The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-09-28
CHEAP GAS NOT
DUE TO HUGHES
Man Who Brought Suit in Case
interviewed by Times
CANDIDATE NEVER IN CASE DE-
CIDED AGAINST COMPANY.
Action Was Brought Through Activity
of Hearst-Iiughes Was Paid AS
Counsel In Investigation.

81 was one of the two gas users in
the city of New York who brought ac-
ton to test the validity of the gas law
in New York, prior to the employment |
of Charles E. Hughes as special coun-
sci for the state to investigate condi- |
tions, and am surprised that he is try
ing to take credit for his connection
with eighty-cent gas" said George L.
West of Boise, who was in the city
yesterday, to a TIMES representative.
"The gas law under which l acted
was in many ways similar to the Ad
amson law just passed by congress"
continued Mr.. West, land the line of
argument which the gas company put
up was in many ways similar to the
pleas of the railroads in the present
instance. The legislature of the state
of New York had enacted a law pre-
venting public utility corporations
from collecting above a certain per
cent on their investments The gas
company paid no attention to this law
but continued to sell dollar gas The
Hearst publications took up the mat
ter and made an exhaustive investiga
ton which indicated that seventy-five
cent gas would have returned the per-
centage allowed by law. The Hearst
papers were urging people not to pay
and I finally went to them and asked
them what would happen in TIE event
that / refused. They told me to come
back later, which | did, and was in
formed that l should enjoin the COM
pany from charging more than eighty
cents. Another man who was in busi-
ness in a small way, took the same
stand and, with the backing Of Hearst
. we brought the matter into court The
Hearst papers then advised everyone
= to refuse to pay more than eighty
= cents and to bring injunctions, anc
hundreds followed their advice with
= the result that the courts were swamp
= ed with litigation. 1t was finally or
dered judicially that the company col
lect a dollar, but stand prepared to re-
. bate twenty per cent should the
- courts decide eighty cents to be suf
- ficient. An investigation of the mat
70 ter was ordered by the legisla
ture and Hughes was retained as pait
counsel for the state, doing his dut.
as any other honest attorney woult
IS have done, and no more The ga
i company claimed that its rate shoul,
/ not be reduced but when the specia
,s commission asked for figures it ha'
ri none to furnish Our cases, whicl
ot were brought through the activit
ir of Hearst, were carried to the su
preme court of the United States b.
n the attorneys retained by Hearst, O
G whom Mr.. Hughes was not one, an
was decided in our favor. Hughes ha
4 nothing to do with them.
n "The principle on which Presiden
va Wilson's stand with reference to tn
re eight hour day is based is similar
m the principle on which the legislator
acted when it passed the law which W
,,t succeeded in enforcing. l believe ths
in Hughes and his managers are maxim
ar a mistake and setting trap to cate
themselves in opposing the eight hou
Il law, while the gas matter tells in fa'
. or of Wilson and this law instead of
fo favor of Hughes.
10 clarence Shearn was the attorne
vo representing the Hearst papers, WI
,st fought and won our cases. At the san
=, time he was attorney in the cas'
against the coal trust, in which
&c was also employed by the Hearst p;
- pers. At that time Hearst showed L
'aas in every issue of his papers, as q
~ examination of the files will prov
y, - that Hughes was in no way respon
80 ~, ible for securing eighty cent gas II
pt the people. Now because of his Mex
is' can investments and other financi
connections, Hearst is willing to gi'
credit to Hughes for securing eigh
- cent gas, when he knows that no sue
ies credit is due. Hearst himself is real
entitled to the credit Hughes WI
never opposed to the big interests, al
has earned the criticism which To
a. an Lawson made on him, that he was Il
=. ablest lieutenant of the system"