The Indianapolis times., 1926-12-07
THE ABSENT ONES

Once more the charge is made openly by the
orroration counsel Of this city, Alvah ]. Rucker;
that the Public Service Commission is part or
conspiracy to give aid and comfort to the corpora
tons of this State and the frenzied fnanclers VINO
are making millions in Juggling the public Utilities
Whatever the courts may rule concerning MS
lawsuit is not as important to the public mlnd as the
incidents which have followed his first charge
There is no denial that he put into words and
definite form suspicion that is statewide and gen.
era for the public mind has come to look upon that
body as being the refuge of the corporations when
they want more of the peoples money
So generals this opinion, and it is unfortunate
that this is true, that many members OF the Leglsla
ture are considering aboshing that body altogether
# is more unfortunate that this tendency is
being strengthened by the fact that the head OF one
or the utility companies of this city, presumed to be
acting for the insult interests has been mysterousy
absent from this city from the time the Rucker
charge was made and the grand jury took cognizance
of its seriousness.
That charge took very definite form. 1t al.
legged that some 49, 900 contributed by the cor-
poratons to the campaign fund of Governor Jackson
II is more definite when it is charged that the
money was contributed in manner which placed
the Governor under such obligations that he was
compelled, in gratitude, to name man wanted Dy
the corporation interests
It is a rather sad commentary upon our ways
Of dealing with public matters that responsible
head of utility, chosen presumably for his ability
to conduct that utility and direct service, would let
any motive or other business keep him away from
grand jury which wishes tc question him.
Whatever urgent affairs may be OBTAINING him,
il is certain that the public will explain his absence
only by the fact that subpoena awaits him and has
awaited for many days
hic Uh disgust DuDl1c
with the whole theory of regulation of utilities.
AS a matter of fact, the abolition of the Public
Service Commission would throw the whole utility
question back into city councils and the history OF
utilities in such state was so corrupting that the
state body was created to curb their greed and get
rid of their corruptng power in politics
IT is possible that the corporations may now
wish to cast aside the present policy which has
c ainy been profitable for them.
They may wish to do this thing, but the wiser
heads of utilities those who represent the in
vestments in them do not hold this view
If the Public Service Commission is abolished,
the corporations can take the blame for this act
by just such defiance of the public as has been
shfNyn bv this absent president of an nterurban
traction line
OF course, it is just possible that the corpora
tions have reached the stage where they can get
all the protection they need in Federal courts,
which are treating the utilities very kindly.
They may be satisfied to go into courts and
get their properties built with cheap labor and at
low prices of materials at postwar valuations and
then proceed to collect rates upon the value
The public has suffered and will suffer more.
The only cities which free from extortions and
war debts are those wise enough to have built their
own utilities In other years.
In the meantime, when scandal breaks, utility
presidents will keep on running away from grand
jur:es until they assured that everything is
safe for their return.