The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-18
Says No Banker Should Con-
troll All The Banks, No Far.
mer All The Farms And No
Power Company Should
Control All Electric Power
BOTH SIDES TO BE HEARD
IN BIRMINGHAM FRIDAY
Delegations From North Ala
bama Cities Will Be On Hand
To Protest Against Fran
Chise For New Huntsville
Sheffield Line {

governor Brandon OF Alabama is
evidently opposed to granting per-
mission to the Alabama Power COM
pany for the transmission line, to-
ward which the north Alabama
people have recently expressed de-
cided adverse opinion.
Thursday afternoon in his room at
the Tutwiler the governor expressed
himself Is favoring the advent Ct the
small company and allowing no one
to get monopoly on any public util-
ity or necessity.
Governor Brandon did not name
the Alabama Power company in his
ether corporation, saying the subject
OF public utility of any sort bears
too strongly on the development of
Alabama to consider anything but
what is best for the state, as a whole.
its people and its future. Governor
Brandon said;
81 do not think any bank or banker
ought to own or control all the
banks, or any farmer all the farms,
or any power company all the power
in Alabama.
What we desire in Alabama is
competition. It is the purpose of the
administrator to foster the Develop
ment of Alabama's natural resources.
L believe in the old maxim, that COM
petition is the life of trade. Above
all we dc not want to see Alabama
bottled UP by any man or corpora
ton.
1.-The present administration de-
sires to invite capital to this state,
and as far as possible to aid in the
development of the states natural
resources.
Await Government Action
1T is my opinion that it would be-
well to wait until the national stv-
eminent defines its policies before
Alabama takes action in giving to
one individual or corporation all of
our water power. l advocate giving
all an opportunity to bring to the
state small industries that will take
from field and mine cur unfinished
products and put them in finished
form for the markets of the world"
Interest in the matter of the pro-
posed power line that has been under
discussion for several days has
brought the Muscle Shoals question
back into the limelight with nearly
as much intensity as was the case
when the first Ford bid hurtled into
the still waters that surrounded what
was beginning to be classed as aban-
dCned property and just as many re-
scented the Ford demand for the line
from Gorgas to Muscle Shoals, now
vivid opposition in northern Alabam
has arisen over the Alabama Power
companys plea to build its proposed
new line.
Fight Before Commission.
a bitter fight is expected to de-
velop over the petitions of the Ala
bama Power company for the estab-
lishment of a hydro electric plant at
the government dam at Lock II, and
the construction of line between
Huntsville and Sheffield, Ala, when
the hearing on the petitions is held
haf n a hat
commission at a meeting which will
convene at 10 o'clock Friday MORN
ing in the Chamber of Commerce au-
ditorium.
Tho board of commissioners of
Tuscalooa. Ala, reported to be
Of permission TO the Alabama
Power company by the Alabama
public service commission for the
establishment of hydroelectric
plant at the government dam at Lock
II, while Wednesday a memorial con-
tanning assertions neld to be mat
ters of record and OF common knowl-
edge was addressed to Gov. w W.
Brandon, and the people of Alabama,
by citizens of Florence, Sheffield,
Tuscumbia, Albany, Decatur. Town
Creek, Rogersville Athens and other
towns in the Tennessee valley re-
qGesting thai the power &C mpany be
required to curb it's iInpat ience' in
the matter of extending its lines from
huntsville to Sheffield and to with
mold its hand from the Wilson dam
until the federal government shall
have established policy with re-
spoct to Muscle Shoals looking to
the use of this power for the pro-
lection CT TIE nation in time of war,
anu for the prosperity of the people
in time of peace"
b. g. Robertson is president of the
cf ieS Of
it is understood from unofficial
sources that Mr.. Robertson has sent
the public service commission tele-
gram on the Fart Of the city Of Tus-
caloosa vigorously protesting against
the granting of any rights whatso-
by the commission for the Develop
u'ent OF the dam at Lock II.
Delegations Are Coming.
Numerous DELEGATIONS from the
Tennessee valley interested in defeat
ing the petition of the Alabama
Power company are expected to be
present at the hearing Friday morn
ing to oppose the issue, while Thomas
w. Martin. president of the Alabama
Power company. accompanied by le-
sal counsel. viii be present in per-
SON to argue the power company's
cause A spirited fight is expected to
develop between the two slices.
President y. G. Patterson is to
preside at the hearing and Frank s.
commissioners, and j. H. Aldrich,
rate expert, attached to the commits
sion. viii be in attendance
Al a short session OF the commits
sion Thursday hearings on the reVi-
sion of coal and coke freight rates in
Alabama were finlshec. ). NJ. Dew
berry, chairman of the carriers COM
,Si