The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-29
MONOPOLY CAN'T BE DEFENDED

 MONOPOLY CAN'T BE DEFENDED
 The Selma Times-Jou1nal has re- verted to that oldtime weapon, the blunderbuss, and seeks at one firing to hit and dismay The Age Herald the "seven Alabama congressmen" who seek to prevent a water-power monopoly in this state, and the Ford offer for Muscle Shoals. Perhaps the force of the weapons recoil has mis- led the Times-Journal into believing that the damage wrought is greater than is really the case. AS matter of fact, none of these targets ac- tually stands in the position imagined by the Times-Journal, nor has there been any attempt on their part to obscure their position, but rather to make it conspicuous. There may properly be, however, some uncer- tainty why there should be this ten dency in certain journalistic quarters to rush to the defense of the power company at all times, but to main tain deep silence when the public welfare is threatened by the plans of this company, as was the case when it was sought to give the power con- pany valuation for rate-making pur- poses greater than was warranted, and later when the same company seeks to obtain strategic sites that will tend to give it a monopoly of water power in Alabama.
 The Age-Herald has consistently expressed the opinion that a monopoly of any of the natural resources of this state would be detrimental to the public welfare, and especially in the case of water power companies, which are public utilities and subject to more particular regulation than ap- plies to ordinary business. In the case of utility it is believed that such monopoly would be accompa- nied by high service rates and by a usurpation of political power, ten dencies to which have already not gone unperceived. The Age-Herald believes that the state is authorized to exercise such control upon the de- velopment of water power as to pro- tect the industrial needs of this state and forestall any possible exportation of power that is needed by Alabama industries. There is no desire, ex- ynt.nc iaI i,,4A A,.fN I, the exportation of surplus power But surely the Times-Jour'nal does not ad- vocate the use of Alabama power to build up industries in other states at the expense of Alabama industrial ex- pansion, and yet the Alabama Power Company emphasizes its policy of ex- porting power far and wide. As long as this applies to power not needed in Alabama, well and good, but it is the states solemn obligation to pro- tect Alabama's industrial develop ment.
 The federal water power policy is good as far as it goes, but it does not cover the states responsibility, nor does it take away from the state the right to grant or to deny application for water-power development. The federal power commission has shown itself disposed to work in harmony with the states in solving their power problems. It is believed that a still more harmonious relationship can be developed through formulation of state and federal policies that will. protect the states owning power from such exploitation as would be detri- mental to their own development. The Alabama Power Company has been denied no power needed by it, and it has been shown to the general satis- faction that neither the extension of transmission lines from Huntsville to Sheffield, nor the development of power at Lock IT on the Warrior were essential to the company's suc- cess or would have served the ends alleged.
 The public welfare and the welfare of industries demanding cheap power take precedence over lesser considera- tions of private and selfish nature. The Age-Herald finds no difficulty in choosing which side of the question it will defend.
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