The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-20
TTTITJTTES AND POLITICS

when the public service commission was first
created, it came as demand from inc peope ~,
some protection against the brand OF politics piaveu
by the utility corporations
The people had seen the corruption OF city coun
ellis and of mayors and the rule they held over all
CITY government. In most cities OF this ana every
other State the utilities had become the government
Rather strange now that when it is Is proposed
to abolish this commission that the utility companies
are the chief defenders Of this system.
II means of course that they have transferred
their politics from the city to the State and have
been able to secure decisions and rulings which per-
m,t them to operate with security to their stock
holders and probably at larger profits to themselves
There seems to be no method under which the
neople can escape the combination Of politics and
utilities and none has yet been suggested.
Merely abolishing the public service commits
sion will not rid the people Of this condition, for all
our government is based politics and those who
have direct dealings with the government naturally
take the liveliest interest in politics
It is quite natural to expect that men whose bust
ness is under the control Of any branch OF govern
ment will endeavor to see that the controlling Off
Gals are friendly to them.
They tried to get frienly councilmen and mayors
They tried to get friendly members Of the public
service commission and they would not hesitate to
try to get friendly courts If the control were lodged
in that branch of government
To abolish the commission at this time would
result only in chaotic condition that would benefit
no one.
The best that could be hoped for would be or
ders giving better SERVICE for the truth is that the
courts have taken over the protection Of the utilities
and have been largely responsible for the heavy
burdens which the people bear.
There is no denial that the people over
charged for every utility service they receive.
Theoretically there is partnership between c-->
telephone gas street railway, electric and water
companies.
The people put in the use Of their streets. They
are presumably entitled to protection against heavy
and extortionate profits.
But when the matter of profits reach the courts,
it is discovered that the dollars of the utilities
much better protected than the other end of the part
nership.
In this city, the telephone rates. the gas rates
and the water rates have all been raised through the
appeal to the Federal Courts.
The latest decision that utilities charge rates
the cost of reproducing the plants of utilities per
mits them to tax the people on the raise in wages
and the increased cost of materials
That is what happened in the water case It is
what will happen to the people matter what Off
cal body fixes the rates locally. If the utility
pany does not fit to accept, there is always the
haven of the Supreme Court the assistance of agile
and shrewd lawyers, the testimony of utility engi
neers to build up the value Of the point where they
protest that any lowering of rates is confsca-
tion.
That the people have lost confidence in the
present commission in this State is accepted fact
That the easy method suggested is to vote it out of
office is natural. But who would appoint another
commission and would it be more friendly to the
people?
The remedy doesn't lie in that direction. If the
people wish to protect themselves, they must begin
back in the primaries and the election.
II every one who protests against high
utility rates would take the trouble to vote in the
primary against any selection of these utilities If
they would refuse to follow party banners and vote
down those who are bought in advance, by contribu
lions or otherwise, there would be some chance
Until that happens we can expect to find public
service commissions who friendly to the corpor
ations. The corporations taken an interest in poll
tics. They always will.