South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-19

WHY EVERY SOUTH BEND AND
MISHAWAKA VOTER SHOULD
HEAR CHAIRMAN DUNCAN OF
THE STATE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION WHEN HE SPEAKS
AT MISHAWAKA, ON TUESDAY
NIGHT.
The coming OF Thomas Duncan,
chairman of the state public service
commission. To Mishawaka Tuesday
night, TO address the voters on the
Importance Of the commission and
other features of the campaign, should
be i'm itself an invitation TO every cit
izen of both South Bend and NIisha-
waka. 10 turn out and hear him re-
sardless OF party.
The public service commission is a
comparatively new thing. 1t is the
modern way OF regulating public util-
tiles Wisconsin, Massachusetts and
New York were the pioneers, with the
emphasis on Wisconsin. and Sen. Rob
ert NJ. La Toilette as the pathfinder.
We do a great deal OF talking here
about lower gas rates; lower rates of
electric service; more street car tick
cts for a quarter. and there is a move
mebt OF TO have the conduct of our
city water plant readjusted. These
things If ever accomplished. have
20 be by order OF the state public ser
vice commission. and for that reason
Mr.. Duncan should have an excep-
uonal hearing,
The excellent work done by the
legislature of 1913 in creating the
public service commission is generally
recognized and approved by the peo-
pie OF Indiana regardless of any par
~ affiliations. The work OF the five
men who have been entrusted with
the task of carrying out the provis-
ions OF this law has served not only
90 prove the excellence of the law it,
self. but also has demonstrated the
wisdom of Coy. Ralston i'm the selec-
ton of all the members
At the time the bill was pending.
while IL was yet i'm committee and be-
fore the amount of the appropriation
was decided upon. ii was estimated
by the public comment that it would
require about 100000 q year. but
rhis point was carefully considered
10y the legislature and the amount Ii
nallv allowed was $4,000. OF this
amount the commission has turned
back saving OF S2S.334.20 at the end
of the first year. I'm subsequent years
there will boz more saved, FOR there
was the initial expense of fitting up
the offices in the state house and sew
craI bills for leEal services and other
things inherited from the old railroad
commission that had TO be taken care
OF.
Several pages of any newspaper
might be filled recting the large
amount OF work accomplished by this
commission, for il has been the hard
est working body i'm the state. Ii has
handled millions of dollars worth of
property. regulating rates TO consum-
ers who deal with public utilities, fix
ing rates only on basis of fair re-
turns for the investment. an such in
Vestments being determined by care
ful appraisal OF visible property used
and useful i'm the furnishing of ser
vice for which the rates are fixed.
The law by which the commission
is created was fashioned from the
hest statutes of other states, TO which
were ADDED many provisions which
seemed desirable Co make the work
more efficient. There are very few
parts of the state where the people
have not received some direct bene-
fits from the operation of the COM
mission during the first year of its
existence
The adjustment and merger Of gas
companies and fixing OF lower rates
10 the consumers saved 20 the people
Of indianapolis alone an amount each
year equal 90 tie entire appropriation
allowed the commission. Savings 10
the people of other cities Of Indiana
under settlements accomplished 10y
II commission have been proper
tionately large and these savings will
constantly grow larger as the work
progresses. many cases Of much i'm
portance being now on file for con-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES three from
South Bend
These three are the water depart
ment, the gas company and the cleo