The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-15
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it were boldly announced that the State of
Massachusetts has seeded from the Union, the
would be startling
When it is merely stated that one of its official
bodies refuses to follow the Supreme Court of the
United States in its decisions, there is no great alarm
This is what has happened and it happens on a
matter that was decided for indianapolis.
The people of this city are now paying rates for
water on a decision obtained in the Supreme Court
of the United States to the effect that the company
entitled to profit the present cost Of repro
ducng its plant.
1t is true that this is very different figure from
the investment in that plant.
Most of its pipes were laid when labor was cheap
and the cost of materials very low. The war came
along and raised all prices or lowered the value of
money or did something that made the values as
measured in dollars very much more.
No contention is made that investors or owners
Aad to dig up more dollars because Of this fact The
hnpany merely got lawyers to persuade the highest
lrt that in all justice the people Of Indianapolis
@Bht to pay this tribute into its Golfers.
'S OF course Indianapolis. being respectful Of the
$upreme Court, pays. Also and Of course, it has
Ign respect for the opinion of Justice Brandes who
%uled that the decision was all wrong and protested
that such decision robbed the people of this city
and that there was sense in forcing communities
to pay interest to utilities dollars the companies
had invested and to permit them to profteer
from the war.
The people of Massachusetts, through its public
service commission, have very frankly and openly
declared that it will not follow the decision in the
Indianapolis case.
One of its utilities wants to collect interest on
about thirty millions of increased value the increase
being in the changed conditions of labor and mar
kets and not in improvements and extensions. 1t
has seeded to that extent and degree 1t dees the
high court and will make fight to get reversal
if the company insists getting it's extra pound of
flesh
There is very close relation between this
dtion and the speech of Attorney General Giiom to
the Elks lodge in whch he pleaded for return of
the government to localities.
He told the members Of that lodge that the peo-
pie were losing their liberty through surrender to the
national Government of powers which should belong
to States.
He pleaded for a return to the old theory that
the people of each community be permitted to rule
themselves on matters that have national import
Very many people are beginning to wonder where
we are going in the tendency to put all power in the
Government at Washington.
No longer do we really control our public utili
ties The Federal courts have become tribunals for
the control of appetites and the police courts for
bootleggers Federal officers now standing guard
over homes to prevent what should be petty crimes.
We are becoming accustomed rapidly to surrendering
authority to the Government at Washington, which
Is very far away from the voter and most remote
from their control
The way to liberty may be return to the old
fashioned theory of the Constitution which was de-
signed to make individual liberty very precious and
to jealousy protect against invasion from centralized
authority.
1t means something when staid Northern State
OF New England in reality secedes and conservative
like Gilliom breaches more States rights.
presidential campaign with this as the issue
might show that the people have at last awakened
TO what has been happening in the past quarter of
q century to their Government