order in its application to class rates in th e Southern territory was expressed in D ocket 26,000, supra, in the following language: " The Southern class rate investigation theoretically left the class rate level unchanged; in effect, it perm itted the w ithdraw al of m any lower rates and thus worked a real increase." T he present basic ra te level in th e Southern te rrito ry is th e one resulting from th e general changes above described, modified by subsequent readjustm ents, revisions, excep tions and reclassifications. From a consideration of the evidence in this case before the Commission and based upon the figurs given by the carriers representing the average revenue per ton mile, and which gives effect to the reductions th a t have been made to meet m otor vehicle and w ater competition, th e average level in effect today in Southern territory (Carriers' E xhibit 79, sheet 5) is approxim ately 40 per cent, higher th a n th e pre-w ar level. Of course, th e revenues per ton mile cannot be accepted as accurately reflecting freight levels b u t they m ay be considered as a fair index establishing levels. The accurate or exact level would necessarily be somewhat higher than th e one given on revenues per ton mile for the reason th a t there are thousands of special commodity rates and truck competitive rates under which most of the traffic moves and from which definite results cannot be obtained; also for th e further reason th a t the exact percentage of diversion of traffic, especially short haul, to m otor trucks and other forms of tran sp o rtatio n is n o t obtainable. Carriers usually accept revenues per ton mile as showing in a general way rate level trends. In th e m ajority opinion in D ocket 26,000, 195, I. C. C., pages 10 and 11, th e I. C. C. showed th e average revenues per ton mile of class one railways of the country as a whole for th e years indicated. In 1916 th e revenue per to n mile of these carriers was 7-07 miles, while in 1932 th e revenue per to n mile was 10.45 miles. W ere it no t for th e fact th a t thousands of reductions of individual rates have been made to meet competition, th e average ton mile earning in 1932 should have been m aterially greater. From the above figures, th e revenue per to n mile was 47.8% higher in 1932 th a n in 1916. 64 The brief history of class rates for Southern territory above referred to and which has been developed by this Commission was based upon the data and information con tained in C arriers' E xhibits 79 and 80 of th e witness Tilford and Exhibits 134, 135, 136, 137, 149, 150 and 151 of th e witness M arks, as well as from all of th e d a ta and inform a tion contained in the record in the case before it. T he above history of class rates in Southern T erritory and all Georgia in trastate traffic clearly establishes the fact th a t the carriers have heretofore been successful in th eir efforts to secure high rates during periods of inflation and increasing prices. I t cannot be doubted th a t th e general increase of 25 per cent, under G eneral Order No. 28 of th e D i rector General of Railroads grew out of the increase in all prices which prevailed a t th a t time. After the war and im mediately following the period of Federal control, the in crease in all prices continued. As a direct result of this general increase, th e In te rsta te Commerce Commission, under ex p a rte 74, acceding partially to th e wishes of th e car riers, granted th e second general increase of 25 per cent, which became effective Septem ber 1, 1920. The increases above referred to are indicative of the fact th a t changes in general' level of prices upward was the basis upon which the carriers sought and obtained higher rates. The exact figures showing the general increase in wholesale prices are contained in the exhibits of th e carriers in this record. P articu lar reference is here made to th e price indices in this record shown on E xhibits 24, 25 and 26 of th e carriers and to th e docum ents therein referred to, particularly " Wholesale Prices, A ugust 1933, Serial N o. R35" of the United States D epartm ent of Labor. As illustrative of th e change in level of prices, reference is made to