The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-15
RATE IS
SLASHED--BUT
NOT IN CITY
Rural Communities to Get
Cut, While Indianapolis
Pleads in Vain.
CUTHBERTSON Is CURT
0verruIeS Motion, Tells
Officials Arguments
Are Barred.

Since Indianapolis officials and
citizens demanded a reduction in
Indianapolis Power and Light Com
pany rates, Harry K. Cuthbertson,
public service commissioner, has or
dered a slash in rateS-not in the
city, but in rural communities.
This unique turn of events was
revealed today when the mayors
committee met with Cutbertson and
officials of the utility.
A public hearing on Indianapolis
rates has been scheduled for April
6, replacing one to have been held
Thursday. AT this season the rural
rates pleas will be coupled with
those from Indianapolis.
Orders Slash Now
Although the formal hearing on
the rural petition is scheduled
then, Cuthbertson, in today's seS-
sion, ordered light company officials
to prepare the reduced and stand
ardized schedules for rural and
suburban lines.
Clifford Harrod, now manager of
the utility, who was head of the
Chamber of Commerce when the
Indianapolis utility merger was eff
fected, said the rural schedules al
ready are being worked out.
Prior to his announcement of the
rural cut, Cuthbertson was emphatic
in his assertion that no reduction
could be. made in Indianapolis I'M
less. testimony to support it could
be produced by the city.
knight Motion Overruled
Cuthbertson called today's con-
ference to publicly overrule what
he considered dilatory motion
filed by Edward H. Knight, Indian
apolis corporation counsel, which
the commissioner commended would
require complete audit and ap-
praisal before any hearing could be
held.
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan as
serted the city sought no delay
and did not want the motion so
interpreted.
But Cuthbertson read from the
Knight motion in support of his
Interpretation and also brushed
with Knight, there to defend his
stand.
The commissioner then explained
that the Thursday hearing had
been scheduled to determine
whether figures he had used in dis
missing a former rate reduction
petition we're correct, or those show
ing 1881 a more profitable year
than 1890, used by the company in
stock promotion pamphlets.
Other Matters Up
This is to be thrashed out at the
April 6 hearing, Cuthbertson con-
Guided. He also will go into coal
costs, increased overhead expense
following the electric merger, buy
ing power from insult, and excess
of producing units, as sought in the
survey asked by the city, he de-
clared.
Figures which commission &C
countants have obtained will sub
stantiate CuthbertSon's former dis
nissal order, it was learned, so it
appeared improbable that anything
but another dismissal would result
from the scheduled hearing.
Walter c. Rothermel, head of the
South Side Civic Club delegation
which promoted the light and water
reduction petitions with the city,
tried to tell Cuthbertson that, after
the conference method of settling
the matter had failed, he Understood
an audit and appraisal would be
made.
Argument Is Barred
But Cuthbertson cut him off and
said he wasn't going to argue
Date of April was set since The
power and light company had been
given to April l to file its annual
report to the commission, due
March l.
Cuthbertson also asserted the
commission can do nothing about
the figures the company uses to sell
stock
So, unless the city makes strong
case, armed with commission fig
ures, there is to be no emergency
rate reduction and possibly no audit
and appraisal for reduced rates in
the future.