The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-23
TUESDAY. APRIL 70. 1885.
UTILITlES-AND RESULTS
Logical consequences are the scarecrows
of fools and the beacons Of wise men,
-Alduous Huxley.
TUESDAY. April %. 1855.
u Il 4

y EsULTs, it has long been said tell the
IN story.
It has been 50 many years since Indiana
has had something tangible to point to as the
result Of state governmental actions, that the
great old Hoosier state is slightly amazed to
find itself with actual, honest to-goodneSS re-
suits in the way of state utility regulation.
Gov Paul V. McNutt's recognized Public
Service Commission yesterday announced the
results Of its two years in Office. According to
the records the commission has approved re-
auctions in utility rates amounting to a total
Of s5,O16 $685. figured on an annual basis.
This is something we can point to with
pride It is a distinct victory for the new COM
MISSIONS "show-cause" method of forcing
equitable utility rates, for, of the total amount,
reductions aggregating 1892, 1895 were re-
allied, either directly or indirectly through the
"show-cause" policy
United States Senator Sherman Minton,
while public counselor before the commission,
instituted the method of petitoning the COM
mission to cite public utility companies, to
show cause before the commission" why their
rates should not be reduced.
THIS indeed was a startling departure from
old method Of setting rate schedules.
Previously, it was necessary to hold formal
rate hearings only after months of expensive
ergiueering and accounting surveys had been
completed.
The new commission refused 10 accept the
views taken on the Indiana utility laws by the
utility companies The commissioners insisted
on reading the law themselves.
And to quote the commissioners themselves,
here is what they said:
The commission does not so construe the
law. but is of the opinion that it is the duty Of
the com mission to resort to every method and
means helpful in determining rates to be
charged for utility service and it is believed
the law is so written and should be so con-
st:ued and applied"
And so the first show cause" method was
instituted against the Public Service Co. of
Indiana. The company protested bitterly the
procedure adopted by the commission but
results tell the story-rateS were reduced.
So on down the line.
II ME reduction IN rates, the commission re-
Il port shows, has been spread to $50 differ
ent cities towns and communities in SO Of
the states 90 counties.
OF the reductions, 500 per cent have gone
to residential service users 2312 per cent to
commercial service users, 1882 per cent to in
dustrial power users, and 341 per cent for
municipal services.
Gov McNutt, in his weekly "hreSide" radio
talk Sunday night. discussed the report and
mentioned more specifically the fact that some
of the reductions had been termed 'volun-
tary reductions"
The Governor aptly pointed out that he did
not wish to bubble over words. but that it was
the first time he could recall utilities being
afflicted win a sudden attack of generosity.
Indianas public utility record is such that
no person can look at it without conceding
its excellence.
II IS such that Oswald Ryan of Anderson,
we'll known Indiana Republican, will present
the results of Indiana's fight for lower utility
rates to the Senate committee this week
holding hearings on the Wheeler-Rayburn bill
for. regulation of utility holding companies.
Indiana utility users owe a great deal to
six men. Those six are: Paul McNutt, Sherman
Minton, Perry Mozart. Samuel L. Trabue, Mole
Cook, and Fred A. Wiecking.
On behalf of its readers, The indianapolis
Times saluteS them.