The Washington times., 1914-06-04
DEPLORING THE INEVl.
TABLE.

cOmmlCtee on puDltC poiiSs, "S
condemns legislative tendencies to-
ward public ownership of public
utilities"
No especial surprise will be occa-
stoned by this expression. The news
dispatches state that the organiza-
ton represents three billions of dol
lars of invested capital. 1t is not re-
markable that the owners OF that
capitalization, drawing returns on
privileges to perform public service
which is essentially inonopolistic,
should desire to continue their profits.
The real question is whether the pub
lie will be able to feel that its own
interest is identical with that of the
people who enjoy these privileges.
The report, according to news dis
patches, included .suggestions for
giving all employees the opportunity
by encouraging thrift and making it
possible for them to buy securities
on the installment plan, and urged
that the best interests of the public
would be served when State water
power and other franchises were ad-
ministered by private capital under
national and State franchises"
Always there intrudes the demand
for franchises; and that demand is
in itself the conclusive proof that the
public's concern about public utili-
ties is a paramount one; they can
not be set up in business at all with
out receiving first special license
from the public. There is always,
from such interests, the expression
of willingness to accept regulation in
behalf of the public; but when regu-
lation is actually applied, it just as
regularly develops that the fran
chise-holding concern is prepared to
fight that application to the last ex-
tremity.
The demand for control of the wa
ter powers of the country has at
least the merit of frankness. In
Washington, which ought to be the
| country's finest demonstration of the
possibility of harnessing water
power and providing great city's
needs in electric current therefrom,
a public utility corporation has ac-
CURED interests in the one available
water power site, through which it is
claimed the Government can at least
he embarrassed and put to great ex-
pense if effort is made to develop
that power as public proposition.
The quest of private interests for
water powers thus favorably located
is going on everywhere throughout
tie country. The frank statement of
the National Electric Light Associa-
ton is warning to the public as to
the end that is in mind.
The question of public ownership
of public utilities in cities is no long
er academic. 1t is strictly practical.
Every community must settle it in
accordance with the conditions and
needs of that community. In Wash
.ington public opinion is decidedly in
favor of public ownership, because
there is firm conviction that the pub
lie utilities have not given due con-
sideration to the public's rights in
connection with their operation.
More than that, the members of the
Public Utilities Commission have
frankly declared for ownership in
stead of regulation. Their opinion
seems to be that ownership repre-
sents the direct and short way to re-
suits that, if they ever should be at
tanned through regulation, would be
reached only after long and difficult
struggling and almost endless litiga-
tion.
Washington's conditions, as re-
CARDS public desires, and also as
touching on the financial ability to
handle the proposition, are altogeth-
er favorable to the public ownership
undertaking. There is no uncertain
ty as to the ability of the city's credit
to sustain the securities that would
have to be issued to carry out the
project. There are specific condi-
tions here that emphasize the need
of public ownership. a unified sys-
tenn would reduce expenses. That
argument is always pat forward by
corporations that want tn consoli-
cate; why is it not equally applicable
against corporations that don't want
to be consolidated? Universal trans
fers ought certainly to be as easily
possible in Washington as in the vast
area of Chicago, whose surface lines
give that facility, and whose ele-
waited lines will shortly be taken into
the universal-transfer arrangement.
The Great Falls power should be de-
yeloped and hitched to the current
using facilities of the town. 1t is
very plain that that cannot be done
save under public ownership
regime.
THE. PRESIDENT ON