The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-20
Statement Made by Governor
To Gas Association Has
Made All Politicians Sit Up
And Rubber
HE HAS CORPORATION
LAW UP HIS SLEEVE
Which He Thinks Would Be a
Good Thing. But Has Not
Made Thorough Investiga-
tion-Too Many Boards.
palladium Specially


Indianapolis Ind. Jan. n-Goyer.
nor Marshall made a declaration YES.
terday at the meeting OF the Indiana
Gas association. that has made some
OF the politicians and others sit up and
take notice. He declared that he was
opposed to the control OF public SER
vice corporations by state commissions.
ms Is taken tn mean that he would
be opposed TO public service COM
mission. such as has been suggested
many times recently for the control
and regulation of such corporations.
II was suggested las: year, before tho
legislature convened. that ii would be
a good plan to broaden the powers of
the State Railroad commission SO a.
TO give it jurisdiction over public ser.
vice corporations of other classes as
we'll as railroads, and bill was intro
duced in the legislature for the crea-
tion of a public utilities commission
with this end in view.
Had Too Many Jokers.
The bill would have made progress,
too. if it had not been discovered that
it was framed in the special interest
OF some of the corporations and not
in the interest of the public. The bill
received black eye from the start. on
this account. II the right kind of a
bill had been introduced. the kind that
had been promised and which had
been talked about beforehand. IL prob
ably would have been enacted into law.
but the members of the legislature
would not stand for the kind of a bill
that was introduced
There has been a widespread belief
throughout the state that some such
law was needed in this state. A
large number of the business and COM
mercial bodies took up the matter and
expressed their approval of a plan of
this kind. The bill which was intro
duced had the backing of the Indiana
Manufacturers and Shippers associa-
tion.
When it was found that the bill
could not pass the Legislature it was
proposed TO change il SO as to confer
upon the railroad commission the pow
ers and duties which the original bill
proposed to confer on the public utili-
thus letting the whole plan drop out
of sight
Believe in Economy.
II is we'll known that Governor Mar.
shall is opposed to too many commits
sions. He believes in economy in the
management of state affairs and he
insists that there are always more
Io<,v ,vv,sc ccso l<a -RR
clerks. deputies and others in the SER
vice of the state than the state has any
use for, and he is opposed to any in.
crease in the number.
The governor suggested a law by
which public service corporations shall
be permitted to invest as much money
as they like and fix their own prices,
but after a reasonable dividend has
been paid on the capital invested. the
| remainder shall be turned back to tho
! state. He was not ready. ne said. to
declare in favor of such a law. because
he had not Investigated il thoroughly.
He believed. though that It was worth
careful consideration.
The governor spoke Of the necessity
for an adequate employers liability
law. He declared that II was less ex.
pensive for an employer to pay q rea-
sonable amount for the injury OF an
employe than for him to go into court
and fight the case
| The governor declared also that he
would always stand opposed to any law
which would be beneficial to one cor
poration and detrimental to another.
Talks on Legislation.
James W. Dunbar. OF New Albany.
president of the Indiana Gas Associa-
| ton, in his annual address. had much
to say about legislation He declared
that the great problem OF the gas in
dustry was its relation to the public
and the tendency of the public through
| its legislators to legislate unjusfly
against the industry.
For our success he said. I'VE are
| dependent On the good will Of the pub
lie we serve II Is for us to endeavor
to get that good will and even then we
may be doomed IL justice is not accord
ed. But justice can not be accorded
IL legislatures are going to pass bills
arbitrarily reducing the price OF gas
to a point that will not attract invest
ors. Our industry is, therefore. men,
aeed and threatened by the caprice of
citizens and the ambitions Of some pol
iticians who will pose az the benefac-
tors OF the age II he can bring about
the enactment OF q Law reducing the
selling price Of gas In the city Of his
constituents"
| The president referred to the clAcent
gas Law which was enacted for Indiana.