The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-02
AN EXPLANATION NEEDED =

1t is unfortunate that Attorney General Gilliom
was not specific in his opinion to the Public
Service Commission that there is little use OF
attempting to escape the high water rates fixed by
the courts to obtain the rates which the COM
mission said two years ago fair.
The attorney general raises considerable ques-
ton concerning the motives of the commission
itself question which should be answered in behalf
of the public.
In his opinion on the matter, Mr. Glliom says
that the commission may have attempted to impress
the public with its purpose to protect the people,
for other reason" and that in so doing, it
fixed valuation which other parts of it's order
denied and made void.
In plain language, there is the suggestion that
the commissions attempted to hoodwink the public
by an order which written that the courts
need look no further than it's own language to set
aside.
The net result OF the whole matter is that the
public pays high rate for water.
There is no uncertainty about the amounts on
the water bills, the tribute collected from the
people.
There is no doubt as to the fact that the people
must walk up counter with their hands their
pockets
But there is deep uncertainty, says the attorney
general as to the motive which prompted the
mission to write order plainly open to attack
pure confscation
What does the attorney general think may have
been the for this sort of document?
He suggests that the members may have tried
to play to the galleries by fixing rate it knew
would not be maintained supported by its
findings, and that the courts so found needing
nothing but the evidence furnished by the COM
mission.
But when he suggests that there may have been
some other reason than this effort to gain
popular applause he opens the whole matter up to
conjecture and imagination
What does he think may have moved these
members of the commission to write their find =
ings that in the end the people must pay?
Does he, for instance, believe that they
moved by some sense of gratitude to the water COM
pany that they desired to give it what it wanted by
this sort of document?
Does he suggest that they purposely wrote into
their findings such facts as would force any court,
under the law, to give the water company the in
crease it asked while they pretended to refuse it?
There is something else that should be said. Mr.
Gilliom should say it and say it quickly
In the meantime the public may discover that
the present system of regulating public utilities is
not the success it expected to be.
For if the commission should make order it
deems fair there is always the courts haven
for the concerns which want money.
The way has been opened in this for every
corporation in the Nation to raise rates.
They do SO by the simple expedient of asking
for valuation fixed the increased prices of
copper and steel and labor brought about by the war
This case seems to hint that this be done
and the corporations have lawyers who always
take such a hint.
Compare that situation, WHICH enable these
to profit from the World War, with that of
the farmer who has lost thirtyfve billions of dollars
in farm values, and you may understand why there
is unrest in this year of unprecedented
prosperity.
The people may, some day. awake to the fact
that justice seems to be more than blind She is
also deaf and handcuffed