The daily morning oasis. [volume] (Nogales, Ariz.) 1917-1920, 1920-09-10
CONSTRUCTIVE POLICY DEVELOPS STATE

development OF us natural resources. Inc mOSC
available resource and the which can be develop
ed for the service of the greatest number of people
and industries is that of water Water used for the
generation, of electricity means the establishing of
factories and in addition goes a long way towards
consori'@ fuel and supplying the shortage Of labor"
These are the words Of Percy V. Long, city at
torney Of San Francisco from 1903 to 1917 In this
position Mr. Long in close contact with public
utility problems from the standpoint of the private
citizen and industry and the fixing of reasonable
'ates His experience in this position in connection
- The work of the engineers of the city, convinced
no that cooperation on part Of public authorities
toward well managed public utilities was more to be
desired than controversy and strife which usually
defeat the ends desired, namely the securing If
adequate service to the public. Continuing Mr.. Long
says:
eff the needs of growing population are to be
accommodated hvdro-electric development must be
planned in advance Of population.
''This means the investment of enormous sums of
money which must be borrowed.
"Unless the public encourages public utility plan
ming by adopting fair and reasonable attitude to-
wards charges for service money will not be avail
able for the lending public will not loan its money
unless it is assured of return.
Recently regulating bodies in the various states
have the necessity of encouraging public utility
planning and have announced policies which are pro-
gressive and sound. The Railroad Commission Of
IL
attitude as evidenced by the statements of it's Pres
ident E. O. Edgerton In address recently he said:
1T is my conception that the relation of the public
utilities to The public may be stated in this way That
the primary consideration, the fundamental con-
sideration in the operation of the public utility
panies is that they be operated in the public inter-
est Properly considered, this means that adequate
compensation would and must go to those who have
invested in these utilities and to those who man.
ainG them, because it is Of tremendous public inter-
est +hot tn great institutions be financially sound
and they cannot be financially sound except adequate
= revenues be produced to carry them forward
"While the busy housewife has been for some
time dependent upon electricity as an adjunct to
bousework it is only quite recently that the farmer
and nnanfactnrer has appreciated the cheapness and
usefulness CT this power
"Today lack of power is retardng development
to very great degree 1t has been the experience
of power companies that when planned development
has been achieved that the growth of population and
increased demand furnished market for the power
when ready for delivery.
"Thus all planning which has been for years in
advance of needs has barely been sufficient for the
moment Unless money is spent on larger scale
than heretofore stagnation will result and progress
will be arrested.
1T is to the cyedit of the West andsparticularly
California that practically all of the money supplied
for hydroeecrc development in the last 10 years has
"o''e from local 1t is the attitude of the
California R. R. Comm. that has encouraged Cafor-
mia investors of moderate to loan their money
TO the enterprises developing their state Under wise
regulations the Comm has protected the lender bv
safeguarding his lean and has encouraged the utilities
by assuring them fair rates
"In the final analysis the public wants efficient
and dependable service and this only be obtained
by cooperating with the Comm in it's efforts to aid
in development. It is quite common to complain
about the price to be paid for any kind of service but
complaints should be hased mon reasonable grounds
after fair consideration of the the difficulties and
cost under which GREET hvdrOelectric devnlonment
ACCOMPLISHED Unfair criticism If The r r Comm
and ni1stified- attacks public nti1itv concerns
ursettle confidence and faith ord r7+ino+~1, ~"''
in MT nnv service hut foo FREQUENTLY prevent
development sorelv rendnd
Some talk loudly of justice, and roar quite
as loudly when they get it.