Salt Lake Telegram | 1928-06-03 | Page 1 | Utility Drive on State Ownership Started in 1925

ON SJ STATE A IE OWNERSHIP Sf 1 1925 Leaders of Industry Met I in Chicago to Decide on Fight PLANS KEPT SECRET Millions Expended on I Work in California WASHINGTON June 2 AP AP- AP Information that a concerted effort effort effort ef ef- ef- ef fort on the part of the utility in industry industry in in- to combat and stem pro propositions for government ownership ownership ownership owner owner- ship of the industry was decided upon at an emergency meeting of prom utilities men at Chicago in JH 1925 came from two letters Introduced in introduced In- In toda today toda in the federal trade commissions commission's investigation of power utilities The letters come from the files of George E. E Lewis manager of the tIle Rocky mountain committee on tin public utilities Information and were both written by him Lewis completed his testimony today and was followed by O. O A. A treasurer secretary of the Rocky mountain division National al Electric Light association After a short examination Weller Veller was ex excused excused ex- ex and the Inquiry suspended until June 12 when publicity methods meth meth- bd of utilities in Mississippi Louisiana Louisiana Lou Lou- and Texas will wUl be looked Into Writing oft t Home Gas and Electric company Greeley Colo Cob under date of February try ary 3 1925 Lewis said he had just i returned from a two-day two conference held In Chicago on the call of l M. M S. S Sloan chairman national national national na na- na- na public relations section N.B. N.E. N.E. N. N E. E L. L A. A Martin Insull Commonwealth Commonwealth Commonwealth Common Common- wealth Edison company Chicago M. M I. I-I. Aylesworth managing di director director director di- di rector N N. E. E L. L A. A F F. T. T Griffith president N. N E E. L. L A A. and other leaders in the utility industry SECRECY MAINTAINED The utmost secrecy secrecy was maintained maintained main main- tamed he added as to the purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose of the meeting Lewis said those mentioned above and others had revealed at atthe atthe atthe the conference that a group of radical representatives In WashIngton Wash Wash- Ington have banded together backed up by the Hearst interests Continued on page 9 eo UTILiTY UT UTILITY I DRIVE ON ON STATE OWNERSHIP STARTED IN N 1925 Continued from page 1 for the purpose of making capital out of the utility Industry He told Norcross that every phase of or orthis this menace was discussed after atter which resolutions were adopted preliminary to a drive against this t dangerous tide of radicalism dated exactly a Another letter month later Informed the manager of the Deming Ice and Electric company New Mexico of the Chicago Chicago Chi Chicago Chi Chi- cago meeting and said It had been disclosed that there was then on on tn systematic effort efort to foot a more bring about government and state ownership of public public- utilities than ever before He He added The me group which for years has de deits devoted voted attention money and influence influence in influence in- in Its time fluence to the effort to nationalize railroads has now turn turned ed d the toward the public ut utilities es especially specially s- s the light and power interests interests inter inter- ests EXPENDED MILLIONS Senators Senator Norris and La Follette Follette Fol- Fol about lette Lewis went on and twenty others of of that group have started a concerted drive eon on u public utilities at the national capital in at nt least sixteen states and in a score of towns and cities Already seven other states besides California and Washington are confronted with state ownership organizations proposals The utility of California as you know 1 have spend millions to been compelled to protect their properties against t the onslaughts of those who would turn to state slate ownership which in that state involved ved primarily an initial 1 expenditure of The I utility organizations of ot Washington for three consecutive years have the efforts of the radi radt radicals cals eels to inaugurate state ownership Both of of- these states succeeded in defeating these measures at the November elections but had they not been organized both measures woul would have carried WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE Robert E. E Healy chief Healy chief counsel let fr the federal trade commission auctioned questioned questioned ques- ques Lewis about the assertion in inthe inthe the Ule letter regarding the expenditure o of millions of dollars to fight government government government gov gov- ownership The witness said this was a matter of common knowledge Senator Norris of Nebraska and the late Senator La Follette of Wisconsin Wisconsin Wis Wis- on sin were called the national Wi-j Wi press agents of the group s seeking government ownership o In tie the Lewis Lewi letter leHer tha than to KIssick LewIs Predicted that propaganda n r La r a F Follette would by lead Norris to much and progress for the government ownership ownership owner owner- ship principle within the next nex year or two Un unless ar are perfected Protective measures here and there and everywhere