Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-30

the public service commission to discuss
the merger in detail.
! Mayor Maurice P Brown of Noblesville,
! suggested that the committee be APP
pointed of mayors from over the State.
| The mayor suggested then that the com
mittee be Of twelve members. The Gov
| ernor agreed with the mayors proposal
I as did the people who were in the cham
/ Der.
| Mr.. Fullen, however, said that he did
/ not care to take upon his shoulders TO
| explain to the people why the merger
| was approved. Mr.. Harmon suggested
that the Governor use all the influence
/ of his Office in having the commission
reopen the case, but the Governor said
| that he would be unable to do this, but
! if the committee or the people had any
! evidence which would bear on the ruling
/ in the case he thought that the commits
( sion would be glad to reopen it at any
! time. Mr.. Harmon said that the ques-
! ton of rehearing the case had been taken
up with the corporation counsel Of In
dianapolis and that he was looking up
the legal phase of the order in an at
| tempt to have a rehearing.
BUCHANAN VOICES
! VIEWS ON COMMISSION.
! Mr.. Buchanan, who acted as spokes-
!
/ but feel that the Public Service Com
mission in granting rate increases and
the approval of this merger does not have
/ the mind the people of the State but
always the utilities"
| Mr.. Fullen said that he did not care to
be made the Escape goat and thought
that Governor McCray as the chief of the
State should explain the conditions under
which the merger was approved.
I'VE do not care to be sent to the pub
| lice service commission for a hearing on
this matter" he said. 1T was my under
standing when the committee met with
the Governor several days ago he would
explain this matter"
Il would be unable to explain TO you
the reasons under which this merger
was approved" replied the Governor. II
think that the only logical sane business
and common sense way for you to do
would be to appoint a committee which
would meet with the commission and
learn their reasons for approving the
merger"
TWO APPROVE
GOVERNORS STAND.
Both Mr.. Harmon and Mr.. Buchanan
approved the Governors stand, and the
Governor continued. Il want you to
go before the commission and get the
facts and figures; II that is not fair
and honest stand, what more can a man
offer to you"
The Rev. Mr. Weber broke In shortly
after Mayor Brown recommended that
the committee be made up Of mayors
from over the State and said:
The people of this State are entirely
| dissatisfied with the operations Of the
public service commission and we believe
Z in rOT-
pie and under this operation It IS not
government for the people and by the
people. The poor people of this State
are the most dissatisfied with the oper-
alton of the commission. And the Lord
only knows that there are plenty of them
in indianapolis"
FEAR ATTACK WILL
LEAD TO LAWLESSNESS.
The commissions statement declared
| mayor Shank, in his bitter and unwar-
ranted attack on the public service com
mission and its members, has displayed
q complete ignorance of the facts or an
utter disregard for the truth and has
| by his appeal, melted a disregard for law
and order which, If permitted to develop,
IS bound to lead to lawlessness and dis
order and strike at the very foundation
Of the Government editself"
The statement said utility rates have
been kept relatively low in Indiana and
1T makes very little difference person
ally to the members Of the commission
whether It IS abolished, but It is Of trans
cendent Importance TO the people OF In
diana when the mayor Of the largest city
IN the State by an ignorant. unwarranted
and vicious attack on the State govern
ment encourages the public in an utter
disregard Of law and order"
The commission issued the statement
after two hours conference with the Gov
ernOr.
SHANK SAYS BOARDS
FEARS UNFOUNDED.
| In anSwnr thnrntn Mavnr Shank sid