The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-01-30
P.U. FIGHT
TO COST A
BIG SUM
Will Take Several Months to
Complete Data for Utility
Rate Decreases

The Calumet region Of Indiana rnobi-
lized Saturday night for the drive on
the public utilities.
City administrations OF Hammond
Cary. East Chicago and whiting joined
forces with ten plenipotentiaries Cd the
Kiwanis. Rotary and Commercial clubs
Of the north end OF the county in a
campaign to force down prices.
1t is planned to disarm the utility
corporations by securing an expert ap-
praisal OF their physical properties and
compile facts Us to the cost OF opera
tion and production.
The concensus OF the meeting was
that success could only be attained by
thorough and expert investigation
covering several months which would
cost not less than $4,000 and possibly
nearly twice that amount. the cost to
be pro-rated 20 the various cities. The
plea for reduced rates which VIII De
made before the public service commits
sion must be Ased on the actual ply
sioal valuation OF the utility companies
plus the actual cost of operation.
AS result OF the joint investigation
the cities OF Hammond, Gary. Fast Chi
caEo and whiting will have a perma-
nent record which can be used as the
basis of future complaints.
TO ABUSE NO ONE
It was greed that sbouse., oratory
political thunder and the make shift
weapons heretofore used with sorry
results would not do. The speakers
declared that the campaign must be
entered into with a hrm determination
to win regardless of expense andfwlth-
cut passion or nrslace.
The industries and business and pro
fessional men nf-the region have a
common interest with the public in the
campaign. II was said.
Mayor Brown OF Hammond, Mayor
Callahan Of East Chicago and the rep
resentatiyes OF the city governments of
Gary and Whiting were of one accord
in the matter. Chairrncn OF tho vari-
Gus city councils pledged their support
to the movement and said they would
each do all in their power to persuade
their councils 10 appropriate.
GEORGE GEYER PREsIDEs.
George Geyer OF the Kiwanis club
was chairman OF the meeting Saturday
night which was held in the banque
room OF Carl Lundgrens cafe at Rob
errSdAle- nose present to4iV"
T. Joseph Sullivan. representing
Mayor Schrage Charles s. Perel. o. E
Meek and Charles P kloser Of Whit
ing; Mayor Brown. Jesse Wilson. David
Emery. r. J. O'Rourke. Roscoe E.
Woods Councilmen Kesler and Wolf
John r. Beckman. P. A Parker and
W. j. McAleer OF Hammond; Mayor
Callahan. A 9. Slocomb. J. B. Camp
Enh
Smith, John Boohnowski ard J. w.
Brissey. East Chicago. and C H. Ma
loney OF Gary. Maloney carried In
strIctions from Mayor R O. Johnson
and the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs OF
Gary.
Mayor johnson and Mayor Schrage
v ere represcn;ated by proxies. Mayor
Johnson was in Tndianapolis.
MoALEER RESOLUTION.
Attorney W. 2. McAieer author e
The resolution passed by the Kiwanis
club Of Hammond w-icl started tha
conre rted stack upon the utilities. was
he 6rst 70 speat. making q plea for
he conu s1lcr and urging that the ma
ter be }.s7 dlesl ns business-like way.
Mr.. McAIeer said w. don't want t.
drive any corp ration out u town or
10 any injustice 70 anyone but the
time has come for us to know whether
We are being charged too much for our
gas light. telephons and street ca
service We viii never know unless
We fnd out for ourselves and II is go
ing TO cost some money to find out.
am morally convinced that We are pay
ing to much but il will take facts TO
.onvince the public service commission.
For the sake ot the region every mayor
and councilman should take it upon
himself TO appropriate all the money
that Is needed 20 win tais fight