Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-13
HOLDS PUBLIC
UTILITIES NOT
PROFITEERING

PROFITEERING
Continued From Page Oue)
through reduced prices of necessary COM
mOdities, 1t bids fair, unless properly un-
derstOod, to react. on utility companies
in a most harmful way.
Even now we hear n demand for the
immediate or early reduction of rates
With few exceptions. these demands are
made by honest and sincere individuals
who are acting under the best of mo
tiyes, but who lack information. The
danger lies In the development of a wide
spread demand for Wholesale reduction
Of rates which rests its case upon a
present downward trend of commodity
prices.
There are several vitality important
facts which should be generally recog-
nized in order that justice be done.
1. The average increase in utility
rates during the past four years Is sub
stantially less than the average increase
in the prices of the necessities of life.
2. During the past four years
most utilities have earned less than a
fair return upon their invested capital
during the next few years Of downgrade
prices utility companies should be per
mitted to recoup reasonable losses SUI
fered in the period Of upgrade prices.
d.
not now, based. on the peak Of war and
postwar operating costs and therefore
a considerable reduction In commodity
prices can occur before the average Of
prices generally reaches the point on
which utility rates. generally speaking
are now based.
i. There have been millions of
dollars of deferred maintenance during
the past four years which must now be
taken care OF.
EARLY NEED OF
IMPROVEMENTS.
5. One hundred million dollars should
be expended for additions and improve
ments in the next two years by the
utilities OF Indiana IN order to give the
public services which are vitality neces-
sary to the industrial welfare, health
comfort and convenience of the people
generally.
0. The credit of utilities has been
impaired, and this vast sum OF money
cannot be raised and the public cannot
be served unless the credit of public util-
tty enterprises generally Is improved
through the medium of adequate reve-
nues.
I. The welfare of the State and
the country calls for a broad and sym
pathetic understanding Of these important
facts which should be OF basic importanca
In the formation OF regulatory policies.
At this point 1 desire TO emphasize
Wnat l have said elsewhere thar II is
not only the duty OF regulatory bodies
TO maintain the sOlvency of utility enter.
prlses, but IL Is their duty to SEQ 10 a.
that the utilities which they repnlate o.
not only solvent, but are haaItbv and
prehtsble. 1t is not enough merely n
let utility exist but II should hayo -
compensation which will reflect itself t''
prosperous operation, good hnancjai
credit heaIthy growth and good service
REWARD FOR
GOOD SERVICE.
Furthermore, the utility that rendars
the best service and shows a deenar ra9
gard Tor Its obligations as an aTencv Of
the pubic service, should no lihoSofi-.
rewarded, just as the utility that renders
poor service and has little regard - jt J,
pubic obligations should be Restricted IN
It's reward iicteu III
Public service commissions may be de-
pehdiea upon to maintain the financial
out the land. They understand THAR re-
responsibilities and have the courage to 40
their part in maintaining the economic
wen oelng or the Nation. They under
stand, perhaps more than others the real
need for a deeper understanding and an
probation OF the copartnership which
exists between utility enterprises and
Ihe puonc' and they realize their i'm
potency to act when the public service
corporations inexcusably fail to act In
their obligation adequately to serve.
service is the primary obligation OF
al utilities Public service commissions
cannot do their part unless the utility
does its part. Public confidence in utii-
lty corporations must be restored. The
restoration Of confidence, in large mes q
ure, will depend on the establishment OF
proper public relations-open and above
BOARD practices by the utility, and most
important OF all, good service The utfl.
10y that convinces the public that II Is
honestly and conscientiousIy striving ia
give the best service possible and Is frank
and open In its public relations. will frki
IN most Instances, liberal response on
tne part of the public. Service first
should be the watchword of every publie
service company.
II, due to conditions beyond the CON.
trol or the company. IL is unable to give
adequate service, still the public will re.
spond literally If 1t has been Taught "a
know that the company is honestly and
conscientiouSly doing everything within
It's power to give the best possible service
rms Is not an idealistic or academic con
ciuslon, Tor | have personal knowledg &c
OF many instances where the public has
responded without stint when il was
taught to know that the utility was dfIi-
gently striving to be a real public ser.
want.
Charles L. Henry, president Of the as.
socfation. presided at the luncheon.
HENRY RENAMED
PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Henry was reelected president of
the association at this afternoons SEES
sion. Other officers were elected az fol.
lows: Vice presidents. F. J. Haas. Public
Utilities Company, Evansville, and S. e.
Mulholland. Northern Indiana Gas and
Electric Company, FIT. Wayne; secretary,
NJ. V. RObb, Wabash Valley Electric
Company, Clinton; treasurer, o. c. Perry,
Indianapolis Light and Heat Company
The following were announced by Mr.
Henry IS members of the executive COM
mittee: c. L. Kirk, Indianapolis Water
Company; F. A. Bryan, Indiana & Michi-
gan Electric Company, South Bend
Harry Reid, Interstate Public Service
Company, Indianapolis; Frank Wampler
Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Indian
apolis.
The program for this afternoons ses-
sion included an address on Public
Utilities, the Peoples Business" by Mar
tin ]. insult, president National Electric
Light Association. and an address or
Public Relations" by 2. K. Hall, vice
president American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.
The program for the dinner this eve
ming includes an address of welcome by
Mayor Jewett; an address on "Today's
Utility Problems" by Charles A. Monroe
president American Gas Association, and
an address on Financing Public Serv-
Ice" by Philip II. Gadsden, president
American Electric Railway Association.
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