C arriers' E xhibits 47, 48, 81 and 82, as well as th e exhibits above referred to. T abulations condensing some of these prices further illustrating the change in level are shown in the Commis sion's E xhibits 1, 2, 3 and 4. D uring th e la tte r p a rt of th e year 1920 and during th e years 1921 and 1922, th e general level of prices dropped, all commodities rapidly declined and this general decline in th e level of prices was given p artial effect in th e 10 per cent, ra te reduction referred to. I t is evident th a t th e controlling facto r resulting in this 10 per cent, general reduction which becam e effective Ju ly 1, 1922, was th e general decline in prices referred to. Georgia is prim arily and essentially an agricultural state and th e ability of th e people of Georgia to purchase tran sp o rtatio n is based on th e value of th e farm er's dollar. W ith increased farm income comes increased purchasing power resulting in increased con sum ption and increased production. T he C arriers' tonnage is directly related to con sumption and production. We here refer to th e Commission's E xhibit 5 which is a statem en t com paring th e pre w ar and present purchasing power of th e farm er's dollar. In spite of th e fa c t th a t th e farm er's dollar when spent before th e w ar for such item s as he m ust buy is now w orth considerably less in purchasing power, this same dollar m ust be used in paying tran s portation costs under prevailing class rates a t approximately 140% of the pre-war level. The conditions affecting other industries have been alm ost as disastrous. These are m atters of common knowledge. I t is certain th a t w hatever reduction in reduction and revenues th e carriers have experienced, they have not experienced any reduction jp the prices whiph they have re ceived for the service rendered, on the contrary there has been an increase in this price. The changes which have taken place in this country during the past several years have been such as to excite the attention of all thinking people. Some of the expressions which clearly express the extent of the changes are not, in our opinion, inappropriate. In the recent M innesota M oratorium Case, Mr. Chief Justice Hughes of the U nited States Supreme C ourt said th a t the General decline which has prevailed during the last few years was a m atter of common knowledge. He quoted from Justice Olsen from th e Minnesota State Court, as follows; 65 " The present nation-wide and world-wide business and financial crises has th e same results as if it were caused by flood, earthquake, or disturbance in nature. I t has deprived millions of persons in this nation of their employment and means of earning a living for themselves and their families; it has destroyed the value of and the income from all property on which thousands of people depended for a living; it actually has resulted in the loss of their homes by a num ber of our people, and threatens to result in th e loss of their homes by many other people in this State. I t has resulted in such widespread w ant and suffer ing among our people th a t private, state and municipal agencies are unable to adequately relieve tl^e w ant and suffering and Congress has found it necessary to step in and attem pt to remedy the situation by federal aid." M r. Chief Justice Hughes after a general discussion as to the prevailing economic conditions and after having quoted approvingly as above referred to, announced a general principle based upon a consideration of th e rights of th e public. Quoting from page 241 > i 1Si f n^ Ve,r Class B p i e or Lines) to th e first class ra te shown on Appendix A and all other classes related to first class on percentage shown below. D ifferentials D istances F irst Class D istances F irst Class 10 miles and under... 25 miles and over 10. .... 40 miles and over 25. 50 miles and over 40. ... 65 miles and over 50. --- i3*f 15 17j 20 2 2.if 120 miles and over 80.. 