Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-28
$4,000 EXPENDED
IN INDIANA LOBBY
Treasurer of Electric, Light
Association TeStifies in
Commission Probe.
BY the Associated Press.


Testimony in the Federal Trade
Commissions utility investigation today
developed that the Indiana Public IT'LL
tiles Association had expended approx
imately $4,000 for n registered lobby
before the Indiana Legislature.
John C. Mellett of Indianapolis. sec
rotary and treasurer q the Indiana
Electric Light Association and former
executive secretary Of the Indiana Pub
lie Utilities Association and director of
the associations information commit
tee, testified that the lobby was main
tanned to prevent the adjustment of
the Public Service Commission of IN
diana and from passing other legisla-
ton Objectionable to the industry.
Testifies on Salaries.
Mellett testified that the association
paid $5,270 to w c. Frazee of Rush
vile, Ind, TO represent utility inter-
ests before the Legislature in 1923, and
that Frazee was a registered lobbyist
for the association. He testified that in
1925 FraZee was paid $4,000, and in
1927. $500. He also testified that
Frank o. Cuppy. secretary and man.
ager of the Lafayette Telephone Co.
was paid $2,500 as u registered lob
byist in 1925, and that during the
same year Cuppy was paid another
$1,000 by the association. Mellett could
not say how much Cuppy had. received
fos his services and expenses, explain
ing that he could not discriminate be-
tween them as he was not directly con-
rected with the legislative work of
The association.
Mellett could not explain payment
of $50 made to G. l.. Kirke of the
City Gas Co. of Indianapolis in 1928,
but he explained that payments made
to H. c. Adams in legislative years
had been paid to him for obtaining
copies Of all bills before the iegisla-
ture for the association. He testified
that in 1923 Adams was paid $376; in
1925 he was paid $50, and in 1927 he
received $710
Mellett explained that to the best of
his memory the treasurer of the aSso-
citation. a Mr. Perry, authorized the
payments.
Mellett said that he could not remem-
Der what legislation had been before
the various legislatures but that nearly
every time the legislature met a bill
was introduced to make the tax valu-
alton of utilities and the rate valuation
the same. He said that there was
nearly always one bill presented to
abolish the Public Service Commission
of Indiana and that the public utili-
ties companies opposed the bill be-
cause they had adjusted their methods
of business to conform to the commits
sion act and did not wish change,
as 1t would prove mess"
Tells or Speeches.
Mellett testified that his association
had paid r. E. Heilman, dean of the
School of Commerce at Northwestern
University, $3.50 for delivering three
talks in Indiana. one before the In
diana State Teachers Association, one
before the School of Commerce at In
diana University and another before
the Southwest Teachers Association
at Evansville, Ind.
Mellett testified that when he first
became connected with the utilities in
1920 he was paid $4,000 a year for his
services and expenses. but that later
his salary was raised TO $4,000. In 1924.
He testified that he left the Indiana
Association in 1927 and was succeeded
by William Stokes of Indianapolis.