davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-08-24

and retain in public management tn,
character of personnel which private
management can secure, or TO fire,
public operations from political con
troll. For these reasons l seriously
doubt if public management except
in rare instances and under specia
conditions, can compete with private
management in character or cost OF
service.
| There are many advocates of pub.
lie ownership who will freely admit,
that costs of private management are
less. But they say that prices are
not less, that public regulation does
not in fact regulate; and from this
premise they proceed to the falac'
conclusion that the same public Off
Gals who cannot be trusted to regu-
late the affairs Of private corpora
tons in which they have no pecun-
larry interest, can nevertheless be
trusted with the expenditures of mil
lions of public money in the con-
struction and operation of utility
properties. 1t is doubtless true tina,
public regulation has not met with
full success; but this is primarily be-
cause there has been too little honest
attempt to give it the opportunity.
The personnel Of our public commits
sions should be of as high a charac-
ter and ability and as far above the
reach Of popular clamor and partisan
politics as are the judges of our high
est courts, and yet we do not have to
look far to see how rarely this prin-
ciple is observed. There can other
wise be no continuity Of policy, and
no intelligent solution of the perplex-
ing economic questions involved In
public service regulation. II the de-
mands Of politics are held superior to
this need, what hope can we have
that public ownership will not like
wise be made to serve political ends.
"As an antidote to these various
fallacies, I would prescribe
three remedies: The dissemination
of accurate and unbiased informa-
ton; popular education In the econ
omies Of power development, distribu-
ton and utilization, and the obser-
vance in state policies and legislation
Of the fundamental principles Of the
Federal law. The dissemination of
Information must be largely through
agencies such as this conference,
which can also take an important
part in public education. This latter |
duty also rests with the utilities |
themselves. The day has long passed |
when such organizations can afford |
% combat or ignore public opinion.
Their operations must be open to pub
ic scrutiny and they must recognize
heir position as equal public agents.
Il they are to maintain their posi-
ions they must demonstrate to a still
somewhat skeptical public that they
IAN give a better service, that they
AN do 1t at less cost, and that they
IAN and will pass in the economies
# private management to the con-
umers of their product"
The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-08-24
SAYS TAX EXEMPTION
REACHES DANGER POINT

Exemption of property from taxa
ton has reached a danger point IN
most states" says Philip 8. Rose, as
sociate editor of the Country Gentle
man in a recent article on tax-exemp-
ton in that magazine. I'm New York
state nearly quarter Of the value Of
| all real estate is exempt. In Mich
igan 1t has been estimated that due
to exemption the entire tax burden is
borne by not more than one-half Of
the wealth of the state. Through
tax-free bonds alone we have ex-
empted more than tenth Of all the
estimated taxable wealth Of the coun-
TRY.
obviously schools, courthouses, re-
creation parks and all property own
ed by government and free for the
use of all the peoples hould not be
taxed. To do so would be to take
money out Of one pocket and put 1t
in another.
as there any good reason why $780,
100000 should be cut of the tax rolls
of Detroit because the street car sys-
tenn was taken over by the city? Here
is a property that is not free to all
the people like a park or street.
Every rider has to pay. II 1t were
privately owned every rider would
be compelled to pay his share Of the
tax burden. He who rode most would
pay most. He would therefore pay
in accordance with benefits received,
which is one of the best reasons
have ever heard advanced for paying
taxes Of any kind.
"It seems to me that every COM
owned utility should be taxed
the same as privately owned proper
ty and that the amount of the tax
should be included in the cost Of do
ing business. If the tax rate goes up,
hen the cost Of service should go up
Those who benefit
~ the service would pay in proper
ion to the benefits received.
eff such a utility is not taxed, the
,wner Of the modest home is made
O pay part Of the cost Of transporting
ransients and all those who pay no
hing for the support of government"
The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-08-24

