The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-01-28
TO DECIDE
ACTION ON
RESOLUTION
Arguments Will Be Presented
Over the Banquet
Table.

VIII W. ]. McAleers campaign
against the high rates OF the public
utilities survive2
That is the burning question today
en- the eve OF the meeting st Carl
Iundgrens tonight when mayors ana
other city officials Of Hammond. Gary,
East Chicago and Whiting will meet
with delegates from the Rotary and
Ewanis clubs of these cities
Attorney NcAleer launched the
drive two weeks ago in tho Hammond
Ktwanis club Of which no IS a mem
her. He secured adoption Of reso-
Axtion calling for an tnvesti CATION OF
the rates charged by public utilities.
Hs said that the rates charged for gas,
/ electricity, telephone service and by
the street car company are burden
T 60 the people. especially men who are
working for as low as twenty -tIFe and
vrGrty cenHS an hour. he declared ths-t
ehese rates are higher than they were
on Arrnistice Day ana that it was rea-
eonable to believe that the reduced cost
et materials and labor warranted
substantial reduction.
MUST TAKE INITIATIVE
I'VE cannot expect the utilities to
take the initiative and ask the pu olac
service commission to reduce the
rates" he said. There must be press
ere brought 10 bear by the cities OF
the district and the civic bodies OF
these Cities
The McAIeer resolution was recon-
rnepded TO the Rotary club and was
t5axevrizs adooted Committees we're
appointed By the Kiwanis and Rotary
clubs and they will meet tonight with
the city officials
The public utilities VIII have their
friends at the meeting tonight it is
declared. and an effort VIII be fsude
TO hatten out the campaign
The arguments of the friends cc the
pubuc utilities will be that they nave
horne the blunt cf political onsiaughts
for years and instead Of being opposed
should be given public support IL
wiz be said that street railways are
losing money all over the country.
POOR MANAGEMENT
A4torney McAieer takes the stand
4n7t n the III anrnord. Whiting & Aast
rYntcaGp street Railway Company Is
losing money nobody is to blame ex-
ee2t itself.
Lower rates and more frequent
service will increase the volume OF
business TO such an extent thAt the
.-onnsny can well afford TO accept
a.
A., expert on public utilities. but that
:. ynerely common business Judgment
rbe service is so infreQuent especial
- {, che rush hours, and the fare so
hfys that the company loses the ma
&C. ~ the short haals' which is
>,,e most profitable part Of the buSi-
ness
-rgaey are clinging TO cha peak war
~4-ro r-tces with bclildog tenacify,
~as1 lxoAleer. -and IL Is only g. con
.r-t-a movement that we hope to
~za~e a reduction in the rates OF the
sno1io utilities The public service
+ v-rxnsuAssion will see TO IL that they
receive an adequate return on their
eave~frnert. What we have 20 do Is to
secrre expert evidence and go before
ene utility cor111ni ssion with documen-
Anrv proof on which 60 base our plea
aor lower rates.
WELCOME INVESTIGATION.
~fs the rates are not too high then
Pre- public utility companies should
~ve1nor,a an investigation and chance
70 show the people before the public
fary1ce commission that their charges
ARE Just
-Anv effort oy rhe public utility
/. companies to stop this investigation
gill be evid nee that they have some
thing to fear. II they arc only taking
n fair return on their investment they
should send word that they are glad
OF the opportunity 70 silence criticism
by the results OF an Investigation
I'm cities like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
and other eastern states where the
street cars run I'D and down steep in
ciines and hills and the cost Of oper-
alton is much greater than in this
level country there may be justifca-
tion for the eight cent fare Invest
ments and costs vary in different ci
,ies and we will not accept what they
charge elsewhere as a criterion"