The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-10
New Utility Commission
Is Named By Governor

fire marshal of the Ninth District, was
the first state committeeman to be
| favored.
Urged BY Educators.
| President W. Z. Stone, Dean J. II.
Skinner, Prof. James Troop, Prof. X.
| A. Craig and other faculty members
| of Purdut University were among the
strongest supporters OF Mr.. Murphy in
his candidacy for appointment. Mr.
Murphy was graduated from the civil
engineering department of Purdue
| University in 1893, and members of
the University faculty who have known
| him both as a student and business
man wrote letters of Endorsement to
Governor Ralston. w. F. NJ. Goss,
| formerly of Purdue University, who is
now at the head of the College of En-
gineers and Engineering Experiment
Station of the University of Illinois,
also urged Murphy's appointment.
| Mr.. Murphy is an extensive owner of
| land and is a stakeholder in a bank at
| Brookston. He has been engaged in
| the stock raising business on a large
scale and has had several years ex-
perience as a contractor and builder.
His experience as a contractor and
builder it is urged, will serve him we'll
as a member of the commission deal
| ing with public utilities.
Mr. Mcclure, who has been a mem
Der of the Railroad Commission about
! Ave years, holds com mission good
! for three more year. Mr.. Payne has
two more years of a fouryear term 10
serve.
| Formerly Was Judge.
Before he became a member of the
Railroad Commission, first by appoint
ment Of Governor Hanly and then of
Governor Marshall, Mr.. Mcclure was
judge of the Madison Circuit Court.
He still retains his residence in An
derson, making the trip to and from
| indianapolis each day.
Mr.. Payne for several years was
railroad engineman and fireman, and
possesses a practical knowledge of
"railroading' which has made him a
useful member of the Railroad Com
mission. Governor Marshall first ap
pointed him to serve year of the I'M
expired term of Henry NJ. Bowling,
who resigned, and then in May, 1911,
recommissioned him for four years.
He lived at Jacksonville before his
appointment.
Mr.. New, who, as general counsel,
becomes the attorney for both the
Governor and commission, was legal
clerk to Governor Marshall until the
| last campaign, when he resigned to
become secretary of the Democratic
state central committee. He was re-
appointed as legal clerk upon Mr.
Ralstons induction into office last JAN
uary.
Prominent in Politics.
| Mr. New has been prominent in
Democratic politics for several years.
In 1906 he was the nominee for clerk
of the Supreme Court, but was defeat
ed, and two years later he was the
Democratic candidate for reporter Of
the Supreme Court, when he came
within III votes of election. He atten-
ded Indiana University before he en-
tered Bethany College in West Virgin
ia, of which he is graduate. Before
his appointment as Governor Mar
!
the practice of law at North Vernon.
He is one of the most popular Demo-
Gratis in the state.
In appointing three members of the
Public Service Commission, Governor
Ralston had thirty-ive names before
! him from which to make selections.
While the three men appointed were
considered as among the most likely
possibilities, speculation as to who the
Governor would appoint did not end
until the commissions actually had
been signed.
| Powers Of Commission.
Under the Shively-Spencer Public
Service Commission law, the new COM
mission has all the powers conferred
by the Railroad Commission law in
addition to those conferred by the new
statute.
Public utilities coming under the
Public Service Commissions control
and regulation are the interurbans, the
| heat, light and power concerns, street
railway corporations, telegraph and
telephone companies, water companies
and warehouse and elevator compan-
| les. Steam railroads are not defined
as public utilities, but continue under
regulatory laws already in existence.
Utilities in future must be organized
under Indiana law.
| The law provides for the valuation
of all public utilities by the new COM
mission. 1t is provided that the physi
cal valuation found by the Interstate