El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-07

IT MAY BE that at the time Of the millennium, and pos
l sbly not very much before either, the public may
to have kindly attitude toward those COM
panies and corporations that known public utilities
The popular attitude may best be described one Of
liberation except the railroad corporations and the
wire companies the government having made such mess
IF its attempt at federal control
What may be called the lack Of an entente cordiale
between the public and the public utilities touched
upon incidentally IN add.ss by Clarence R. Wharton
Houston attorney Public Utility Problems in Texas
the Texas Bar assoations meeting at Galveston last
week
M Whartons professional relations with public utility
companies may may have resulted in certain bias
their favor but at least they have given him out
ders insight into the workings of public utility corpora
ions. He ought TO know what he is talking about.
The Herads readers not long ago appred of the
situation Of public utilities, the street companies
he situation being that many Of them in various parts
d the country facing bankruptcy With soaring costs
of operation the five cent fare longer covers expenses
provides Prc4t to say nothing Of covering depreea-
ton and extensions of But nearly everywhere the
public is fighting any fares though there have
seen exceptions
The street car companies have their problems and all
other public utilities have theirs of kind another
The trouble is mostly financial Banking and bond houses
al about it and not able TO afford adequate
relief
What adds the completely Of the problem. pointed
out BY Nj Wharton that the courts afford small and
uncertain relief present embaTrassmeDts and poor
safeguard II efforts adjust utilities to conditions which
have grown out of the var
One of Nj Wharton's surprising statements was
that If scientific survey could be made of the public
utilities il Texas, representing total investment, not
including steam railways Of S29ooooooo and taking into
account the original all subsequent Investments set
ting I'D proper depreciation allowance that survey would
reveal an average annual income upon the capital actually
invested Of less than percent His Of the words
Scapital actually invested would seem TO preclude any
suggestion Of vatered stock
If the statement is correct It not only IS an unsas
factory showing for public utilities Texas but which
indicates very great difficulties IN financing in the future
for the record Texas Is not such as TO encourage IN
vestors to absorb utilities securities
The attitude of the average American toward pubic
rttv company is sympathetic and II IS even htle
less than that in some parts of Texas The facility with
which iures award damages against public service coz
porstions in this state is example.
II IS easy to be unreasonzbly critical Of public uttes
There are Thousand and little annoyances that may
eurage 4 patron whereas, the generally comnsndaole
quality Of the service IS taken as matter OF course OF
IS unnoticed altogether
Iohn Smith nay get his telephone connection promptly
ssz DAYS in the year but the 365th day central Tngs
the wrong number or If there IS delay from any cause
or # the connection is weak, John remarks that nis
telephone service certainly getting rotten and Re means
If At the moment and the impression sticks IN his mind
and It has its effect anybody who cnancec to hear
The inability Of the street company to seat the
entire moving population Of city at the going TO oIk
o creates prejudice The question IS suggested whether
auv complaining patron, Of reasonable business capat
~ he suddenly to be placed IN control CT TIE car COM
sDv would feel able to put sufficient cars 10 seat
serv Individual during the peak hours Of the day. know
INC that the rest OF the day many OF the cars would De
running practically empty To and put IN operation
large number Of extra for two hours nsnL anu
morning entails considerable expense.
But since strap hanging IS prevalent II happens tnzl