The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-14
PUBLIC SERVICE
BODY FATE WILL
Be CONSIDERED
Evans May Renew Effort to
Dust Goodrich From
Clark Expo Board.

Swinging into the last third of the
present session, the Indiana Senate
this week will be a center of attrac-
ton when it begins in earnest the
consideration of public utility regu-
latory legislation.
Renewal of the effort to remove
former Governor James P. Goodrich
as a member of the George Rogers
Clark Exposition board undoubtedly
will be made by Senator William p.
Evans of Indianapolis. Evans was
blocked in his move last Saturday
when Senator ]. Monroe Fitch. OBJ
jected to consideration of the Evans
proposed amendment to the bill
which appropriates 100000 for the
Vfncennes celebration in1929.
Tuesday undoubtedly will see the
death of the Cam bill. abolishing the
public service commission, unless its
consideration is postponed again. 1t
seemed doomed at birth, for even the
most drastic critics of the commits
sion believe that adjustment of the
regulatory body would bring chaos
ulation will go back to city councils.
Then, too, Senator Howard Cam,
Frankfort, did not help his cause by
crying coercion" when Representa-
tive j. Glenn Harris, of Gary, polled
him on the Lake County judges
salary increase measure voted SatGr-
day. 1t was the first rebuff for the
Lake County group.
A nights rest to gather strength
and the battle will start on the Moor
head BILL Slated to be considered for
second reading it was made special
order of business for Wednesday.
Unless the barometer of opinion is
all wrong it's author won't be able
to recognize his ''brain child" when
his senatorial colleagues get through
lacking on amendments.
The bill as introduced by Senator
Robert Moorhead, Indianapolis, in
the preparation of which Samuel r.
Artman, former Public Service COM
missioner, is alleged to have spent
much time, calls for the adjustment
of the present board, appointment of
new board to serve until Dec. 1,
1928, when a board to be elected in
November, 1928, would take office.
Appeal Asked
Moorhead asks for appeals to the
higher courts as provided for in the
Nejdl bill, recently passed. He also
provides for bringing holding COM
panes under jurisdiction of the COM
mission, but does not call for super
vision of all operating expense and
overhead.
The elective commission by Su-
preme Court districts asked by Moor
head hardly will survive the first
skirmish. Many of the Senators
feeling that such a. move would give
the utilities opportunity to elect men
favorable to their cause.
Part of the proposed changes IN
the Spencer-Shively act which Moor
head has suggested are covered by
the Harlan bill, passed unanimously,
which permits the commission to in
vestigate attorney and lobbying fees
of the utilities and are charged as
operating expense.
Seek Supervision
Harlans idea went as far as Moor
heads, but hardly went far enough
to suit some of the Legislators, who
probably will amend it to take in
operating expenses of all kinds. This
is to be done in order to get all
overhead" parent company con-
tracts and the like into the lime
light. Supervision of these items is
not now permitted unless tinged with
fraud
The long-looked for conference at
which Democrats and Republicans
are to thresh out their differences
and suggest a bill for which both
sides could vote in order to, get
remedial legislation has not taken
place. Representative. George L.
Saunders Dem) told a leading Re
publican "you can have all the
credit for your party but do some
thing for the people" ~
The Republicans haven't had time
and the Democrats are chatting at
the bit. The latter may propose
legislation which they know cannot
pass but would make campaign
material for 1928.