strange but significant fact that the
corn farmer is seeing the value of his
product increase, while his wheat
growing neighbor is in despair as
his prices sink lower and lower?
Surely wheat and corn farmers OPP
crate under the same governmental
statutes. We have heard of no dis
elimination in these laws for or
against either. If man-made laws
control the situation, wheat and corn
should go up or down together. In
stead of that we have the spectacle OF
one becoming worthless and the other
priceless.
We do not pretend to know much
about the equity of freight rates.
Whenever we pay for freight we are
sure we are paying too much, but we
also think the same about coal and
labor in the back room and ham and
eggs and caddie fees and golf balls
and gasoline. 1t may be that freight
rates on grain are unnecessarily high
and that in fairness they should be
reduced We argue neither for nor
against this superstition.
1t seems apparent, however, thar
freight rates are not the controlling
element in the prosperity or the pow
erty Of the farmer. Market fluctua-
lions are 10 times as effective for
good or evil as freight rates.
. II the farmer a year ago could have
shipped his corn to Chicago for moth
ing, the price he would have obtained
for it would have been at least 10
cents a bushel less than he can get
for his corn at his elevator today. II
he had free transportation for his
wheat to Chicago today he could not
get any more for 1t than he could
have received year ago In Chicago
after paying the freight.
The railroads may be guilty Of all
the mean things said about them, but
the real niger in the woodDile Is
something entirely different, Cruel
tying the railroads or shooting them
at sunrise or turning them over to
the government for operation will not
alter the fact that wheat went down |
10 to Is Gems a bushel in a year and
corn went up approximately 20 to rs |
cents in the same time, and under
precisely the same transportation |
conditions.
The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-08-24
FARMERS ARE THINKING
AND DETERMINED TO
HELP THEMSELVES
By Guy Flenner

While many proposals are being
made to aid the farmer, he is study
ing the situation from all angles ant
has about concluded that one SURF
means of relief will come through hi
Iown analysis and action. Diversified
lcrops, smaller acreage to reduce hired
help, the elimination Of improbable
crops and the increase Of profitable
crops are on his program OF self help
Meantime, of course, he is seeking all
the information available as to freight
rates and the following may give him
and others additional light as to rates
on grain:
The market reports showed that on
June 20, 1922, cash wheat in Chicago
brought $1.15 and on the same date
this year it sold for $1.05. The
freight rate had not been changed
during that period and the fluctuation
during that year was greater than
any proposed to cut freight rates. In
other words, if freight rates had been
cut in two this summer the farmer
having wheat to sell would still get
less for his product than he would
have a year ago.
But since June 80 freight rates re-
naming constant, wheat has contin-
ued to- become more worthless" In
stead of being worth $1.05 in Chicago
recently it brought $1.01, and the day
before less than 81. What freight al
teration can you suggest that would
have saved the farmer this sharp loss
within 20 days? If it is excessive
freight rates that are principally to
blame what kind Of adjustment would
you suggest in rates that would per-
NIT the farmer even to hold his own
as to wheat prices in the light Of
what has occurred this month.
Then there is Corn. What would
you say the effect Of freight rates was
on that product? On June 80, 1922,
cash corn sold in Chicago at GO cents. |
year later the quotation was 81 |
cents. During the year, with freight |
charges remaining the same, wheat |
declined 10 cents a bushel in price |
and corn improved 10 cents. If the |
decline in wheat price is due to the
freight rate, why not also grant that
the gain in corn price is chargeable
to the same influence?
The other day corn sold for SO,
cents a bushel in Chicago, a gain of
cents since June 80, while the
freight rate never budged. Would
you consider freight rate determin-
ng cause in that increase in value?
L your answer is no, what then,
would you say that it helped to shove
lown the price Of wheat? How can
freight rate work in opposite d.
'ections at the same time.
Or would you say that the corn
armers had joined in a conspiracy
With Wall street to boost the price
f their product, and to cut the
hroats Of the wheat farmers?
How else do you explain the
The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-08-24
POWER DEVELOPMENT