140 miles and over 120 160 miles and over 140 190 miles and over 160 220 miles and over 190 80 miles and over 65. ~ 24 i 350 miles and over 220 27 if 30 ff 32jf 34 jf 36i 39jf In com puting rates, fractions to be disposed of as provided by F reight R ule No. 8. CLASSIFICATION OF RAILROADS F reig h t T ariff Class "A" R ailroads: APPENDIX "C" Alabama Great Southern Railroad Company A tlanta, Birm ingham and Coast Railw ay Company A tlantic Coast Line Railroad Company A tlanta and West Point Railroad Company Central of Georgia Railway Company Charleston and Western Carolina Railway Georgia Railroad Georgia Southern and Florida Railway Company Lexington Terminal Railroad Company Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company. Monroe Railroad Company ^ r o a d ) ^ ^ ^ attan 0ga and Bcu's Railway Company (W estern & Atlantic Rail- Southern R ailway Com pan C ` ( L R ` P We11, J r " and H enry W - Anderson, Receivers) F r e i g h t T a rif f C la ss k ahv}l 3f 2?' 1tih'e?,Mr aet e.ts"a these PPear to have been have be" restored to " * approxi- S S e onW I l ' I9?- T l e PresTM` rates f t * E m e in 11 H u 32, aPPb cab le to any q u an tity to Savannah and Brunsw ick and present first c la " sc Je f f S g ? n " " b " iS f n in e te e n < * P t nf tk ^ c o m m o d itie s move largely in Southeastern Georgia, and in the direction of th e ports of Brunswick and Savannah. A stu d y of th e record and exhibits filed hv tho C S S m C nneCttl0n T th th is movem ent indicates modities represents a substantial p art of the carriers' freight haul in the section referred to, and when th e traffic is held to th e rail lines is a su bstantial S o d t nf t v2nr ? ef hearing bef re th e Commission on docket No. 18825, Mr. M ark W Thom as of the Central of Georgia Railway testified on behalf of the carriers on this subject ford P i , ^ ratln g th e traffic m this com m odity th e C entral of Georgia Railw ay is used M r T W ^ and co.mPfa^atlve Purposes. I t appears from E xhibit No. m ^ l e d by M r Thom as as a p a rt of his testim ony th a t in th e year 1928 th e C entral of Georgia R ailway had a grand to ta l carload traffic of rosin and tu rp en tin e of 44 866 tons which produced a freight revenue of $76,260.00 and th a t in th e year 1932 it had a tttts f < 2 freight traffic of these commodities of 18,340 tons w ith a freight revenue of $36 7Q5 00 " S E t th Period>b?tb in volume and revenue, more th a n fifty (50%) per cent Tt * 8 f-r t h e r 1caTM in tb e territory for th e same period s h o w ip r a c tS ll v th e same experience as th a t of th e C entral of Georgia Railw ay; th a t is, a dechL T n voTume f n r ih ^ l and/ f veaue of from fifty (50%) per cent, to sixty (60%) per cent. The reason for this loss of traffic and consequent loss of revenue is, in th e opinion of th e Commission argely attributable to the prevailing high rates under which the commodities are moving! ttiicca lalyUd rviv^e n^ tthhe etrai f^fiic ff^ro m t h e ra ils b yt ht ha te tyheea rr a1t9e3s1 oann dthtehsaet , cboumt mf oord tithiee st rhuacdk pc roamc - petitive rates which have been perm ited to be filed by this Commission from tim e to tim e T m ! ;0SK? volume and m revenue from this source would have been alm ost com plete his is borne out by excerpts from applications for truck com petitive rates which have* been filed from tim e to tim e by th e carriers w ith this Commission! We quote here from three of these applications: f- f e Genef aI Traffic M anager of th e American S hort Line R ailroad Association, filed w ith th e Commission on A ugust 10, 1931 which appears to be the first application for a truck competitive rate.) On account of actual tru ck com petition, au th o rity is re spectfully requested to publish rates on naval stores, any quan- II n i011Di^ai S1 notice to tb e Commission, from Swainsboro, Dellwood, Blundale and Greenway, Ga. to Savannah, Ga., to expire A ugust 31, 1932, unless sooner cancelled, changed or extended; as follows: " Rosin-- 11 per 100 pounds T urpentine-- 2 1 ^ ^ . per 100 pounds " We are informed th a t with this slight reduction in rates, a portion of the traffic which we are not now moving may be re gained, and it will also probably prevent other parties from di verting their naval stores tonnage to the trucks." % -1,933' we quote from th e Traffic M anager of th e Georgia & xlonda Railroad on the subject of truck competitive rates.) /,`A t PresenL a tru ck