The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-20
WHERE THE REAL HARM LIES


 the journalistic tendency to carry on a de- fense of the Alabama Power Company and the vilification of the Alabama legislature, together with a campaign of argument to the effect that it is unsafe for new capital n- vestment to come to Alabama because Of the alleged, but improved, hostility of the legislature toward industry. Thus far there has not been produced proof to uphold the contention, nor one valid reason why this journalistic attack should continue. The point which has not escaped the public at tention is that those who now attack the legislature in behalf of the power company did not lift their voices in protest when there was an almost successful attempt to give the power company an unwarranted high valuation for rate-makng purposes. Had it not been for those who put the public welfare first, both within the legislature and without, the power company would now be enjoying a valuation which would allow a rate increase of from twenty-five to thirty per cent. above it's present rates, although the company has been earning net of six teen per cent. on existing rates. As The Age Herald said on February 4, it is difficult to
 
 minor items, land yet remained silent dur ing the critical times when the associate commissioners were on the point of hand ing millions of the peoples money to the power company, or else sought deliberately to allay any apprehension as to the manner in which the valuation was arrived at." And as The Age-Herald on the same date said, such petty attacks indicate very well how it is sought to hound out of office and position all those who do not serve the pri- vate interest when it conflicts with the pub lie welfare"
 It has been repeatedly charged that the legislature, in repeating the statutes ex empting water power companies from taxes, was animated by a spirit of revenge be- cause of disappointment over the failure of the Ford bid. If the legislature of this state had any reason to believe that the Alabama Power Company was influential in the fail ure of the leasing of Muscle Shoals, or that the active campaign of propaganda carried on by the power company in this state and elsewhere against the Ford offer was Tn part responsible for delay in the public en- joyment of the benefits arising from the QeVciOpHeHC aHu OpcIdCioI Ol lHc tuuoSie Shoals projects, then the Alabama legisla- ture has majority public sentiment to SUD- port it when it withdrew from the power company the enjoyment of any special and unusual favors within the gift of this state.
 It is mere journalistic quibbling to admit that the legislature has a right to revoke tax exemptions and immediately to state that it has no ''nforal right" to do so. The legis- lature of Alabama is morally bound to con- suit only the public welfare when there is a conflict between a minor private interest and major public interest, as in the pres ent case as affects the power company and the Muscle Shoals development. Besides, repeal of water power exemption has not injured the Alabama Power Company in the smallest particular, for the tax is merely passed on to consumers of current.
 Far from warning industries away from Alabama the record of the legislature stands as an invitation to industries, as shown by the continued desire of Henry Ford to come here and as shown by the countless indus tries that are springing up all over the state, to say nothing of the continued program of , development by the power company. The only hint of hostility emanates from certain journalistic apologists for the power com pany This deliberate campaign to defend one industry at the expense of the states good name and attitude towards all industry is one that can be combatted only by the united determination of the press of Ala bama to defend Alabama and to place be- fore the nation her genuine and substantial appeal to capital and investment The real harm to the state is being done, not by the legislature but by those who attempt to dis tort the purpose and effect of the legisla- ture's record.