Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-06-03
A REMARKABLE SPEECH
HEAD OF GREAT CORPORATION
TALKS FROM SHOULDER.
welcomes Public Control Of Utiiity
Companies and Says, Give
People square DEAL

People square Deai.''
One Of the most progressive adj
dresses ever made before body Of
public utility men in the United States
was that delivered before the National
Electric Light Association at its 2Sth
Annual Convention, May rs, 1910, by
Arthur S. Huey, Vice President Of III
M. Byllesby & Company.
No utterance by public utility on
orator Of Mr.. Huey's prominence with
| in recent years has caused so much
discussion and comment The address
dealt with the subject of Commercial
| ism in Electric Lighting and Power
Plants, striking incisively at oid-fash-
/ ioned methods in the operation OF
electric, gas and railway systems In
many ways Mr.. Huey's address defined
and formulated the progressive spirit
which is now permeating the leaders
lin public utility operation throughout
the country
AS is we'll known locally, ~ M
Byllesby & Co., whose head Offices are
at Chicago, acts as the General Mama
ger and Operator Of the Willamette
Valley Company Mr. Huey is in
j charge OF the Operating Department
Of this large organization and his re-
marks therefore are of particular in--
terest to the people of Dallas.
4 Mr.. Huey told the National Electric
Light Association that he believed the
hostility and prejudice against utility
companies throughout the country is
largely undeserved In his opinion
it is caused by a great deal OF mis-
understanding, but he admitted that a
percentage Of truth entered into It,
Agitators Not to Blame.
ut is absurd to blame the agitators
and the disgruntled and the avaric-
Iious for everything, said Mr.. Huey
"Some OF our ills originate in our
selves, and the apex of folly is to ig-
more our own shortcomings.
II venture the assertion that at least
} rs per cent of public i'll feeling against
utility organizations has been caused
by the failure of operating companies
TO take pains to please their customers.
"In communities where companies
have exerted themselves to render
fun value to consumers and have made
some shift towards educating the pub
: lie to the facts underlying the central
: station business, the public Is aWak-
: ing to a new sense OF justice toward
: utility corporations.
}. "People are realizing more than ever
! ! before that there are two sides to these
! questions that the public owes as
: many obligations to progressive pub
. lie service organization as the corpor-
: alton owes to the public.
.Favors state Control.
II regret any opposition to the
u growing tendency toward the creation
Y OF state commissions empowered with
regulatory authority over utility
= companies. Personally I welcome this
y movement, because / see in 1t great
= opportunities for good to public ana
. corporations alike
"Obviously utility commissions may
" be good or bad, or may be neither. SO
:, may the courts; so may every depart
= ment of government, and it makes
u little difference what style of govern
ment is in vogue. We might as well
y tremble at the name of thousand
y imaginary dangers as to regard tne
tendency toward governmental regu-
lation Of utilities with dread and APP
III prehension.
with all proper regard for the sem
sibilities of others, am believer In
80 plain speaking. believe in admitting
that things are wrong, in order thai
curative measures may be applied
without loss of time.
- :. should Help Develop Town.
ne "our companies should play ACTIVE
H. parts in the whole commercial struct
A. ure of the municipality They should
be made attractive physically, admir-
ps. able from the point OF efficiency AM
,rl court the voluntary declaration from
e- every citizen that Our town has on
II of the best electric companies in tn
country
va mo words are strong enough to de
ry nounce the central station mahase
al ment which regards the communit
Il serves as mere field for exploita
ma tion-as a mere machine for the coin
Ter ing of electric service into dollars. A
attitude like this will wreck any util
TO- ity organization.
ty: ..The commercial field of publ
E. service company represents an oppoi
nd tunity to market product. The at
on of supplying the demand enhance
the entire value of the community.
VS.. the community becomes more attract
car i've Il grows and develops, and as tn
red change takes place, the value OF II
market increases.
eva .In other words the central static
De- is a part of the economic scheme
the modern city. Logically It shoul
A. profit in proportion to the co-operi
De- tive value 1t returns to the communit
..The central station does far mo-
hur than most other commercial iniiuene
for TO build up cities and TO fill them WI
people. Industries and wealth.
nor "A prevalent motion that utiliti
for companies do little or nothing
create the prosperity which occasio
c. ally comes TO them is absolute
for wrong. We can AFFORD to spend a go
deal Of time and money eradicaul
Ed this idea.
for Even companies which seem 10 =
ex- low reluctantly In the wake OF loo
development rather than TO paru
ton pate in and stimulate the communiti
-ar- activities. contribute heavily In
son- general development
"A central station company and
officers, however, should be In
very front rank OF the wideawake
dlvIduals and corporations who
the planning and striving for munich
HAS advancement They should lead
linS, point the way. They should emp
their talents in helping to solve
common problems eonfronting IN
abel -..-..nLrlnallIr