Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-12-18

creases in city passenger traffic in 1921
and that it viii DO we'll to maintain 1925
traffic" the commission states. THE
commission, however, shares with the
corporation counsel Of the city the expec-
tation that there will be greater read
justments downward in operating costs
than presented in petitioners exhibit"
The commission pointed out that 1 cent
transfers probably win greatly reduce
their use and that a period of observation
: is necessary TO determine the results OF
the order.
The commission sets out In detail a
forecast Of the company's income &C.
count for 1921, listing operating expenses
at 81, $50 922.15 taxes at Sass 1885. fixed
charges at S9s9, 3S0.Tf, making total Of
81 5S2, 441.44. The projected revenues, in
ending approximately $1S2, 256.97 from
/ trans err charges, are fixed at 550O40.2l,
leaving gross earnings Of S1T.59S.T7. From
this is subtracted $4,000 for plant AMI
service Improvements, leaving a deficit
OF S112.4O1.23.
The commission admits, however, that
there are numerous probabilities Of the
elimination Of this theoretical deficit, Be
cause Of this fact the commission con
rIudes that the safest way is to put into
et -ect increased rates only for a short
1 period.
The commission joins with the city
/ in the opinion that petitioner ala not
] concern itself sufficiently with It's tax
/ asses sments in 1919; that it's tax burden
I is attributable. in part, TO failure TO
present for consideration az me ptoPer
I time 70 the local and state taxing
authorities It's overassessments IN l9@V'
the commission says
| The petitioner closes its accruals OF
taxes on the basis of S5lO.0S4.O4 with ne.
cember. 1920. ana tie commission can
hardly expect that taxes viii continue 70
/ be laid on the present assessment OF
J S1S.65S.5 SO
CONSIDERS FREIGHT
/ FACILITIES.
The commission has the following to
say concerning freight terminal IA
/ cilities:
/ The evidence reveals that the most
messing need Of the community at this
/ + me Is adequate facilities for dispatchlng
and receiving interurban freight; that
| petitioner has net provided such faclli.
! ties: that the interurban freight term ma
| operations Of pet .tiOner result In lal
! financial loss to petitioners tb) tnabilty
OF interurhans to develop a very essen
tiaI public service; tc) loss OF revenues
/ 10 iDterurbans and Cd unwarranted and
! hcayT costs to shippers, resulting from
I delays IN acceptance and deliveries AT
/ terminals.
The evidence reveals that the furnish.
ing OF freight terminals for interurban
/ III IS IS part Of the contractual citations
/ between petitioner and the interurbans
/ he commlss on does not now pass upon
the question Of It's right to modify the
contract.
| The commission believes It Of great i'm
| portance and deems Il Of vital interest
and herein calls on pet toner 70 take
up for consideration within the next
month so that relief OF this freight ter
\ rainal situation may be obtained early IN
1921. the whole matter Of providing proper
! freight terminals, either by going for
| ward with plans of its own, or by modi-
| fying its contract with the interurhans
| so as to permit said interurbans 10 pro
! coed in this matter Petitioner will be
| re0uIred to report to the commission on
| or before Feb. 1. 1921. In this matter.
The evidence in this and other causes
before IL leads the commission to the
/ opinion that II IS becoming increasingly
| vital to iuterurban companies and also "a
/ shippers into and out of Indianapolis
/ that interurhan companies be afforded
facilities for development Of their fast
| freight business.
In explaining the policy pursued In
its transfer order the commission says
In adopting such course for a
| seventy one-fay period, ending Feb. IS
/ 1921 The commission does not offer a
/ transfer with a more substantial as
I surance than an extra 1-cent transfer
charge; that Is, declaration Of the
/ policy that the commission will pursue.
WATER HAS BEEN
| SQUEEZED GUT.
Here is a company which. under rigid
/ orders Of this commission was reor-
/ ganized and its securities reduced by
/ S6Is0.O00 The water has been squeezed
] out. The fixed charges also have been
| reduced. The company, from the stand
| point OF its financial organization and
| fixed charges is on q safe and sOnnds ba
sis For more than two years the com
pany has been very closely regulated by
| this commission. Methods OF operation
have been changed at the direction OF
The commission Economies and eff
| ciencies have been effected and adopted
| Under orders Of this commission great
| Improvement in service has been made
| New equipment hos been added and the
service Of the company greatly improved
| Needed extensions of lines have beer
made at the request of the commission
For more than two years this company
has made every effort to conform TO Its
obligations as an agency Of public serV-
ice. Through economical operation and
good management this company stands
| alone in the entire country as compared
with cities Of similar and larger size IN
maintaining a basic 5-cent fare. and the
citizens Of Indianapolis by the econo-
mics and management OF tine company
have been saved millions of dollars In
street car fares, as compared to the
citizens of the large number of other
similar sized cities in the United States
COMMISSION TO
STAND BEHIND COMPANY.
In view of al this, the commission de-
/ sires to emphasize the fact that during
4 the period of its jurisdiction it intends
to stand behind this company TO the full
extent Of the commissions power to main
tain the soIvency and credit of the COM
pany and to protect its property and IN
terests. provided that the company con-
tinues to exercise it's best efforts to meet
| the legitimate Cfmands of the public.
The commission also finds it desirs BILE
| to state to the city that its Legitimate
needs may be taken care Of. The com
mission. viii recognize, and in revenues
/ provide for current market rates for
money so demanded for public use.
/ The responsibility having been placed
on the commission by mandate, the com
mission may not sit idly by If unwar-
ranted demands are made either jim the
( matter of ~ extensions and improve
ments or (2) rates for money.
! The commission has substantial assur-
ance that rates will not be unreasonable
/ to the public served. Those herein
authorized viii be the lowest fares pre-
/ vailing in January and February for
! street car service in any city in this
country having population between
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