Indiana daily times., 1922-05-27
KNOCK 6. 0. P.
PLATFORM ON
SERVICE BODY
Democrats Say Others
Violated Parties
Understanding.
DISCUSS PLANS
Duplicity Charge Is
Made Against Home
Rule Leader.
DISCUSS PLANS

Violation of an understanding that the
voice of radicalism would not be given
an ear by the major political parties in
Indiana on the subject Of the public
utilities law, was seen by prominent
Democrats today as result of the In
corporation of a plank in the Republic
ar platform for the adjustment of the
public service commission The subject
was fully discussed by the Democratic
advisory platform committee In meet
ing yesterday. The attitude Democrats
would take was defined largely in a
three-fold manner:
l. The public service commission plank
of the Republicans is both insincere and
ambiguous, designed as club to hold
over the States utilities.
.. The administration Of the law saved
the public thousands Of dollars during
the Democratic administration Of Cover
nor Ralston, and was not even attacked
by the Republicans for its operation un
der that administration, during the cam
paign following.
3. A large portion OF the utility own
ers favor return to home rule regula-
tiop,'' which the Democrats believe may
be disasi rous TO the welfare of the peo-
pie and the legitimate interests Of util-
ity properly owners.
Evidence of duplicity was seen IN the
fact that the leader Of so-calle'l home
rule for utilities although the term has
teen applied in the past 10 questions Of
taxation, has been Samuel Lewis
Shank mayor of Indianapolis, who did
not ask the abolition OF the commits
sion in his speech before the Rspub
lican convention, but said he thought the
commission sometimes forgot whom II
represents" but was doing better late
ly." The fact that Governor Met ray,
under whose administration some dissat-
isfaction with the public service commits
sion has arisen, faced about with little
warning and said the utility plank in
the Republican platform had his indorse-
ment, Is cited as further reason TO he
lieve the plank was not intended to be
taken seriously by those who did not
want to take II that way.
John S McFadden OF Rockville. chair
man OF the advisory platform committee.
stated that the big issue IN Indiana will
be the question Of taxation. extravaganza
IN State government. and the condition OF
the States finances. The Democrats, he
said, are most certain to come out for an
entire renaking Of the tax law, includ-
ing the shearing OF the State tax t.oarls
Of rlnny OK its ''unconstltutioual" pow
ers, aholiShing the horizontal increase
feature, and allowing loca. units 10 pass
on their own bond issues without re-
course to the State board of tax com
missoners
That this program will have the en-
dorsement Of the Democratic convention,
he regarded rs certain.
Agitation has been almost rs great by
some Republican leaders as by Democrats
for enactment Of a new tax law. Hiatt
Frost former mayor of Gonnersyille.
Republican, speaking before the Re
publican resolutions committee before 1t
went into executive session the night be-
fore the convention adopted the platform.
told the committee unless the Republican
party held out dctiuite hope for decreased
taxes aud presented some tangible plan,
Il would face disaster in November. MIR.
Frost said, in a statement 10 a reporter
OF the Daily Times just before the con-
sention was called to order on the second
day, that he would personally carry the
night to the foor Of the convention II
some such plank was not adopted. The
now famous plank clipping the wings
OF the tax board was incorporated In the
platform and was there thirty minutes
before the report of the committee was
read. hut was Wit hirawn at the last
moment upon tnsistence Of Governor Nc
Cray