The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-06-25

Modern science performs so
oanv wonderful feats that we are
scarcely surprised by anything
We accept with perfect camness
achievements that would have
made our forefathers gasp with
astonishment. Airships. sub
marines. tunnels under rivers,
wireless photographers and tele-
phones. all OF these things and
many other VIC greet without the
least surprise.
Many results OF this scien-ieic
progress have become such 8. part
of our daily lives that VIC hardly
appreciate them taking them
rather as natter Of course. We
ride In subwa;;s, In trolley cars
and in automobiles, withou1 CIV
ing them a thought, aid yet 1t
was only a few years ago that
none of these things existed.
Few of our parents knew the
benefits of gas and electrically
lighted houses. Lamps and can
dies served them very well. and
yet most of us, city jewellers at
least, would consider 1t a hard
ship il we were forced TO use
these old-ash.oned means Of 81
Elimination. We fuss and fuD1e
terribly IL a storm temporarily
interiors with the current: IL the
trolley service breaks down We
talk as If we were the most
abused people on earth. What
we're Iuxuries 4 short time ago
are now up
ore now looked ypon as necessi-
ties. The host Of convenienceS
devised to maks life moro COM
Portable and easy we ascept as
,.ur right AMI u ithout d second
thought.
We have The p;if,lic service cor
pciations and The publ uttli-
ties companies 20 thank tor sup
plying us with most Of these
things which make our lives so
comfortable. When we press the
button which controls the cleo
trio lighting in our homes do we
stop to think that at the heart
and center OF the maze of wires,
over which runs the current re-
sponsible for our light, there is
great power house? That this
same plant perhaps is sending
out the power which carries US
along so swiftly in subway trains
or electric cars? That this DOW
err plant is the basis of a great
industry, the result of modern
science, industry and engineering
skill? It may be that a great
river has been barnessed and
Nature made to work for us. Who
knows the imagination, courage
and labor which have made 1t
possible for US TO live and travel
about in comfort and convent
ence. A puplic utility company,
as it's many wyas, way that are
not always appreciated. For IN
stance, In always seems possible
to win the approval of Il large
group of people by attacking a
public utility company. Poor
trolley service seems 20 be n
never failing source OF political
capital. Why is it? Why are
public utility companies made
political footballs, kicked about
and buffeted first by one party,
then another, and still expected
to- render efficient service?
Perhaps these companies arc
suffering as the result OF past
activities. Railroads unQuestlon-
ably are in many cases reaping
the harvest Of trouble sewn by
INSCRIPTIONS directors and Off
GERS who preceded the present
insumbents. So with public
utilities. Franchises have been
granted under suspicious cIrcum-
stances and stores of corruption
and bribery were frequent in
their early DAYS. Is that the
fault Of the corporations alone,
or is the public to blame for
electing to office the kind of
men who are open to bribery and
corruption?
Public utilities commissions
have been formed in many states !.
to exercise control over private
ly-owned public utilities. and
have generally demonstrated that
their regulation is beneficial On
the other hand. municipal own
ership has proved generally I'M
successful, and Is subject TO OBJ
Jectionable and harmful poIiti-