com petitive ra te of 9jf. on Rosin, and lO V it. on Turpentine, from Hazlehurst, Ga.; to Brunswick, Ga., is in effect via th e Southern Railw ay direct, as published in Agent Spieden's N aval Stores Tariff, I. C. C. 1457, to expire December 81, 1933. " Our shipping friends a t H azlehurst are offering us shipments to move via our line to Douglas, thence A. B. & C. R ailroad, and th e la tte r line has expressed to us^ th eir willingness in meeting the rate of the Southern Railway. (As late as April 1934, we quote from M r. F. L. Spieden, Agent, S. F . T . B.) " T here is a substantial m ovem ent of rosin and turpentine from Rochelle, P itts and Queensland, Ga., to Savannah, Ga., and an investigation developed th a t the m ajor portion of the trattic is now being handled by truck. The rail lines will be deprived of the entire movement unless truck competitive rates are imme diately established. The proposed rates compare favorably with truck competitive rates from other Georgia points to Savannah, Ga., and it is, therefore, proposed to publish th e rates shown ia Exhibit " A" subject to expiration date of December 31, 1934. " In order th a t rail carriers may be in a position to move this traffic prom ptly when offered, i t is th e desire of^ ymj1" mner th a t he be perm itted to publish rates proposed in Exhibit A . subject to expiration date as pro d d ed herein, effective a t the earliest *possible d ate on one day s notice. I t can thus be seen from these quotations th a t over a period of have been trying to regain and hold this traffic w ith truck compe carriers have interesting t o note th e statem en t of M r. Spieden to th e effec referred made an investigation of the. m ovem ent in rosin and turpem i to and th a t th is investigation developed th e fa c t th a t th e orT ,o rtioil 0f th e P , j ines traffic in A pril of th is year was being h an d led by tru ck s a l,d Jh ^t w ere in a position w here th ey m ig h t lose th e en tire m ovem ent in th is com m odity unless com petitive rates were im m ediately established. As indicated by recent expressions of Congress, rates should be ^ " ed tjm t will have th e effect of moving commerce and it is m anifest from th e situation show relative to these commodities th a t the maximum prescribed rates commodity. The experiment of truck competitive rates has and th e application of M r. Spieden in April 1934 is .indlcative of th e facTM y t7 affic^ periment has clearly proven th a t the maximum prescribed rates m il no mov This being true, the Commission feels th a t it is its d u ty under statu tes oli t h i S t a t e to arrive a t a fair and ju st maximum reasonable rate to be^prescribed . c0mm0(iities of these commodities. I t is unfair to th e producers of th e s e ^ P ^ a n t c o n m ad itie and unfair to the buyers a t the ports, as well as to the carriers themselves th a t under which these commodities are moving, should remain in condition, and th e Commission feels th a t f is to th e in terest of th is lg* n d a * * J an the rail carriers th a t the rates be stabilized on a reasonable, fair and ju st basis. Truck comDetitive rates are in most instances point to point which necessarily resulte hi m or^c^Tle^Jdiscrim ination. I t is desirable th a t this discrim ination be rem oved and the Commission has endeavored to do this in th e prescribed mileage scale. The Commission hais given consideration to th e situation as shown by th e recor and has come to th e conclusion th a t th e present maximum rates aie exc:ess've'f able and unjust and th a t a fair, reasonable and ju st maximum rate is to be found sub stantially lower th a n those now in effect A ttached heret.o i ^ ef n ^ 0d" bl^ to th e schedule of rates which the Commission has found to be fa ir,ju s t and reasonable to shipper and the carrier for the movement of these commodities. An order for the future will be entered in accordance w ith th e above findings. This, th e 21st day of July, 1934. 