Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-04-19
M'ADOO SEEKS HELP
FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES
WILL Ask eTATgo AND MUNICH
PAlITigo TO P9NmlY" RATE
IkcRGAsES TO MEgv WAR
coNplTloNA
PRESIDENT APPROVES "


q soemnuAieations frUn several 81
the big public utility e0sD ssAtiens ask
inS, that State and local authefitiea
Be urged to consider quickly arCuosats'
for readjustmsnt Of rates which weuld
tend toward maximum Of sEleaenoy,
william @. McAdoo. ras; Secretary 81
the Treasury, brought the matter to
the attention Of President Wilson.
He received q reply from the
President expressing the conviction
that the public utilities formed o vital
part OF the war machinery ana author
ixing hin TO take up with the proper
on1oials, whom circumstances might
make such action advisable, the Dreh
lens involved.
The representatives. Of the public,
utilities had brought before Mr. Ne
Adoo what they believed, to BE- the
necessity for . general increase IN
rates II service was to BE- extended ~
meet the increased demands of war
time activities. 1t II possible that
some consideration may be given BY
the Federal Government TO the ques.
ton Of extending credit nsssssary for
expansion, especially II he War ~.
nance Corporation bill II adopted.
The utilities In which the Federal
Railroad Administration will interest
itself are street. railway, light, heat,
and power companies. Where It ap.
pears necessary increases In fares OF
rates may be suggested.
MoAdss's Appeal.
Copies Of the correspondence be-
tween the President and Mr.. McAdoc
were made public. The Secretary's
letter to the President fellows:
Feb. Is, 1919.
Dear Mr.. President-I beg to hand
you herewith several msnorauda and
letters relating TO. street railway and
other local public utilities furnish
Ing light, heat, and power, which; j
have been asked to bring to your
attention by q com nittees represent
ing public utility interests.
These papers indicate tho exist.
encs Of genuine aphrohsnsion re.
garding tho adequacy. under present
conditions. Of the services AID rates
Of local public utilities. The view
IL expressed that increased wages
and the high cost Of essential mate.
rails and supplies have affected them
as they have affected everybody else.
and that, united effort will be neces-
sary In order to meet alike the pub.
lie requirements for service and the
corporate financial needs upon which
that service depends.
A Secretary Of the Treasury, l
must take official notice OF these
matters. 1t 10 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
porte ton of workers to and from our
vital industries, and the health and
comfort of our citizens In their homes
are dependent upon them, and the
necessary power to drive many OF our
war industries and many other In
dustries essential to the war II pro-
duced by them. II may be that here
and there, because of the prominence
given to less important interests i'm
mediately at hand, State and local
authorities do not always appreciate
the close connection between tho
soundness and efficiency Of the local
utilities and the national strength
and vigor, and do not resort with SUI
fcient PRONE tness to the call for rem
edial measures. In such cases, i am
confident that all such State and 10
cal authorities will respond prompt
" to the national needs when the
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
war. and the unfavorable tendencies
which the accompanying papers re-
veal may most effectively be checked.
wherever they may be found to ex-
ist. and the needed relief obtained,
only by prompt action on the part OF
the respective local authorities.
I 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-makins energy OF the
nation ought to receive fair and Just
recognition by State and local author
tiles. Cordially yours,
(Sirned) w. G. MoADOo..
The President. the White House.
President Wilson'S Hepiy.
Here is the Presidents reply:
The White House. washington
10 February, 1918
NY Dear Mr.. Secretary:
/ have, examined with care the
memoranda. and letters which you
transmitted to me with your letter OF
the fifteenth. fully share the views
Won express regarding the impor-
lance of the public service utilities
as part of our national equip
nnent, especially in wartime. II 10
essential that these utilities should
be msintained ut their maximum en-
cheney and that everything reason
ably possible should be done with
that end In view. l hs,s' that State
and local authorities, whore they
hsvs not already done 90. will. when
the facts are propsfy laid before
them, respond promptly to the necss-
stiles Of the Situation.
shall be glad 70 have you com