The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-15
Public Service Commission
to Base Action Upon
Report on Utility
Figures,
- BIG BOOST is ASKED
City and Civic Clubs Plan
to Keep Up Fight to
Finish.

Public service commission account
ants today began calculations to de-
tern1ine returns to the Indianapolis
Water Company on a basis Of a new
rate SCHEDULE filed with the commits
sion Tuesday. The company asks an
average increase of return Of Is per
cent. The commission must approve
the schedule before they are put into
effect. In November, 1928, it APP
proved an increase in revenue Of
about S1S7,0OO The water company
is asking for S2SS.OOO more per year.
effective Dec. 1.
Edward W. White, assistant at
torney general; James NJ. Ogden,
city corporation counsel. Ind Taylor
Groninger, special counsel for the
public service commission, conferred
on steps in fighting the increased
rates.
The conference was originally
called to discuss appeal measures
from the recent decision of Judge
Ferdinand Geiger on valuation Of
the water company. This appeal will
be carried through, despite the new
petition Of the water company.
"Cty VIII Fight"
1.-THE city will fight these new
rate schedules to a f1nish.' said
Ogden.
The commission, by a decree in
Federal Court Oct. 3. is enjoined
from fixing a rate which will net the
company less than a fair return on
SIS, ZOO, 600 valuation. Present rates
are based on 1890. 400 valuation.
In the new schedule, the company
arbitrarily increased its valuation by
about S3.071,444. bringing it to less
than 100000 below the valuation
contemplated in the Federal Court
order 1t asked for S3sO.000 in
creased earnings in June, 1928. The
November, 1928, order gave it $751;
600 instead. In the new schedule,
the company increases the rate 10
make up for what il lost in the
order, $4,000, which is Z per cent
on s2,471 ,444. Then it added $4,000
more a year to take care of 100000
alleged extensions and betterments
since the last order and SO, 900. al
legged increase in taxes for this year.
In effect, it added s2,471, 444 and
$500 900 to It's valuation Of s15.26O.-
400 fixed by the commission.
Rates on water for industrial uses
are untouched The domestic con-
sumner bears the brunt OF the pro-
posed increase For instance, in the
fat rate increases, a family in a
five-room house hitherto paying
$3.50 a year. will, under the new
rates. pay $23 a year. an increase Of
Is per cent The metered rates are
increased from 20 to gas cents on
the first zoo cubic feet a month to
from SO cents to 10 cents on 10000
cubic feet a month.
Indianapolis Civic Club officers
were indignant over the proposed
Increase Several clubs are expected
30 go on record opposing such raise
u rates at their next meeting.
Civic Leaders Opposed
Some Of the opinions:
EDWARD o. SNETHEN, presi-
dent Indianapolis Federation of Civic
Clubs: The commission should de-
ny the petition for increased rates.
hope it will go on with the ap.
peal to Supreme Court"
GUS H. JONES. president Bright
wood Civic Leaale: II think IT
should be thoroughly thrashed out
az the commission is trying to do.
am certainly opposed TO an in
crease"
C. E. PAUL. president East Side
Civic Club: Il think the same as
every one elsewater rates are too
2 high now"
MRS. OLIVE d. EDWARDS, sec
rotary Haughville Civic League: IT
think 1t is terrible. It seems to me
that it affects persons in moderate
circumstances more than others"
W. T. CULLEN, president Engle-
wood Hustling Hundred: 81 stand for
municipal ownership of the water
works. If present laws will not per
init the city to take it over. addi-
1onal laws should be passed