The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-01
OFFENDED DIGNITY-OR?

The House of Representatives has called upon
the Governor to remove the public service commits
soners and name in their place those who will con-
slider the rights of the public.
1t bases it's action upon the direct charge that
a powerful lobby representing the utilities of the
state has prevented action in the Senate upon any
and every measure to regulate the utilities.
The Senate is apparently courageous enough to
resent the accusation. Whether it will retain that
courage long enough to really do more than frame
denial of utility control remains to be seen.
With certain righteousness, it first wants to
know whether the lower house intended to reflect
upon the Senate when it boldly and openly charged
that the utility lobby had controlled its action.
Perhaps it will decide, this committee that the
House did not really intend to reflect at all.
If the Senate is really offended in its dignity,
it might easily have opened the way for challenge
to the House of Representatives to produce proof of
its charge that the Utility lobby did control it, in
stead of merely asking whether an insult was in
tended.
A real inquiry into the activities of the utility
lobby would be worth while.
The public, as far as it is informed at ALL knows
only certain irrefutable facts.
They may be stated in very few words.
The Senate has killed, with two exceptions, every
that had for it's purpose any change in the
or measures by which utilities of the State are
regulated.
In every public hearing upon these measures
lawyers and lobbyists for the utilities have appeared
and recommended just the action which the Senate
later took
There has been in constant attendance upon
the Legislature horde of lobbyists, some of whom
openly list themselves as representing the public
utilities.
These lobbyists have assiduously entertained
members of the Legislature.
Those are the facts out in the open. What
shock it would be to Samuel insult, the utility baron
if he should now learn that these lawyers he has
hired were entirely useless and that they had no
influence at all.
insult. from the records of the United States
Senate. is accustomed to spending large sums OF
money to get what he wants from this government
1t is true that he is now cited for contempt be-
he does to tell the of all those
to whom he gave money when he elected public
service commissioner of Illinois to the United States
Senate.
What blow to the self-esteem of that bunch
of important gentlemen who have lived here for
weeks for the purpose of taking of the utility
interests to know that these Senators who killed all
the bills they wanted killed would have done it
without even a whisper from them.
Ii the indignation of the Senate runs high
enough, why not ask for a real investigation Of
whether this utility lobby had any influence upon
legislation?
And while it is probing what will the
Governor make to the demand of the lower house
for the removal of the present public service
mission?
Months ago the open charge made by the
then corporation counsel of Indianapolis that the
members of that body chosen by the Gov
at the dictation of the utilities in return for
a large contribution to his campaign
The Governor did not urge the Legislature to
lit a resolution for this purpose. Instead his party
made it party measure and voted not to investigate
Now those members who refused to in
yestigate declare that the members of the commits
sion have not been in sympathy with the people and
have neglected to protect public rights.
Not member who bound himself in caucus vote
to kill that investigation protested against this
luton which demands new commission.
That might indicate that the members of the
House have repented their earlier action and believe
that the public service commission is controlled by
the utilities.
1t makes difference whether it was framed
in return for campaign contributions not The
charge brought unanimously by the lower house
declares that the present body has outved it's use
fulness.
Will the Governor dare to ignore this demand
been insulted?
REAL EVIDENCE