Addressing the Appalachian Water
power Conference, o. c. Merrill, o
Washington, Executive Secretary O
the Federal Power Commission, dis
cussed various phases of water powe
development and public utilities
Among other remarks he said,
There is going on at the presen
time in the field of power develop
ment, and Of public utility service IL
general, many controversies, more G.
less acute, which are hindering tn,
development Of our resources and de
laying the extension of utility service
There Is also much popular ignorance
Of what is involved in the way Of cap
ital outlay and of technical ability IL
developing and operating modern
electric power systems, and Of what
are the elements which enter into
the cost of service. This popular ig-
norance is due primarily to lack OF
correct information. The same lack
is the fundamental cause Of the ma
jority Of the existing controversies
Until accurate information from an
unbiased source is available, we shall
continue to see individuals and COM
munities and even large sections of
the public, holding to Hallacious opin-
ions concerning some aspects Of the
public utility business. More unwise
popular movements are started and
maintained because Of ignorance of
the facts than from all other causes
combined. The public is being con-
stantly supplied with false informa-
ton and flooded with propaganda by
individuals and agencies seeking to
profit politically or otherwise at their
expense.
II propose to discuss today certain
popular fallacies concerning power
development, its cost, management
and control.
1.-THE first Of these is: Since water
costs nothing and runs down hill Of
itself, water power development is a
relatively simple and inexpensive
matter which almost anyone is cap
able of understanding. At least, many
Of the applications filed with the Fed
eral Power Commission would indi-
cate the prevalence Of such a point
of view; for we have had applica-
tions from individuals, from corpora
lions and from municipalities, which
present no showing of ability to f.
nance the proposed undertaking,
which give evidence Of no training or
experience in hydro-electric develop
ment, and which plainly indicate that
the applicant has no adequate con-
ception Of the problem involved In
modern water power development.
This situation led the Commission to
remark in its second annual report
that many applicants seem not to be
aware that the development Of hydro
electric power involves large OUTLAWS
Of capital and high degree Of train
Ing and ability in handling its finan-
cial and technical problems.
Lack Of training and ability ap-
pear not only in the design, but also |
In the estimates. In computing the |
capital cost Of a power development
TOO many people stop at the gener
ator switchboard, and overlook or
ignore the costs Of transmission and
and Of auxiliary steam
Too many, also, and 1 must
include in this list many so-called en-
,ineers, fail to take account in their
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
JILL STUDY TO BE MADE BEFORE ANY
 SELECTIONS MADE
Committee Will Meet Monday
 To Select New School Text Books
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU
 THE AGE-HERALD Montgomery, Ala. April 2S

Members of the state text book committee will meet at the capitol at noon Monday for the purpose of inspecting books which have been proposed for adoption and use in the public schools. Representatives of "a large number of publishing com panies have gathered in Montgomery for the submission of their books and stheir bids for the contracts.
 - The text book committee will re- main In session throughout the week. The publishers will be permitted to present oral arguments in support of their proposals If the committee .deemS such necessary. Already briefs have been filed with the committee, but a rule adopted when the commit representative of any publisher dis cussing his books with individual members of the committee.
 Those who have been named to se- feet ths. text books for adoption are: s. R. Butler of Huntsville; Miss Cora Pearson of Montgomery; J. M. Bur nett of Tuscaloosa; Frank L. Grove
 of Mobile; J. E. Parrish of Auburn Miss Lulu Almon of Moulton and Charles R. West of Birmingham. \ 1ne state board of education sev- eral weeks ago decided to extend contracts for one year in all cases where the publishers were willing to
 furnish the books at the old prices However, number of the companies whose contracts were made several years ago declined to renew at the old prices. contending that heavy losses have already been suffered as a result of the increase in the cost of materials.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
SALESMAN DIES ON TRAIN

Meyer J. Hollander of Baltimore, travelling salesman. died suddenly on the Mobile pullman at the Union station last midnig ght. Hollander was attacked by indigestion and died within 30 minutes. He represented a New York company and had been in Montgomery since Thursday. His body was forwarded to Baltimore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
STUDENTS AT HARVARD l NO EXCEPTIONS IN USE OF THE OLD SHAKER
Young Men Enter Protest Against Accusation Of
 Heavy Drinking

