South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-29
SHANK DECLARES
HOLIDAY FOR Big
MERGER PROTEST
Urges City Employees to Join
in Parade to State House
on Monday.

NJ ~
Lew shank Saturday declared half
holiday Monday for all city en-
,loyes so that they might join his
rr,5test parade 20 the state house.
where he said ne would voice com
plaiut against the action OF the pub
lfC service commission approving the
Indiana Electric corporation consoli-
dstion project on a valuation basis
o. &1T.5O0.0O0
simultaneously with his declara-
iIOn Of the holiday, the mayor sent
kilograms 20 the mayors Of ElkharL.
ISokomo and other cities affected By
fhe concern. inviting them TO take
part iu the demonstration, which
viii start With q parade headed by
Mayor shank.
Announcement was also made by
the mayor that he had received
word that Gov. McCray would use
state troops to prevent the demon
stratiou. but the governor said such
action was "unhcard OF and ridicu-
f0uS." while Adj. Gen. Harry E..
Smith said that 10 was absolutely
untrue Mayor Shank said he re-
ceivcd a telephone message from a
person representing himself "a Gen.
Smith saying that state action would
Doe taken TO prevent "rowdy'' dem
oustration
While excitement rcigned at both
state. house and city hall by the
mayors announcements OF possible
use Of troops formal notice was
civen Gov. McCray that a delega-
rF Frrd Ia I'D off
visit him on Monday to make known
their stand against rate increases
Tor any public utility company. The
governor said he would meet the
delegation. which 1t was said would
be headed by Mayor Shank
The mayor made the announce
ment during a meeting of local
civic organization which announced
they would join the demonstration.
n want every man. woman and boy
I'm the city TO meet me Monday and
will hire band TO head that
march on the state house" said the
mayor. land we will show the pub
lie service commission where 10
head, in I want 10 tell Gov Nc
GRAY just how I felt about this
whole thing and demand that he
ask their designations
What is the use TO pay Gov. Nc
Cray a salary if he lets those men
there on the public service commits
sion put such stuff as that over on
u.s. demanded Mr.. Shank
Another angle in the fight against
tho merger was revealed i'm the an
nouncemeut by Taylor +. Croninger,
city corporation counsel. that pc
titiOn for the rehearing of the mer-
ger which was authorized to or
ganize and issue s17.496. 600 i'm Sc.
curities by the commission Thurs
day. viii be filed with the commits.
sion early next week. Mr.. Gronin-
ger made the announcement follow
ing a conference with Samuel Ash
by, eX-city corporation counsel,
Fred Bates Johnson. representing
cities affected by the merger. and
William T.. Taylor. indianapolis at
toruey representing number OF
consumers.
Mr.. Johnson said the effort to OBJ
tain a reheariug would center large
ly around questions Of capitalization
az the Indiana Electric corporation
which was authorized by the com
mission To sell S17.f96.00O OF securI-
ties The legality of the consoIida.
tiou. ne said. also would he qucs
toned
The Tetition FOR rohcarins. accord
ing 20 Mr.. Johnson. Will be sought
cen the following reasons:
THAT each and every company
viii he taken over az an increased
capitalization
That II this company is permit.
ted 10 over capitalize all other util
tiles in tho state viii increase thef
capitalization 30 20 100 percent.
That each Of the present com
panies Gin tho consolidation ar,
oyer-capitalized and by the merger
the capitalization will bc increased
from 40 TO 100 percent.
That the order Of the commission
is Illegal because certain pleading,
were made after the case was closed
That the merger is illegal be
cause the interested parties-th,
Merchants Public Utility Co. an,
the American Utilities CO.. Of which
Joseph Brewer. president or the In
diana Electric corporation. is presi
dent. are not parties 10 the cause
That either the rates must h,
increased or the investing public vii
be defrauded
That an attempt is being mad,
to do indecent1v what the petitioner
Indiana Electric, .,-Dors4s-.. .r