The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-30
The Peoples Voice
Why Not a Utility Rate Cut?
Consumer Believes That Corporations Should Slash
Their Charges Just as Incomes
Have Been Pared.
Have Been Pared.

Editor Times-I have been read
ing the items in your paper con-
corning utility rates that we have
been paying and have wondered
why they could not, in fairness to
all users, during these most trying
times, lower their rates in accord
ance with our scale of income,
which has in some cases been much
decreased, or have, as you suggest,
a revaluation on present day costs.
I am inclined to believe, as our
Governor said the other day, that
the wealthy must take care of the
less fortunate or there will be a
readjustment enacted by necessity,
of which public opinion would COM
pei some sort of change"
If the utility interests do not take
steps themselves for some sort of
fair adjustment, necessity will make
the change and I have noticed that
when it is forced issue in any
matter it usually goes to the other
extreme.
I am of the opinion that great
good is being done by your paper
in bringing the issue to the front.
1t is a very commendable piece of
work.
If my name on some petition
would help in this matter, I would
consider it my civic duty to CO.
operate.
I hope that you will not stop this
service to the citizens until q rate
is established fair both to the peo-
pie and the utilities. No fair
minded person would want rates
that would mean suicide to these
corporations. But if it was not for
us they could not survive either.
All we should want would be an
adjustment in line with other adj
justments that we all have been
compelled to accept.
D. r. JOHNSON,
1902 North Delaware street.
Editor TimeS-AS a reader of
your paper for many years, beg
leave to express my opinion on the
question of canceling war debts.
1 see no reason why We should
release all those nations from OBJ
legations for which we are in no
way responsible. We not only went
to their assistance by feeding them
and preventing probably millions
from starvation, but expended q
great many millions in doing SO.
However, the worst feature of all
is, we sacrificed many thousands of
lives to help win success, and in this
we showed our mettle. After the
war ended, we lent them billions
of dollars and still are doing so.
Let all the nations understand
that we are willing to cancel the
debts on the following basis: In a
written agreement with all of them,
we will cancel the debts provided
they reduce their armies and navies
to certain degree commensurate
with the requirements of Self-diSci-
pline and we will do the same, but
on a basis which will put us on a
parity, within a certain number Of
years, with England
After this government has con-
cluded on what basis this is to be
done, then they should figure what
amount of the money is to be de-
Quoted each year, according to the
number of years they mention as
the time to settle the entire debt.
1t is to be distinctly understood that
the debt of each nation will be re-
duced, only if the reduction of each
one has been adhered to, including
this nation.
1t should also be agreed, that we
shall have the right to have COM
petent men to examine their rec
ords and they ours. to see the pro-
visions are executed as agreed upon
If this is done, then we will save
millions Of dollars each year, as they
viii, and if this is accomplished for