The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-24
FAT SALARIES
PAID BY HIGH
WATER RATES
President Clarence GeiSt
and His Manager Feel
No Depression Sting.
SLASH DEEMED LIKELY
Monthly Minimum Cost for
City Users May Be Pared
After Hearings.

Clarence H. GeiSt, Philadelphia
man who owns the water supply
in indianapolis. gets $1,000 a month
for being president of the Indian
apolis Water Company.
AS GeiSt does not live here, it is
necessary TO have a resident man
ager for the company, so he employs
H. S. Morse as general manager at
$3.50 a month.
The 1881 report of the company
shows no reductions in these sala-
ries.
Quiz Real Estate Man
These points we're developed at
the rate reduction hearing before
the public service commission.
which entered its third session to-
day with company witnesses taking
the stand. A New York lawyer.
who also is high salaried, has been
imported to block the rate cut pro-
poSal.
This mornings session was de-
voted to cross examination of John
J. Reilly, local real estate man, who
made an appraisal of lands for the
company.
His total valuation of all company
lands was given as $3,711, 203.45.
The company pays taxes on
$1,085, 260 valuation in Center town
ship, tax rolls disclose.
Rate Cut Expected
Commissioner Harry K. Cuth-
bertson, who has the case in charge,
is likely to issue an emergency order
cutting the S150 monthly minimum.
despite the high-priced help and
counsel.
For, at the Wednesday afternoon
meeting, Cuthbertson introduced
some commission testimony to show
that meterization has reduced the
water consumption so that the
minimum payers are not using
nearly the amount for which they
are being assessed.
This greater conservation also
will affect lands held in reserve, for
expansion of the company, in re-
SoA0 W NoALoOlOllo do CldAlllCU ny
the company, it was brought out.
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan's
committee, which has been prose-
cutting the rate reduction case or
the city and the South Side COM
munity club petitioners, presented
testimony to show the dire plight
of people here, caused by unem-
ployment.
Sympathy for All
William L. Ransom, New York
attorney for the company, expressed
sympathy, but pointed out he doesn't
want his client. Chest, also to suffer.
Ransom. aided by Harry Boggs,
former chief accountant of the pub
lie service commission, scored sig
nal victory at the Wednesday hear
ing.
Webb Gilbert, chief commission
accountant, had taken the stand to
testify that club dues, donations and
association assessments had been
charged as operating expenses from
1925 to 1929. The point was devel-'
oped further by questioning of Ed
ward H Knight, corporation counsel.
Then on dissemination the
company counsel brought out that
nearly all items listed we're not
charged as operating expense. but
taken from the company profits.
List Land Valuations
One of the commission exhibits
shows consumption Of 1858, 10000
gallons in 1929, 1888 100000 in
1880, and 11,116,160,000 in 1881.
Revenues for the three years were
s2,714,4 5S.6S in 1929; s2,78O, 547.76 in
1880, and s2,7Os, 773.1s in 1881.
The Reilly land valuations listed
today by the company were made up
as follows:
Riverside station, SOB ,952.5O:
Washington station, s134.6O7.5O:
Fall Greek station, s80.360; Booster
station, 5000; filtration depart
ment, $298,250; canal department.
s127,626: canal right-of- way, s1.166.-
932.55; Hamilton county holdings.
S9,212.40; South Capitol avenue,
$4,000; Office, warehouse and stable.
$40, 1853; easements, $685.: tank
land, s24,203, and reservoir lands.
s715,105.50.