The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-20
Electric Light and Electrical
Contractors Associations
Open Conventions
Today.
ARE INTERESTED IN DAM
Delegates Swarm to Power
Plant-Lee Says Prepare
for Utilities Com
mission.

-PreDare for the day Of public
utilities commission in this state.
were the words OF Rufus E. Lee. oi
Clarinda, president OF the Iowa Sec
ton Of the National Electric Light
association in his opening address to
the delegates of the fifteenth annual
convention of this association which
orened here this morning.
The fourth annual convention OF the
Iowa Electrical Contractors assocse-
ton was also opened this morning.
The twelfth annual convention of the
Iowa Street and Interurban Railway
association does not start until Thurs
day. All three conventions close Fri
day evening.
Delegates to the three conventions
began to arrive here last night Every
train in the city this morning and
during the afternoon brought more or
these men By tomorrow morning the
last of the contractors and electric
light men will have reached the city.
II Crowd at Power House.
Meetings this morning, like the
first morning sessions of all conven-
tions, were attended by but few dele
gates. In this case there seemed 10
be an unusually good excuse for those
not present at the morning meetings
to offer-they were unable to resist
the first opportunity of making the
trip of inspection through the mani
moth plant of the Mississippi River
Power company. Over one hundred Of
the delegates made this trip during
the morning. Others swarmed to the
dam during the afternoon.
While it was feared yesterday that
the attendance at the conventions
might fall short of what was at first
expected, indications today were that
every man who had been counted on
would be present.
Delegates expressed unusual pleas
ure at the entertainment program
which has been prepared for them.
Some Of them have come long way
to get here but feel they will be amp"
repaid.
On their arrival; visitors were first
registered in the booth in the lobby y
the Hotel Iowa, headquarters for the
three conventions. Here after they
had signed their names. they were
decorated with the badges OF their re-
spective associations and turned loose
to 90 where they desired. All meet
ings are being held In the Elks club.
Ready for Commission.
That the Iowa branch should oe
ready for the time when the state SEES
fit to establish q public utilities CON-
mission was the keynote Of President
Y nn'S oTn-nz= mood O na
to set their house in order. Other
states he said. had secured public
utilities commission, and that while
the Iowa legislature had not done Sd
yet It was Bound 20 take this step in
the future. Fo- that reason ne urged
that all be made ready for such 3
time.
The improvement n treatment OF
customers b. the cubic utilities con-
panies was touched upon by the pres
ident. who urged further adTance
along such lines OF cooperation with
the public.
The Officers Of Con.ertior
The officers OF the Iowa Section css
the National Electric Light azscc.z.
ton are Rufus e. Lee. Clarinda. r-e-
fdent: e. NJ. Walker. Dubuque. 7i@-
president: w. H. Thomas. J-- Des
Moines. secretary-treasurer: Rex. 2
Fowler, Des Moines, assistant sec-e
tary. The executive committee 3,
composed OF H. 3. Maynard. Water
loo; II. C. Blackwell, Davenport: 4 7,
Dodd. Charles City, and NJ A. Harr1
son. Hampton. The standing comm
tees are:
Ffnance-A. l.. Dodd, w H. Thorr
son. Jr.
Program-M A. Harrison, H. !
Maynard.
Menbership-W. A. Wall tresig,
ed. w. II. Thomson. Jr.
Legislative-h. c. Blackwell. W. ]
Thomson, Jr.
The special committees are:
Workrnan's compensation insuran
"A. l.. Dodd. Charles City; Aust
Burt. Waterloo; Thomas Crawfol
Clinton
Business from rural transrlissi
lines-H. ". Garner, Dies Moines;
II. Burtls. DEBORAH; Frank 8. Pay
Centerville.
Contractors Officers.
The Iowa Electrical contractors
hcers are az follows:
President. ". c. McCarten, Mar
ailtown; vice president, Floyd A. W
lace, Des MONIES; secretary-treasur
M. T. Humphrey. Waterloo.
hrectors-E. n. Sabfn, Des Noine