Show THE DAILY NEW YORK Fina Financial J Whirligig r Written tn for Th The Telegram By JAMES McMULLIN Mel NEW V YORK YORK Governor Governor Lehmans Lehman's utility regulation plan has hit a couple of hidden reefs and will be left eft stranded unless political pressure pressure pressure pres pres- sure from Washington tows it off Even then its it's likely to spring important leaks The utilities haven't confined their opposition opposition opposition tion to public hearings Their mobilization of every possible ally has been something to watch For instance a number of banks and insurance companies have been moved to protest protest- through private legislative contacts and likewise through state bodies regulating their affairs affairs- against prospective impairment of their utility investments Their protests carry weight be because because because be- be cause no one in Albany wants to see these in institutions institutions institutions in- in run the risk of another jam Also the rural districts have been stirred up w with th rep reports that municipal power plants mean either no electric service for them at all or in inferior inferior in- in tenor service at much higher prices This argument argument ment mont is reflected in the wavering attitude of legislators representing rural constituencies G. G O. O P. P Vote Will Vill Split State Republican leaders differ as to the str strategy they should employ An important faction fac fac- tion favors supporting the Lehman measure as asis as is whether is-whether whether they they- like it or not not to to disprove any linkup with the power trust and to throw re responsIbility responsibility responsibility re- re for whatever happens in Democratic laps Another group is hostile on principle and doesn't care who knows it The Republican vote will accordingly be split and Lehmans Lehman's success will depend on how well he can swing his own party The Tammany- Tammany utility hookup is well known That makes it hopeless unless a compromise preserves the form while omitting key portions of the sub sub- stance Local sharps predict one compromise will provide that municipalities be allowed to erect their own plants only if willing to bid in in existing existing existing exist exist- ing private facilities at a fair price Its It's known here that Washington has an in interested interested interested in- in eye on the Lehman program But in insiders insiders insiders in- in siders doubt whether Washington i influence will weigh much in Albany at this stage Labor Trouble Prospect Fearsome New York is genuinely genuine y disturbed at the prospects of serious serious' labor trouble The grapevine grapevine grapevine grape grape- vine indicates that strikes in the automobile industry in industry in- in n have only been postponed postponed not not can can- Meanwhile auto leaders stand as firm as ever for their merit clause and the open shop Word Vord here is that the government heartily dislikes having the issue raised at present but doesn't feel it can give ground to help the employers employers' employers employers' employers employers' em em- emi i side On the other hand its it's understood in high local quarters that theres there's no no- wish to crack crackdown down on the motor companies if it can be helped Even some labor leaders feel the fight has been badly timed Experts agree that a tie up in the auto in industry industry in- in would hurt recovery worse than trouble in almost any other field partly field partly because motor makers are big customers of so many other in industries industries industries in- in and partly because the valuable momentum momentum momentum mo mo- it has gained would be lost You hear plenty of forecasts from informed sources that the government will have its hands full trying to maintain industrial peace within six weeks Weir Veir Goes Ahead head With War Var Plans E. E T. T Weir Veir o of National Steel apparently does not care how many fights he picks with the government Apart from the labor abor issue New Yorkers hear privately that he plans to build a addition to his plant in defiance of orders that no production facilities shall be added without specific N R A consent Weir doesn't mind his role as bearer banner-bearer for the rugged individualists a bit He has told fri friends he will yield to no authority below the supreme court C C Consumers Consumers- have at least one break coming their way Most every industry in the country will file statistics to prove that the hour 36 week is ruinous in th their ir special case Some exceptions ex exceptions ex- ex will ill be granted Others are certain not to be New York understands the latter class in in includes eludes all aU the industries which the consumers' consumers advisory board claims have raised prices faster than costs That That will b be scored a victory for the board boar and shield Id the consumer against some further increases at least High Court Ruling a Surp Surprise ise The supreme courts court's decision in favor of the New York milk control board took state au authorities authorities au- au completely by surprise They were so sure of an a adverse verse decision they hadn't even bothered to give the milk board a new lease on life Its present charter expires March 31 After the court acted th they y their cue in a hurry The dope here is IS that the A A A was equally surprised Plans for federal milk licensing are expected to move much faster from now on Copyright 1934 b by McClure o Nes Newspaper IPer Syndicate |