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. April 2s.- Statements by Prof Henri Hauser of Harvard college, In his article pub lished in Paris newspaper, that drinking among Harvard students Is prevalent. have brought words of protest from members of the student body.
 They do drink, little, they say, but it is not indulged in to any great CT degree than in other sections Of the country.
 Members of the junior and senior classes stated that a good many of the student body drink on rare oc- casions and that a very few drink too much" more often than this However, they were all of the opin- ion that conditions do not justify such remarks as Professor Hauser made
 As to the assertion of the professor that society girls at one of the dances attended by Harvard students showed effects of liquor and appeared to be little disorganized," the students answer that conditions at the dances across the river in Boston may be at fault, but that this has never been the case at a college conducted func- ton.
 Professor Hauser said Friday it was not his intention to hit especially at Harvard, but that his main pur- pose was to picture the re1ults of prohibition in this country.
 He is of the opinion that prohibit tion in America has been a failure In backing up this statement he points to conditions as they are. and says prohibition has failed absolutely morally, inasmuch as it has added the further sin of violating the law of the land. He considers this very grave omen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
BRANDON WILL SPEAK AT GERARD MEETING
Law Enforcement Meeting Will Be
 Held In Russell County

MONTGOMERY, Ala, April B. Governor Brandon will today address a mass meeting of Girard, Ala, cit izens, urging them to abide by the laws of state and nation and to aid in the enforcement of those statutes, officials of the chief executives of flee state.
 The governor agreed to appear in the Russell county town following the appearance of delegation of 30 citizens of Girard and Phoenix City, neighboring hamlet. The dele gation was composed of business men, ministers, lawyers and others prominent in the activities of the two towns.
 Walter K McAdory, chief of the state law enforcement department. will accompany the chief executive tc Girard for his address, although he is not on the program as a speaker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
MOBILE UNAFFECTED BY MARINE WALK0UT
No Ships Delayed By Strike-More
 Pay Sought

MOBILE, Ala, April 2s.-(Special
 Leased Wire.)-The strike of the Marine Transport Workers union has
 not affect Mobile in any great ex-
 tent, only about 15 men having left
 the ships, according to the officials
 of the sea service department of the
 local office of the United States
 shipping board, no ships will be de-
 layed sailing, according to the ship
 ping board officials.
 Three men left the Fruiter Sousa,
 now in port but the officers of the
 vessel stated that they would de-
 part from Mobile on schedule Sum-
 day. A general strike has not been
 called by the l. w. w. branch of the
 seamen in this city, according to in- formation obtained today.
 Officials of the sea service depart ment declare the seamen are de- manding $100 per month, with three watches and that the firemen and are asking for $1 per hour. It was also stated that the seamen who hold "red cards" CT are members of the I. w. w.. will not be given em- ployment on the shipping board ves- sells.
 INVITE RAINBOW VETS In response to an invitation from the Mobile Chamber of Commerce to the Alabama Branch of Veterans of the Rainbow division to hold it's next annual meeting in Mobil Col. onel w. P. Screws, of the organiza- tion, has written that the veterans will no doubt meet here either this year or the next year. He states he has referred the matter to officials of the organization.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
CHECKS VALUATION IN MOBILE GAS co. CASE
Nationally Known Engineer Appears
 For State
 STATE CAPITAL BUREAU THE AGE-HERALD
Montgomery, A


