Evening journal., 1911-10-12
Mr.. HAMILTON
TO Mr.. UNDERHILL

Editor OF THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL:-Mr. Edward Underhill who Is
promoting, or endeayoring to promote
The Public Utility Light, Heat and
Power Company. which is seeking to-
secure a franchise to operate in this
city, evidently did not like something
that was said by the writer In a COM
munication published in THE EVEN
ING JOURNAL on Wednesday. In ad-
dition TO showing an inclination TO
peevishness Mr.. Underhill also be-
trays a confusion OF ideas and a thor
ough misconception of the fitness Of
things when he draws a comparison,
OF attempts TO draw a comparison, be-
tween the operation OF a coal yard
and tho mere promotion of a Public
Utilities scheme.
Mr.. Underhill can embark in the
coal business by simply appearing
before the Clerk of the Peace and for
the meagre sum OF $3.50 securing a six
months license. and after that every
year paying a license and a state tax,
To embark in the public utility busi-
ness the system is somewhat more
difficult as Mr.. ULderhill Is discover
ing for himself these days. Those who
wish to engage In such a business
must apply to the constituted authorl-
ties and secure tho privilege TO dc
their business. Past experience has
| demonstrated that these privileges
have been grossly abused and there
Is absolutely no reason 20 believe that
grants unrestricted and unrostrained
would not be abused again as they
have been in the past,
There were excellent reasons. the
writer thinks, for the granting OF
franchises even unlimited, when the
| proposed enterprises we're In the ex.
perimental stage and men were risk
ing their money on an uncertainty and
the writer has always believed, anc
still believes. that the men who in
vested their money In trolley linei
and electric and gas plants vhei
these convcniences we're in q exper
mental stage deserved the handsoml
profits that many OF them made aftel
the enterprise had proved success
After Il has been shown. however
that princely fortunes arc 70 be made
on the manufacture Of gas or elec
| tricity or the operation OF railwa,
cars Il would. IN the writer's opinion
be a reflection on the intelligence o.
and the efficiency OF a community. and
nothing less than criminal. 10 gran
other franchises on tho same termi
that were made 10 those who riskes
their money on an uncertainty and
thereby establish a public conven
ienco.
The fact that Mr.. Underhil is in
a position where be can offer The
people Of Wilmington electric light
and power 80 per cent. less than
prevailing prices. is no magnificent dis
play Of generosity on HIS part and the
the writer thinks he must laugh "a
himsep when he talks about IL 80
tearfuiIy. II is, however. an illus
tration Of the wrongs OF the evil sys-
tenn Of which Mr. Underhill comes and
pathetically asks to become the last
beneficiary. The truth of the matter
Is that the Wilmington and Philadel.
phia Traction Company Is In a posi-
tion where II must endeavor at leas
to collect dividends on FIVE or sii
times the real value OF their plants
II Is therefore necessary for then
20 make a price witch Is not only un
reasonable but unjust The time 3
have prevented these outrageou
? charges WAS when the franchise wa
I granted. which viii make such thinr
I | underhill or his company 70 ever in
! ! pose upon the people Of Wilmineto
= like the Wilmington and Philadelphi
!, Traction Company Is doing Is I
= = grant them a franchise. II one
: grantd, which will max such thing
. impossible. The facts brought out b
Mr. Underhiil IN this controvers
should teach the people Of Whining
ton more effectively than anythin
that has heretofore been said tina
, every franchise should be restricts
and restrained and the profits 10 b.
made limited 10 a reasonable sum.
What Mr.. Underhill says about Mf
Hamilton and the coal business an,
his proposition about reducing Goa
I prices is silly n Mr. Underhill will
secure Cor Mr.. Hamilton a monopol,
= In the coal business in Wilmington
5 or only as good a prospect of secur
= ing a monopoly or selling out at
handsome profit as Mr.. Underhill'
company would have I'm case they Sc
Q cured a franchise. he, Nj Hamilton
will undertake 70 organize Goa