The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-23
Urges the. Need of Mantle
nance of Public Utilities at
Full Efficiency
CASES PENDING
ALL OVER COUNTRY
lndisposition Shown to Expedite Such
Cases or to View the Increases Asked
Tor III the Light Of War Time Neces-
sity-United Effort Wanted.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The rails
ing Of rates by public utility corpora
t'ons wherever necessary to maintain
them al maximum efficiency during the
period Of the war Is favored by Pres
ldcnt Wilson. In 4 letter to TO Secrc.
taly MrAdco the President expresses
hope that local authorities throughout
the country who have jurisdiction in
alch mattel will respond promptly to
tine necessities Of the situation in con
siacrinG appeals for rate raises.
Appeals for rate increases h. public
utliit~ corporations are pending all
over the country, but there has been
EN- iadi position SHOWN to expedite such
eases or to view the increases asked
for in the light Of war necessity. So
Trriou> has become the situation that
a. eammitt"e representing public utili-
iv interests recently laid before Secre-
tarF Mctdoo fa-tI and figures which
showed that in SOME eases. unless relief
was quickly afforded even the fixed
charges Of some companies could not
De- met, Thcs, Interests, il is under
TODD, alap carrird their appeal directly
80 the President, pointing out that,
with their rates fixed by commissions
'h"r were hclules, 10 aid themselves
The President : staemcnt was
prompted 10y letter and memoranda
trom Secretary NeAdoo calling attyn-
non to the genuine apprehension felt
I'D many quarters regarding the ade-
qa2rN under present conditions OF serv.
ierr anj rates of local public utilities
furnishing light, neat and power.
I'm forwarding them the secretary
tn. view /, expressed that in
creased wage aud the high cost OF c--
s"nt'2l materials aud supplies have af.
tcetcd them ~ they hav. everybody
a'sr a1d that united effort will be ne
n~sary IN or3.r to meet alike the pub
IT, requirement. for service and IN.
.,r orat, financial ucais unoa wlirl
ME- r,iat 'tsftaas % >t. s-.. -...--
y secretary Of the treasury. !
iuu'. take Official notice of these mat
.e,'. u J, obvious that every part 81
"nr industrial and economic life should
.H ''"'H'aiJtd al it. maximum strength
1 u'Je" TINT each may coa,ributr IN
The fullest measure to the vigorous
prosecution &C the war. Our local rub-
.i' utilities mast B"t bc permitted t.,
become wcltcaed -
After calling attention to the fact
THAT the utilities must TRANSPORT and
furnish home comforts and conyopi-
ehccs t. the country and that they are
es" atlal 'o many Of the war industries
th" secretary said That because of the
prominence given less important issue,
local authorities may not appreciate the
cos connection between the Sogalar...
aad efficiency at the utilities and ~
tionat strength and vigor. he con
cIudcs:
Our public service utilize. ar
closely connected with and are an cs-
>ehtiat Jart of our preparation for
snrresstul prosecution Of the war. aud
the uutavorahle tendencies which tAa
%. rcwraryiug papers reveal may most
effectively be checked whcrclrr hey
mr. b' fouad 70 exist and the needed
fr1rt obtained oulv ~ prour,t action
"1 the i0rt "t the respective local au-
thoritics
"aHe+iy hope that YOU nv feel
lp'' thrd IN eyf-ycaine the ..ltfcif,,
that thc vital Part which the pHll.,
uiihts's c"muauiCs rcpfcscua in fEe life
'h' "ag making energy or the nation
ought tn receive fair and n,.t rrcr,,.:-
tioa hr state aad local authorities e.,
Th" Pms'dca, s response fo,,ov>.
l have 'Samiael with care the