Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-13
ARGUE FOR
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

bonds.
"The elimination OF the speculator ana
the stock jobber from the utility field ana
the establishment Of utility investments
upon a safe, conservative, nonspeculatiVe
basis. is to my mind a fundamental con-
dition precedent to good service perma-
nentiy low rates and adequate public con-
troll.
1--WE at least can have no sympathy
with the efforts constantly being made
to pack commissions and Councils Win
weak or private minded men VINO VIII
effectively prevent or postpone the ue-
volopmcnt of efficient and Intelligent
public agencies able, In case of need 10
make municipal ownership success
The corporation viewpoint on the reBu,
lation OF public utilities was expressed
by Nathaniel Il. Guernsey, general couh-
sci of the American Telephone and Iele-
graph Company, of New YORK ne
obviously favored regulation by state
tribunal rather than by local control.
Arraved against him in opinion Is the
PennsylyanIa Municipal Home Rule
League, which is holding executive ses-
sIons In conjunction with the conference
perfectinE plans to carry the home lule
regulation fight to the next pennsylvania
Legislature. David l.. Starr, of Pitts
burgh, is the president of the league
LOWER COST OF LIGHTING.
Cooperation on the part of all the
cities in the country in dealing with
light rate problems would materially re-
duce the cost of lighting the streets OF
Philadelphia, asserted Ray Palmer, Com
missioner of Gas and Electricity of Chi
caEo, at the morning session.
For many years most cities In the
limited States have been trying to solve
individually problems relating to their
local lighting rates without proper
knowledge and investigation Of the sub
iects to find out what benefits have been
accomplished by other cities under sim
liar local conditions" said Mr.. Palmer
I'm other words, there has been lack
of cooperation on the part Of our mu-
inequalities in dealing with light rate
problems. Too little publicity has been
given low rate settlements made by util-
ity corporations with cities.
High rates are many times the re-
suit OF bad politics or a lack of lnowl-
edge on the part of members OF the
Council who approve OF contract ordi-
nances or yearly contracts allowing high
rates. Public utility companies in one
city may have more political influence
than in another. resulting In the passing
OF unsatisfactory rate measures, inyolv-
ing the giving away of rights which
should remain with the city.
"It costs Philadelphia $I66 year tc
light many OF its business corners where
eight lamps at a unit cost of S97 per year
are installed, while 1t costs Chicago only
1856 for the lighting OF its best lighted
corners. that is two flaming arcs, at 81
per arc, on underground construction
,tv1,F fT,nIa MT on a NJ
and hxed charges"
MI. Palmer quoted figures showing tha
1t cost Philadelphia in 1918 s2,390,O69 tC
light 177O miles of streets and alleys, while
II cost Chicago only S1,473 100 to light 452
miles OF streets and alleys. The cost t
Philadelphia, he said. was relatively foul
times as great rs that to Chicago. Phila
delphia also pays as high a retail rate fol
lighting as any city in the United States
he said.
LOUIS BRANDEIS SPEAKS.
"The ultimate remedy for the system
of interlocking directorates, in addition
TO trust-curbing legislation is to b.
found In n combination OF municipalitie
such as will be effected through the pub
lie utilities bureau being organized a
the conference of Mayors" This is
statement made by Louis Brandeis. o
Boston, one of the leading anti-trus
lawyers, formerly counsel for the Inter
state Commerce Commission, and a
present the special attorney for the Fed
eraI Government in charge of the Ney
Haven prosecutions.
"There are two remedies for the evil
! Of inteTlocking directorates, said MI
Brandeis. "One is legislation such a
/ the Clayton bill. The other is this con
| ference.
"The only way 10 meet the great in
I fiuence of lnterlocking drectoTates 10 TN
l wide extent that the business interest
/ are bound together is through combin
| Ing the cities together, We are to NEE
| financial combinations by municipal co
| operation. When this is widely done W
/ shall have justice to capital and com
/ munity alike.
THE evils Of stock watering by pub
| lie service corporations are due to con
! cealed facts" said Mr.. Brandels. "Th
4 system Of interlOcting directorates an
l OF directors who do not direct must
abolished. II Is impossible for director
OF interlocking drectorates to direc
| properly" he said. because Il Is i'm
| possible for them to have the knowledG
OF the truth and facts which they mus
have 10 do justice to their duties.
The gravest objection I have to IN
/ terlocking directorates." said Mr.. Bran
dels. rs that the system has created
| financial power so great that men whoI
we have regarded as great-and VIII
are morally great-haye found them
selves influenced by the great wall
| power which forms itself around them.
In the case Of the New Haven direC
tors. he said. their manlpulations wei
due more 10 ignorance than 70 wron
| intent.
The whole public utilities question
said Mr.. Brandels. rs an effort 70 oI
tain justice for both sides. This ca
/ only be attained by q careful regaI
| 70 the fundamental facts. which relai
TO the cost Of the plant ana Of operi
tlon. Careful. accurate information ca
he obtained only by cooperation amor
the agencies interested
The public service corporations hay
had cooperation. The munlcipaliti
have not. This conference provides NJ
only the plan. but the instrument II
| effect Of this conference win be felt
/ an parts Of the United States"
Mayor Blankenburg sounded the ke
note Of the conference hy asserting, ~
are not here 10 harass the public uti
ties corporations" He said the inte
OF the conference was 70 bring .0t0 clos
harmony the corporations Of private car
tai ard the public units of goYernmer
that loss Through antaEQristic hiisafi
might he eliminated fcI the greater heno
~ ihc public in increased service and {
f edaHnata revenues sor fHe utilities anI