Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1918-02-24 | Page 14 | Public Utilities' Needs Subject of Conference

PUBliC UTIliTIES UTIliTIES' NEEDS SUBJECT OF I Washington Feb 23 Further Further consideration consideration consideration con con- of the tho financial needs ol or public utilities will bo be given I en by hy the government at a conference hero here next Thursday between the federal reserve boards board's capital Issues committee and representatives of or state and local commissions commissions com TI missions having having- Jurisdiction over ocr public public pub pub- lic corporations Although the capital capital capi capi- tal Issues committees committee's l principal interest interest inter Inter- est cst will be to ascertain in what ways wn's public utilities may mar curtail expenses expense during tho the war wat It Is believed certain that there will be considerable discussion discussion discussion dis dis- of utilities' utilities predicament pinched between bet rising operating costs and difficulty In marl marketing securities and reluctance of or public authorities to tn tonet I act net promptly on requests for higher I rates lese The Thc conference will have special sig- sig sl In view of or the tho recent orre- orre between President Wilson tad anti Secretary McAdoo In his capacity ashead as head of the treasury and director of ot the he nations nation finances The secretary has las has not yet ct found round it necessary to act acton m on th the Presidents President's sU suggestion that he communicate n t ca with i local authorities In I that specific cases where It appeared public utilities cases were not being I considered as promptly as appeared necessary although requests for the exercise of or this function have been received re- re re received by b Mr McAdoo The secretary is represented as 8 hopIng hop hop- Ing that the declaration of the President dent lent and himself that public u utilities utilities' IlI les' les financial health and efficient maintenance maintenance maintenance nance are essential to the nations nation's w welfare wel wel- l- l fare In the war will be sufficient to stimulate public service commissions Into expediting consideration of pending pending pendInG pend pend- ing utilities cases without tho the necessity necessity necessity sity of or his sending special requests