The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-09
CURB THOSE UTILITIES

Members of the Legislature who have any idea
that the people will accept complacently inaction on
the matter of controlling the public utilities much
mistaken.
The utility lobby is riding high these days. 1t
is a big lobby and an expensive one. The people
paying for it.
Those shrewd manipulators of legislation believe
that they control this Legislature. There are signs
and indications that this may be true. There are
few signs that there is any concerted or definite
effort to do anything these utility xers do not wish
1t is also true that the people believe that they
have protection against any greed extortion and
outrage which any utility may desire to perpetrate.
They have found themselves blocked at every
effort to obtain what they believe to be justice.
1t is true that the Federal Courts have been re
sponsible for many of the raises in rates.
But it is also true that the present public service
commission has lost its usefulness.
1t is no longer useful because it has lost public
confidence.
If it is not controlled by the utilities it has done
everything which it could do to give that impression
among the people.
No member of that commission has asked the
Legislature to investigate the charge that he
his job to the utilities and was placed in power be-
cause the utilities gave $4,000 to the campaign fund
of 1924.
The Governor, who names them, has done moth
ing to vindcate or exonerate either himself the
members he has named.
The people have q right to be than
picious. They do not forget the fact that there
a quick change in membership on that commission
just in advance of important decsion-and that
reasonable explanation given for the change.
Whether justified not the belief is almost
universal that this public service commission is
under the control of these utility lobbyists.
Small wonder that there is a demand, unwise
and i'll considered as it is, that the whole commits
sion be abolished and the regulation of utilities be
thrown into state of chaos worse.
That demand comes from deepseated dstrust of
the present members of the commission, not from
distrust of the law which is right in principle and
necessary unlces the people are ready to go to the
extreme of adopting public ownership of all utilities.
What the peoplo really want and what they
should have is law which retains regulation under
added power, by men in whom the people have con-
fdence.
The Legislature will mistake the temper of the
people If they leave that commission in existence.
Nor will the wiping out of this board and the
naming of another by the Governor under the
untrammeed power he now has, satisfy.
There should be new board, but that board
should be under the scrutiny of the people through
other agents and officials.
An elective commission under the present
partisan system, is of doubtful value
But nonpartsan board, named only after two.
thirds of the Senate had concured and with at least
twenty days opportunity for the people to protest,
might bring back some measure of confidence in its
decisions.
The theory of regulation has not failed. This
commission has failed. The remedy is not to wipe
out the law which provides for regulation but wipe
out the membership which has shown so little regard
for public rights
1t is rather shameful to concede that the hordes
of utility lobbyists who haunt the Legislature who
strut the hotel Hobbies, who fraternize with law.
makers, are powerful than public sentiment
Those agents are fighting to keep what they
have They are perfectly satisfied with the present
situation. They rebel against any change in the
present membership the method by which other
members named.
If they are satisfied, the members of the Legis-
lature ought not to be.
1t is time to curb these utilities. 1t is time for
the people to take back their own government from
these paid agents Of privilege