The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-27
NedjI Due to Have Majority
Support for Senate
Leadership.
EXPENSE CUT UNLIKELY
Public Service Commission
Change Seen.

That Senator James J. NedJl, WHIT
ing, will have majority support MS a
candidate for president pro tenn. Of
the Senate at the coming session of
the Indiana Legislature Is indicated
from the fact that he already has
conferred with Lieutenant Governor
f. Harold Van Orman and assisted
IN framing the Senate committee
slate. Pro tenn, presidency carries
with it floor leadership OF the ma
jority faction in the Senate, and the
berth was being sought by Senator
Denver Harlan, Wayne County.
If present plans are carried out
by the majority faction, there will
be slight chance for any so-called
"Bolshevik" legislation and the SEES
sion will be marked by regularity"
Democratic attempts to foster any
job-abolishing legislation will be eff
fectively blocked, it is indicated.
just Like Others
Political observers predict that
the session will follow the footsteps
Of those of the past where there al
ways has been much talk of cutting
expenditures and doing away with
pork barrel positions, but the final
result invariably has been an In
crease of sinecures.
Last year the total cost to Hoo
siers for their State government
amounted to more than $40,0O0,OO0,
end the huge Republican majority
In both houses can meet, If not ex-
coed, this mark, It is felt.
Budget committee members al
ready have reported that their work
will result in a budget that will be
bigger and better than ever"
Although as far back as 1915 talk
of abolition Of the public service
commission has been heard before
every legislative session, this year
the agitation has reached a more
concrete stage and 1t Is felt that
the effort will be more concerted.
Actual abolition scarcely can be
looked for, but effective changes in
laws governing the commission s
functions seem not unlikely.
Foremost among the changes be-
ing anticipated are the following:
1. Rate making to be based on ac-
tual investment.
2. Holding companies to- be
brought within the commissions Ju-
risdiction.
8. Legislation to permit appeal of
commission decisions to the State
courts.
On Worth of Properties
On the first count a change would
be effected by basing the rates on the
worth Ibf the properties involved as
they stand at the time Of the hear
ing, rather than basing Of rates on
replacement value, with all material
quoted at present market prices, as
is now the rule.
A measure to bring holding com
panies within the commissions pow
er was one Of those introduced In the
commissions bill at the last Legis
| lature session, when the bill was
lost. This would permit rulings on
matters involving such companies
as the American Telephone and Tele
graph Company, which owns all OF
the Bell lines in the State, and of
dozens of other similar utilities that
now are owned outside Of the State
but operated within it.
Placing power Of appeal in the
State courts would eliminate the
present plan Of utilities taking their
cause to the Federal courts, where
many rulings have resulted in in
creased rates. notably in the case of
the indianapolis telephone and water
companies. In the water case the
Supreme Court at Washington
ruled what this city should pay for
water