The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-03-27
il AD00 SEEKS HELP
ORPUBLIC UTILITIES
viii Ask States and Municipali-
ties to Permit Rate Increases
TO Meet War Conditions.
PRESIDENT APPROVES IT
Declares It 10 Essential That All
Utilities Be MaIntalned at
Maximum Efficiency.

specdl to The Nssr York TIMES
WASHINGTON. - 49, SbflowlnG
the receipt OF communications from
several or the big public utility cor
porations asking that State and local
authorities be urged to consider quick
" arguments for readjustment of rates
which would tend toward maximum of
efficiency. William q. McAdoo. a. Sec
retary OF the Treasury. brought the
matter 20 the attention Of President
wilson
He received today = reply from the
President expressing the conviction
that the public utilities formed q vital
part OF the war machinery and author
lzing him 70 take Up with the proper
Officials. when circumstances might
make ouch action advisable. the prob
lens involved.
The representatives CT the public
utilities had brought before Mr. Nc
Adoo what they believed to be the
necessity for a general increase in
rates II service was TO be extended 20
moet the increased demands Of war
time activities. IL is possible that
some consideration may be given By
tho Federal Government 20 the qnss-
ton OF extending credit necessary for
expansion, especially IL the War FL
nance Corporation bill Is adopted.
The utilities IN which the Federal
Railroad Administration Will interest
itself are street railway. light. boat.
and power companies. Where II &p-
pears necessary inoreases IN fsrsS or
rates may be suggested.
McAdeo's Appeal
Copies Of the correspondence bstwseA
tho President and Mr. AcAaeo were
made public today. The secrstary's
letter TO the President follows:
Dear Mr.. President beg TO hand
you herewith eeveral memoranda and
letters relating to street railway and
Ing light. neat. and power, which
have been asker to bring 20 your
attention by a COMMITTEES represent
These papers indicate thu exist
ence OF genuine apprehension re-
Earding the adequacy, under present
Of local public utilities. The view
- expressed that increased wages
and the high cost OF essential mate
rails and supplies have affecfed them
they have affected everybody else.
and that united effort will be Escss-
lie requIrementg for service and the
corporate finaroial needs upon which
that service depends
As Secretary of the Treasury, 7
mast take o6iciaI notice Of these
matters. 1t Is obvious that every part
OF our industrial and economic life
should be maintained at its maximum
strength in order that each may con-
tribute In the fullest measure to the
vigorous prosecution of the war. Our
local public utilities must not be per-
mitted TO become weakened Trans
portation of workers 20 and from our
vital industries ana the health and
comfort OF our citizens In their homes
are dependent upon them, and the
necessary power TO drive many OF our
II q -
dustries essential TO the war Is pro-
duced by them It may be that here
and there. because OF the prominence
given to less important interests i'm
nedistely at hand, State and local
authorities DO not always appreciate
the close connection between the
aoundness and efficiency OF the local
utilities and the national strength
and vigor. and do not resort with suf
edial measures. In such cases. l am
confident that all such State and To-
cal authorities will respond prompt
y TO the national needs when TIE
matter IS fairly and properly brought
before them
Our public service utilities are
closely connected with and are an
essential part OF our preparations for
and successful prosecution OF the
which the accompanying papers re-
veal may most effectively be checked.
list. and the needed relief obtained,
only BY prompt action on the part OF
the respective local authorities.
earnestly hope that you may feel
justified in expressing the conviction
that the vital part which the public
utilities companies represent IN the
life and war-rna king energy OF the
nation ought 20 receive fair and just
recognition by State and local au-
th9 9siresa, Cordially " 9yoRMr ssApoo.
The President, the white House
President Wilson's Reply.
Here is the Presidents reply:
The White House, Washington.
70 February. 1918.
Ny Dear Mr.. Secretary:
have examined with care the
memoranda and letters which you
transmitted TO ms with your letter OF
the fifteenth. I fully share the views
lance OF the public service utilities
mont. especially In wartime. 1t is
essential that these utilities should
be maintained at their maximum EN-
cheney and that everything resson-
ably possible should be done with
that end in view. l hope that State
and local authorities, whers they
have not already done go. will. when
the facts are properly laid before
them, respond promptly to the neces-
stiles OF the situation.
I shall be glad to have You COM
municate with the local authorities
Whenever the Information IN your
course 10 desirable and in the ma
tionai interests.
Cordially yours,
(g4ppaAI UnOnpnU VII SON