Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-05-01
A FAIR FIELD AND NO
FAVOR IS ASKED HERE


Very great interest is manifested a
the present time In some quarters II
behalf OF regulated monopoly al
against the well established rules Of
competition. II Is true that -regu.
lated monopoly is superior 20 an
anregulatcd one Of which a distin-
guished American coined the eplgram
"A private monopoly H. indefenslble
and intoiersble," and nothing could
be truer. The real altitude OF the pri-
yate monopoly was expressed In the
famous utferance 81 w. IL. Vanderbilt,
The People be damned"
No monopoly ever asked 10 be reg
rlatcd or ever cared what the people
nisht think -Al the tfaffic Will
bear Is the sole and only basis upon
which their rates are established. and
a. a general rule mOnopoiintic pub
lsc utiiiiy corporation IL exploited By
stock iois0ing methods. by e1traga-
giant officials and by reckless manage
n1cnt as the charges for all these Gre
passed on % the consumer. and there
s. absolutely no need for economic
mefhgds. Even regulated" monop-
oiY demands that the rates shall be
fixed Rs o. return q goodly income up
GA such items a. these
There can De no greater spur 10
the bftfermeni % tho service. no
stronger Incentive towards giving the
public n square deal. no kecnor rcas-
oa Tor economy OF management than
IN free fair and open competition.
Ia the electrical power field 81
southern idaha Il would be- little
short ~ criminal 10 recognize a moa-
epoly hy rules Of regulation that
would keep out competition This
vast empire is destined 70 be- one Of
the most thieklg populated sections
~ The gicsc and there d room FOR
power companies 10 make aubservlenl
90 The use ~ man an me power that
can De generated from rs magnificent
river and lis tribUtariea-- the
company which ia sought 60 be ex-
ciudea has nu the equitable rights
claimed for lfa competition 10 all
inifnla aud purposes the Idaho Light
& Power Company Is nn occupant ~
the entire southern Idaho field. as is
initial expenditure ~ more than one
faiiiian and half dollars was made
with View 90 extending lts lines as
fast AZ poSaibic into every village,
town apd city within ~ territory. Z
iihe eos competitor ~ came into the {
aela under the general laws ~ COM /
peiitl0a and none had my reason 10
anticipate the enactment ~ law that
i o. cliimed can be- Interpreted 20 y
protect g monopoly rs rights. there y
lore. O. the occupancy Of is field are o
- well established as those of any v
,ther company. and the people are 1,
ustlg entitled 90 the benefits OF SUI :,
.erior service and lower rates which !.
: may Be- able 20 install The system !
( lhls company has been constructed
Ipan lines Of absolute value received
81 every dollar expended II oceu-
lies she field fec from enen scriig
d 'siakes .iih s1e most available and Of
aonon leaf source of power devon ~ II
u stock lohhing and IL prepared 20 q,
iVe the public the bencut OF t.eSV -,
reat advantages,
a glance al the future. when south "
RI idaho's population runs into the ~
aiillona. when factories and trans u
pftati0n lines viii test 10 the limit II
sc power producing capacity Of our ri
reat waterways. viii demonstrate OF
ow absurd ~ the contention that the m
cveiopment 81 this veriiahle empire .,
iould fsst upon the whlms. caprices :,
90 capacity % a monopoly reguiat- =,
: or otherwise. y,
Naf is h true that competition OF
leans duplicated investment increas- dg
cost OF production. ruined earn VI
Is power. Increased charges or post IN
ined rate reductions. with eventual "A
,mbinallons ~ interests involved. ~.
aese are the fruits OF ut-throat and
iiiawed business methods culminat-
3 ia The great combinations known
iruFia. and are the basis Tor the do
legation that trust methods do not
nd % efficiency or 10 lower cost 81 on
odurtiou. None o. these statements
"a apply 90 a legitimate concern that on
tiers field upon wei established A,
.siness principles 20 obtain a share =.
the public business by meriilng the va
me by superior efficiency and lower y"
a. az production, permitting low St
charge Tor the service rendered. A
mpany that bases It's charges upon
own cost 81 reduction and which
= uniform rate for non-cumpeu- OF
.e ss wei as Tor competitive points an
a that purposes Go grow and de-
}up with the communities served
cause able 90 DO so upon q fair re- ii'
rn upon Sc Investment and utterly no
.afdiess Of the acts 90 competitors sat
4 under any fair regulations By the OF
re that vii apply alike 90 All sim
liar corporations. TAXPAYER og
- III
Romance o. Modern Life. "a.
fftnf u4ian haw dld enu make the