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Show CONSIDER NEEDS OE PUBLIC UTILITIES WASrriXGTOX. Feb. CI. With the approval of President Wils"n, the federal fed-eral railroad administration is about to interest itself in street railway, light, heat and power companies throughout the country whose financial stability may be threatened by mounting costs of operation. Where it appears necessary, neces-sary, increase in fares or rates may be suggested. Correspondence between Soeretarv McAdoo, as director general of railroads, rail-roads, and the presideut, made public tonight, discloses that a committee rep-, resenting public utility interests recently re-cently presented memoranda to the secretary setting forth a most serious situation and asking that it be brought to the attention of the pre.-ddent. Air. McAdoo and the president- agreed that public utilities are a necessary part of the nation's equipment for war, .and the secretary was authorized to communicate communi-cate with local authorities in behalf of utilities found to need assistance. lu response to a letter from the secretary sec-retary inclosing the committee's memoranda, memo-randa, the president wrote: "I fully share the views yon express regarding' the importance of the public service as n part of our national equipment, equip-ment, especially in war time. It is essential es-sential that these utilities should be maintained at their maximum efficiency and that everything reasonably possible should be done with that end in view "I hope that state and local nuthori ties, where they have not already dom so, will, when the facts are pioperlv laid before them, respond properly to the necessities of the situation. "I shall be' glad to have yon communicate com-municate with the local authorities whenever the infnnnatien in your possession pos-session suggests that such a course is desirable and in the national interest." |