Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-28
FEAR VICIOUS
COUNCILS SEEK
GRIP ON RATES
CONTINUED From Page One.)

no matter what the amount of stock may
be, are fixed the rates.
'It is a significant fact that up to 1914,
before the war, not one utility in Indl-
ana had been given an increase in rates.
You cannot name a single utility that
has had its rates raised more than 80 per
cent, and yet the cry goes out that the
utilities have been granted too many In
creases."
He compared the increases with those
In other lines of business.
Examples Of increases in cost Of ma
terials used in the telephone business
were set out by Mr.. Barnhart. who stated
he was appearing in behalf Of all the
telephone companies of the State. Any
man who invested his money in g pub
lie utility some years ago ran the risk
of having some incoming city council
wine out his fortune in one night, he
said. The public service commission
changed this condition.
wien the war came" said Mr.. Barn
hart, the utilities of Indiana were the
last to raise their rates for their service.
We ploddOd alopg as best we could IN
til a year ago last November on the
rates we were charging in 1917"
He said their per cent of increase over
1917 prices at the present time is 1896.
Increases in materials costs, he said, ran
from 90 to 100 per cent.
at is the public service commission
that has enabled US to live through this
crisis" he said. Turn 1t back TO the
councilsl of the various cities and you
VIII be making grave mistake"
Dick Miller speaking for the Indian
apolis Chamber of Commerce, gave fig
ures on what has been accomplished by
the commission since its establishment.
He stated that the chief desire OF the
trainers of the bill is apparent. They
desire to place the utilities again IN the
hands Of the councils, he said.
Utilities are natural nsnOpolies," he
said, land must be controlled by some
body In a scientific manner. If we have
law now that Is satisfactory don't let's
take it of the books"
More figures were presented by Mr..
Inman, Eubstantiating the statement that
the commission has accomplished much
good since its establishment.
The argument of~supporters OF the bill
was begun by Col. Jewett Of New Al
bany, who denounced the commission. lie
stated that he people Of New Albany,
where he is city attorney, are absolutely
opposed to the commission, and stated
that II a vote were taken there the re-
sui would be 20 to 1 against the reten-
ton OF the body.
There is only one mistake in this
hil," he said. THAT is in the revival
OF the railroad commission" He added
that this commission would be unneces-
sary. because Of the transportation act
Of 1920.
he charged that the public service com
mission act was wrong in the first place
and that its administration has been a
failure.
lie insisted that the people should
control the making OF rates, because they
could obtain redress at the next election
If treated unfairly. At present, when
rates are raised and the people do not
like the administration Of things, all they
can do is to grin and bear 1t. he said
he declared the principle was unfair,
because the power to increase the rate
is left In the hands OF one commissioner
who hears a case
Representative Smith stated that he
was not OF the belief that the local coun
ellis could not control rate ma king in a
proper manner.
I'VE have councilmen at home that are
Just as competent, II not more 80, than
any man on the public service commits
sion" he said.
Mr.. Smith charged that not one man
on the commission had. previous TO his
appointment. been acquainted with the