The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-08-13
Business Enterprise VS.. Humanity

The proposed "cut" in rates by the New York Edi-
son Company in New York City is in accord with the
usual principles of American business namely, give
the big customer special rakeof. But like too much
of American economic life today. it does not mix the
oil of business with the milk Of human kindness. It
subordnates the human audit to the financial audit
What the situation comes down to is that the
small consumer already hard pressed by low wages
and unemployment will have to pay more for his
electricity, while the wealthy consumer OF large
quantities of Juice" will enjoy substantial reductions
In his monthly bill. 1t is estimated conServatvey
that two of three families in Greater New York will
have to pay for their service than under pres
ent rates.
What does this mean practically in human ternlSF
Take the case of a typical small consumer in the
tenements-'Mrs. c. Of Cherry street" Her bill will
rise from IS cents to S105 increase of 40 cents
Translated into necessities of life, this means two
pounds Of stewing beef four loaves of bread three
cans OF salmon or four quarts Of milk Under the
best of circumstances to give these up means q
serious loss.
The unskilled worker whose family lives in the
tenement earns far less than is necessary to support
his dependents in comfort to say nothing OF decency
His children already undernourished Suppose
they must lose their soup, meat or milk for two or
three days or have their daily allowance, already
scant, cut down for a week or more?
Imagine the situation if one or of the chill
dren is recovering from a serious illness and re-
uuires special nourishment Or what the father is
out Of work altogether and the family continually is
on the verge of starvation?
on the other side of the picture we find Mrs. B.
of the TOO block Park She will save $1O1S
month on her electricity by the suggested cut. This
will not even allow her to dispense with one maid 1t
lust exactly will enable her to get extra bottle Of
authentic rye or Scotch or carton of perfuned Gig
arets It would not purchase even the smallest bot
tie of the quality Of perfumery she 1t would not
buy tickets for her husband and herself at the Fol
lies" or "vanities."
In short, she probably would be informed
by her secretary Of the change in rates and never
would know about it unless she happened to read Of
the discussion about the cut in the papers.
modification of rates having this differental in
cdence upon human material is dubious at any time.
It is especially deplorable in the face Of the winter
which lies ahead Of 1t is very doubtful if there be
any substantial improvement in business until next
spring The condition of the poor is bound to be
worse than it was last winter. Why ny to add the
last straw to the camels back Of their suffering and
patience?
And maybe after all, such scheme as the pro-
posed Edison cut is not good business in the long
run. The Ontario hydro-electric commission has not
system through combining good service with low
rates to the small users.
It's program has been to let the man who can pay
do So while gaining new customers through low rates
10 the poor.