89 J. P. W lL H O IT , C hairm an. Ju ly 21, 1934. File-- 19231 D ocket N o. 374-A IN R E : R ule N isi before Georgia P ublic Service C ommission, G en era l R e v isio n OF RATES ON NAVAL STORES BETWEEN POINTS IN GEORGIA. After consideration of the record in the above stated case, and in accordance with th e opinion and findings of th is Commission, it is, O R D E R E D : T h a t effective on a n d a fter A ugust 20, 1934, and u n til th e fu rth e r order of this Commission, the rates shown on Appendix " A" attached hereto and made a part of this order shall be the maximum rates to be charged for the transportation of naval stores in either carload or less carload quantities by all rail carriers in Georgia. , v u ? FU R T H E R : T hat the joint rates prescribed in the foregoing order shall be divided on the same basis and under the same conditions as prescribed in the Commission s order dated D ecem ber 7, 1927, effective Jan u a ry 15, 1928, D ocket 16415. BY ORDER OF T H E GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. J. M. F orrester, Secretary. ______ _____ J. P. WlLHOIT, C hairm an. A PPEN D IX " A" RATES ON NAVAL STORES, ANY QUANTITY FOR SINGLE & JO IN T LIN E APPLICATION BETW EEN POINTS IN GEORGIA R a tes A re in C en ts per 100 P o u n d s M iles R ates B M iles R ates B 10 20 30 40 50 5 6X 200 5 7 210 5 7 220 5 7 230 5X 8 240 lsx 21X 14 22 14X 22X 14X 2SX 15 24 60 70 80 90 100 6 8X 250 6 8X 260 6 8X 270 6 8 X 280 8 10X 290 16 17X 19 21 22 25 26X 28 30 33 110 120 130 140 150 8 10X 300 8 10X 320 10 12 340 11 12X 360 12 14 380 22 34 23 35 23 36 24 37 25 38 160 12K 16 170 13 18 180 13 20 190 13X 21 400 26 39 420 27 40 440 27 41 460 27 43 Com m odity D escription A--Crude wood oil, pine gum, pine pitch, pine tar, pine tar oil, pyroligneous liquor, rosin, rosin batting dross, rosin dross, rosin liquor, rosin oil and rosin sizing. n ` C om m odity D escription B--Pine oil, spirits of turpentine, and turpentine. 90 D O C K E T S09-A F IL E 19227 IN R E : R evision of R ates on P etroleum and P etroleum P roducts Betw een P oints in G eorgia. BY T H E COMMISSION: U pon a com plaint filed by th e S tan d ard Oil C om pany of K entucky, th e Gulf R e fining C om pany and th e A tlantic Refining C om pany, on th e 19th day of Jan u ary , 1934, alleging discrimination in the rates on Petroleum and products thereof moving In trastate in Georgia against the Interstate movement on the same commodities from the territory khown as New Orleans Baton Rouge Group, th e Commission issued its nisi to all Rail Carriers operating within the State of Georgia to answer said petition and scheduled the hearing for Jan u ary 26th, 1934. The hearing was continued from January 26th and was taken up on M arch 13th, 1934. * Between th e date of th e petition filed by th e S tandard Oil Company, th e Gulf Re fining Company, and the A tlantic Refining Company, and th e date of th e hearing, other Oil Companies operating w ithin th e S tate of Georgia intervened in said case. A t th e hearing held on M arch 13th, 1934, Traffic Representatives of th e Oil Com panies operating within this State and all R ail Carriers were present and both subm itted testimony for consideration by th e Commission in the m atter of rates to, from and between points in Georgia on Petroleum and Petroleum products. A voluminous record of oral testim ony and m any exhibits were filed by com plainants and defendants in said m atter. The case was concluded on M arch 14th, the record ordered closed, all parties having answered th a t they had no further testim ony to offer and the Commission took th e m atter under advisement. T he Commission now has before it for consideration, th e entire record made in said investigation and now proceeds to make its findings and issue its order thereon as it relates to Petroleum and products thereof. The record discloses w ith reference to th e allegations of discrimination and the extent of the discrimination in th e existing rates from Brunswick, P o rt W entw orth and Savannah certain p e rtin e n t facts clearly se t o u t in com plainant's E xhibits 1, 2, 5, 11, 12, 13 and 15 by W itness Beck. We find from th e record th a t shipments have been regularly made from New OrleansB aton Rouge D istrict into Georgia in competition w ith shippers from th e Georgia Ports of Brunswick, P o rt W entworth and Savannah. C om plainant's E x h ib it 19 clearly shows th e a b ility