Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-05-25
COAL SHORTAGE
CAUSES UTILITY
CONCERNS ILLS
Gets All Blame for Rate In
crease Petitions Before
Service Board.
HIT FROM EVERY SIDE

The shortage and high price of
coal is largely responsible for the
necessity of increased rates, accord
ing to testimony in the hearing be-
fore the public service commission
today of the petition of the Indian
apolis Light & Heat Company and
Merchants Heat & Light Company
for a readjustment of rates.
Appearing for the Indianapolis Light
and Heat Company were c. n. Thomp
son and Z. F. Scott with Samuel Ashby,
corporation counsel, appearing for the
city and W. w. Hamomnd, representing
the Merchants association.
! James w. Fesler and Howard W.
Young appeared as counsel for the
Merchants Heat and Light Company.
The petitions of both companies were
heard al one time. by arrangement Of the
commission and the counsel.
James W. Fesler in his opening state
ment to the commission stated that. due
10 the Increased costs Of labor, fuel and
other supplies entering into the manu-
faeture and furnishing Of light. heat AMI
power. the companies were unable 10
meet the cost of service at the rates now
a surcharge Of mills, which was later
changed 10 Z mills.
KSAFF FIRST TO
TAKE THE STAND.
THE Merchants Heat and Light Com
pany is asking for only such increase in
rates and surcharge as the commission.
after hearing the evidence and investigat-
ing. deems wise" said Mr.. Fesler.
The company asks for an order grant
ing authority to grant the surcharge,
making it retroactive 10 May I. 1920.
which, in addition 10 the present charge,
would afford the petitioner opportunity
to cover the cost of production"
Henry knaff. treasurer and auditor Of
the light company. who was the first TO
be placed on the stand. testified that cost
Of labor and materiale entering into the
manufacture Of electric power had in
creased 100 per cent over the cost in 1917.
Fuel. be estimated has increased l26
per cent In the same period.
Considerable time was spent by the
attorneys and the commission IN thresh.
ing out the coal problem.
CONSIDER ALL SIDES
OF COAL SITUATION.
The coal situation. from every angle,
from shortage OF ears, scarcity OF labor,
and strikes, to cost of placing fthe fuel
IN the bunkers OF the light company,
was fully discussed. and when counsel
for the petitioners announced they bad
summoned several coal men TO testify
at the hearing Il evident the com
pany intended laying on the coal situ-
alton the brunt of the high cost OF
production.
Asked as 70 the prices paid for coal,
by the nght company. Mr.. knapp re-
piled from figures he had prepared. that
from March. 1915, to March, 1917. coal
had been purchased at s price OF $40
per ton in the company's bunkers IN
the same period from 1917 20 1917. the
price was $lT3 per ton; from 1915 to
1919. the cost was sea- per ton. and in
the same period from 1919 to the present
time the company had been forced to pay
81 s. per ton.
The company lost S95,OOO in November
and December, 1919. and January and
February OF this year. because Of the
strife OF the coal miners called Nov /.
last. and on account of the recent switch
mems strike" Mr.. KnsG declared
At this point NJ T.. Gould, president
Continued on Page Four.)