Deming graphic., 1920-01-06
JUST PUBLIC POLICIES
TOWARD UTILITIES

The public utilities OF California.
Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico rep
resent property Investments in electric
railroads. gus, water, light and power
plants and distributing systems aggre-
eating over 0O0,OO0,0OO,'
Next 10 successful operation and
development Of our railroads, ship
ping and merchant marine, and close
ly related to them, stabilizing these
utilities and their future development
as profitable and valuable properties,
is the greatest problem before the peo-
pie. These utilities in any city or state
aret he largest purchasers OF oil. lum-
ber and other products and materials,
the largest taxpayers and the largest
factor IN building prosperous cities,
suburban and inter-urban communities,
and the largest developers Of new re-
sources Industries and territory.
"As such they are entitled to the
hearty cooperation OF all loyal and
patriotic citizens on constructive lines,
that they may be able TO render the
service which community Is entitled
TO receive, that the largest amount OF
labor may be well employed at a wage
based on American standards OF living.
Every business man knows that
rates and fares are fixed by service
commissions from time to time. and
that they should be from the stand
point of fair earnings on fair basis
Of valuation, sufficient TO pay opera
ting expenses, fixed charges, and ere
ate reserve fund for betterments, re-
placements and extension OF the plant.
Rates must produce sufficient funds
10 care for extraordinary contingen-
cies, and make Il possible TO secure
new capital whenever required.
"Public officials. taxing bodies and
public service commissions should EN-
ploy only constructive methods Ia
make utility properties, whether In
public or private ownership, valuable
and profitable and from the standpoint
OF the best possible public service for
the community. The policies of the
state and federal banking laws, IL
build up and make banking properties
strong ana worthy of public support
and to make banking stock desirable
investment for the people In the COM
munity In which the bank Is located
and 10 make that stock profitable as
an investment by citizens, should he
the policy of the public service com
mission and of the utility managers
themselves.
"S0me of the largest and best man
aged utilities favcr, on the broadest
scale practical, making customers and
employees stockholders and creditors
of their properties. Such divided
ownership IL made possible to employ
los on easy payment plan. ana the util
lity is gwen rates enabling II TO pay q
fair dividend to make such ownership
attractive to local capital.
"The taxpayer must be made 10 re-
alize that there Is only injury to the
the community In unloading an un'
profitable and more or less bankrupt
utility upon the community under the
various plans of so-called public owen
ship, which In reality Is political own
ership by the faction in control, AMI
which always takes large and val
liable property off the assessment rolls
increases burdens Of teh community
by multiplying the official class. and
never returns adequate revenue to the
city treasury. such revenues being sub
ject TO political exploitation.
Every public utility contributes tC
In education of the entire mass Of the
relationship along constructive lines
As the banks of the county made
themselves conspicuous for their won
derful public service to the community
I'm floating the liberty lonas, and hnvc
practically removed all farIner hostil
ity and prejudice against banking In
stitutions, so the well managed public
wins he hearts Of the pople by ser
vice and by entering into the social
life Of the community.
"On behalf Of the normal devel
opment OF public utilities they require
the cooperation Of the banks, business
and Industrial interests, qublic scr
vice bodies and people generally, to Sc
cure the earliest restoration of these
properties to profitable basis.
"Public utilities for general develop
ment purposes require new capital on
large scale, and public service bodies
chambers of commerce. and all citi
zen, having funds, should cooperate
with them."-Adv.