Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-05
KEEP COALCOST
DOWN, PLEA OF
UTILITIES MEN
Price Raise Means Higher
Rates Must Be Asked, Says
Letter to President.
PROBE BODY TOO SMALL

! If the price Of coal increases, public
utility companies of Indiana must have
greater revenue. they say.
This is the basis Of a campaign
launched today by representatives OF
traction, electric light and power, gas,
telephone and water services of Indiana
to keep down the price of coal and pro-
tect their own financial position
The first step in the joint campaign Of
utility representatives was the address
ing of a letter to President Wilson, in
which dissatisfaction is expressed with
the constitution of the coal commission.
The letter and an accompanying state
ment emphasize these things.
1. Operators will increase the price
of coal rs cents ton because of the
ii per cent increase; utility COM
panies must have higher rates to
cover this or give poorer service.
2. If the presidents coal commits
sion allows an increased price for
coal, the public must pay higher
utility rates again or suffer de-
Perforated service.
s. The financial condition of
utility companies generally Is pre-
carious.
4. With one miner. one operator
and one representative of the public
on the coal commission, utility rep
resentatives feel that the public has
not sufficient representation.
LIVING COSTS
MUST BE CUT.
Believing that the time has come when
every effort must be made to reduce the
already excessive cost Of living, we most
earnestly petition that your coal com
mission be requested to give diligent
consideration to every possible method OF
adjustment that will prevent the price
OF coal from mounting" says the letter
The coal price increase made as a re-
suit of the IA per cent wage increase to
miners will add $4,000 annually to the
coal bill OF Indiana utilities President
Wilson IS told. Few companies can carry
the increase unless it is passed to the
public in some way, It is claimed
If other advanced costs should result
from the action of your commission and
such advances might even be retroactive
under the so-called Palmer settlement,
this new burden, also, It would be neces-
sary for the public TO assume" the letter
continues.
You must be informed OF the current
reports that the so-calIed Palmer settle
ment included private assurance TO the
miners and Of the statement that al
the Palmer settlement, neither have they
accepted II.
POINT OUT
POPULAR APPREHENSION.
I'VE mention these things only 10
point out that, true or untrue, they have
given basis to popular apprehension that
the price Of coal probably will be still
further increased. Our Utilities com
panies appreciated the dehcacy OF your
position and the difficulty of the task
confronting the coal commission. but we
make these representatives as being vital
to our existence and important to the
public welfare
The utility representatives tell Presi-
/ dent Wilson the public would have more
confidence in the commission were It
larger.
The letter. copies OF which were sent
TO Senator Frelinghuysen Of New Jersey.
Senators Watson and New. the Indiana
7 public service commission and Gov. Good
rich, was prepared at n conference OF
utility representatives in indianapolis.
Arthur w. Brady, president Of the
Union Traction Company Of Indiana, pre-
sided at the conference. The letter sent
out by Mr. Brady was signed by him in
behalf of the traction services; by Charles
c. Perry, president of the Indianapolis
Light and Heat Company, for the cleo