The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-01
HOUSE ASKS
ACTION ON
UTILITY BILL
Orders Committee to Bring
in Delayed Report on
1 Custer Measure.
SENATE STRIKES BACK
Sees Affront in Resolution
Against Commission.

Showing it's temper on the public
service commission and public util-
ity regulation, the Indiana House of
Representative today ordered it's ju-
dietary A committee to report out
of committee the Bender -Mendenhall
bill abolishing the commission. Which
was introduced Feb. z.
This was the latest development
in the House-Senate split on the
utility question which began Mon
day when the House adopted a reso-
luton declaring the utility lobby
controls the Senate and asking the
Governor to dismiss present public
service commissioners.
The Senate struck back late Mon
day by naming committee to IN
vestigate the House affront to its
dignity and honor.
Tells of Delay
In explanation of his resolution
asking that the House order
judiciary A committee to report on
his bill, Representative Edward B.
Bender, Democrat, Zionsville, said
that he had been repeatedly told by
Representative J. Glenn Harris, COM
mittee chairman, that it was his pur-
pose to work out some constructive
utility legislation with a committee
from the Senate.
= Nothing has been brought to our
notice." said Bender, although
committee Of Democrats was ap-
pointed to work whit committee Of
Republicans"
1.-THE Senate" continued Bender,
''has done nothing to strengthen the
public service laws and think it is
time for this house to act"
Representative ]. Glenn Harris,
chairman OF the committee explained
to the House that his committee has
three bills for consideration now.
81 believe that two of the bills we
have will do the work." and do not
think that we should be fooling away
our time considering something
which has no chance to pass in the
Senate" Harris explained.
To Fool Public?
Promising to have a report out of
committee in the next twenty-four
hours on the Nejdl and Harlan bills
from the Senate, which give right
Of appeal from commission decisions
to circuit and superior courts and
give the commission supervision of
operating expenses of utilities, Har-
ris continued:
IF we want to fool the public, all
well and good, but if we want to
do something constructive let's take
our time to consider and pass the
two bills (Nejdl and Harlan) which
have already passed the Senate and
have chance to become law
On a voice vote the House almost
unanimously ordered the committee
TO report the bill out.
a Harris promised to have meeting
Vbf judiciary A today and report the
measure out forthwith.
In the Senate Lieutenant Cover
nor E. Harold Van Orman named
Senators William F. Hodges, Gary,
Denver C. Harlan, Richmond, and
Thurman A .Kottschalk, Berne, on
the committee to adopt the House
resolution scoring the Senate.
Hodges introduced the resolution
late Monday after Senator James j.
Nejdl, called attention to the House
''slap."
jackson Silent
In the meantime the House reso-
luton today had not officially been
called to the Governors attention.
Many attorneys in the Legislature
believed the Governor would not
have the power to summarily re-
move the commissioners.
Governor Jackson himself refused
to make any statement when asked