 Submission of testimony Tn the MO bile Gas case was concluded before s H. Dent, Jr., special master. Satur- day afternoon. The final witness Tor the state was Alton D. Adams, na- tionally known engineer. who made check of the valution submitted by I. F. Mcdonnell. engineer of the com mission. MT. Adams and MT. Me Dannell were the only witnesses or fered by the public service commits sion in support of the valuation Of $1,7O0,000, which was established by the commission on rehearing..
 Attorneys for the state and the Mobile Gas company were allowed two weeks by the spScial master in which to prepare and submit briefs. At the end of two weeks the special master will consider the testimony and the briefs. and will make a re- port to Judge Henry D. Clayton. Judge Claytons order naming MT. Dent special master provides that he shall receive the evidence and trans init it to the court with his own rec concentrations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
MUTE IS INJURED

I. l.. Strauss. deaf and dumb, was injured seriously late Friday when a truck in which he was riding went over an embankment and capsiZed near Benton. Lowndes county. Strauss was returning from Selma, where he had erected an awning. Although deaf and dumb, Strauss had made success in the tent and awning business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
RIGHTS RESTORED TO ]. w. ROGERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Man ParoIed In 1919 Has Made Excellent Citizen, h.
 quiries Show
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD Mont Uovpary Alb ApriI o9

Governor Brandon issued an order Saturday granting a full pardon and all civil and political rights to Jo- seph W. Rogers of Jefferson county. Rogers was convicted of highway rcbberyain 1918 and sentenced to ten years. He was paroled in 1919. and investigations have shown that he has made an excellent citizen since that time. The pardon was recom- mended by the trial judge and board of pardOuS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
COMMISSIONS ISSUED

COmmfS fSSiOnS were Issued bY tue secretary of state to appointees of Governor Brandon Saturday as fol- lows: Notaries Public-C. B. Fuller, Opp; Mrs. Bertha Finch, Ru~sell- vile; T. c. Hurd, Brewton w. L.. Ashton, Brewton; Miss Vivian Mott. Mobile; R. l.. Mason, Anniston; NJ. P. Dotzkeimer. Birmingham; w. w.. Rainer, Jr., Selma; w. T. Fixes. Coaling; P. D. Brown, Tuscaloosa; :; H. O. Bradley, Wedowee; John S. Dull. Thomasville; Thomas J. Judge, Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
URGES BOYS, WEEK

I. T. Quinn, state commissioner of conservation, today appealed to all parents and citizens of Alabama to Participate in boys week, which will begin Monday, and to teach the boys The need for the protection of the states national resources and wild hfe. Boys week was designated by fhe International Rotary club. and Governor Brandon issued a procla- nation urging general observance in &labama.
 \ Obedience to the conservation laws
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
NAMED JURY COMMISSIONER

E. F. Lanford of Highland Home was appointed a member of the jury comm ssion of Crenshaw county by Governor Brandon Saturday. He will succeed M. M Bently, who was ap- pointed by Governor Kilby but did not qualify.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29

of the state must be maintained. but that is not enough" said Commis
 sioner Quinn. "The generation of boys who will carry on after we have passed must be encouraged by parents, teachers and clubs and all good citizens of the state to practice those things which will guarantee home and habitat for all wild life"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
GOOD RESPONSE REPORTED

Baptists of Alabama are respond- ing splendidly to the last call for funds to complete the states quota of the s75.000,000 campaign for the fourth year of this undertaking of southern Baptists. said D. F. Green. secretary of the Baptist executive board. today. The books will soon close, as the southern Bap- tist convention year is nearing to a close. Contributions so far this nconth have been considerably larger than for the same period last year, Mir. Green states.
 Although fine reports have been received from a majority of the e counties, there are great many churches yet far behind in the pay ment of their pledges for this year.
 The southern Baptist convention will be held in Kansas City, begin ming May 16.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
HARP SINGERS TO MEET

ties today were invited by w. B. Allgood, secretary of the Capital Sa- cred Harp Singing society, to attend the semi annual convention which will be held in Montgomery May G.. An sll-day singing will be held at the court house and dinner will be served on the ground. Governor Brandon has accepted an invitation to address the convention. Secre . tary Allgood invited all lovers of Sacred Harp music to come early and bring your books. as we are expecting a big convention" Twen- ty-one counties were represented at the last semi annual convention.