davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1923-09-25
Is Public Utility?
TWO ESSENTIAL FEATURES

l. A public utility serves its entire commu-
nifty.
The common definition Is "A business af-
fected with a public interest" That is, a
public utility in the popular sense is a bust
ness whose services are intimately related to
the welfare, not of a portion, but of the en-
tire community it serves. A grocery store or
a manufacturing plant in Casper are not
public utilities, because the people of the
town may or may not purchase their merch-
andise. But electric, gas, telegraph and tele-
phone companies are different in this re-
spect.
All the people need their service. They
have no option in the matter.
Moreover, the private store or plant NAV
sell or refuse to sell to any customer, ac-
cording as his patronage is or is not wanted.
But a public utility has no option. Subject
to certain limitations, it must serve equally
and equitably all who demand its products.
2. A public utility has certain special OBJ
legations and privileges, because neither the
buyer nor the seller of a public utility pro
duct has any option, because they must serve
each other. 1t has been found wise and neces-
sary to subject both the utility and the public
which it serves to special forms of public con-
troll. Especially does the utility have to as
sumo certain obligations and duties: II also
enjoys certain compromising privileges and
rights.
8
Natrona Power Co.
, 1923-09-25
Good Potato Yield

~SHAWNEE.-The FIRST car of
potatoes went to Casper. Joe Kuhn
loaded a a at Jireh this week.
They were Cobblers and averaged 90
saleable potatoes to the
acre. They were raised on his farm
five miles south of Jireh.
Chas. Gaukel is also digging and
his are making 100 bushels to
the acre.
Evening star., 1923-05-24

walks into the pavement, and unless
the vehicles are excluded there will be
grave danger.
II ever Washington is again the
scene OF such n great congregation as
that expected here week after next,
with accompanying spectacles. precau-
tions should surely be taken to limit
the reviewing stand provisions so that
there will be no diminution Of the
sidewalk spaces. At Inauguration
times in the past there have been no
such encroachments on these spaces
as at present. The crowds have then
been so dense that the movement of
the people was effected with difficulty
and at times even with some danger
In the present conditions the side
walk accommodations are lessened
seriously. In some places no passage
way whatever is left. In others the
free way for pedestrians is reduced to
narrow limits,
Evening star., 1923-05-24
Gov. Smiths New Worry.

As the time approaches when Gov.
Smith OF New York must decide to
sign or veto the bill repeating the
state prohibition enforcement law he
finds his embarrassments increasing
He picked up another thorn in his
heel yesterday. 1t was discovered that
a bill thought to have passed the
legislature which might have afforded
him ground for compromise action
had In reality failed in the Senate and
is In the scrap pile of the document
room.
This measure, called the double
jeopardy BILL" provided that violators
of the prohibition law. IL prosecuted
by federal authorities, could not be
put second time in jeopardy under
the state law. 1t had been suggested
to Gov. Smith by some OF the poll
ticians that il he felt it necessary to
veto the repeater, on the argument
that the bill would be a back. hand
blow at the Constitution of the United
States and weaken the effectiveness
of the national prohibition law, he
could throw a sop to the vets by sign,
ing the double jeopardy" bill. and
thus free himself Of the charge of hav.
ing gone over completely to the drys
1t is said that the governor has
been lending listening ear to this
suggestion that seemed to afford
way out of a critical situation, and
one report says his advisers were
''fiabbergasted' when il was found
that he could not do il.
AS the case stands now he is face
TO face with the fiat proposition to
sign or veto the repeal bill. and, as he
himself publicly remarked a few days
ago, 'he will be damned if he does
and be damned if he doesn't A
sidelight on the incident of the dis
covery of the loss of the measure is
that the betting odds ON his action,
which had been II to 10 for veto,
shifted TO IL to for approval of the
repeal bill. The governor is reported
as being disquieted by reports that
large sums of money were being
wagered all over the country upon
his expected action on the bill.
Evening star., 1923-05-24
The e.. A. RS Appeal.

The Grand Army Of the Republic
created Memorial day, and 1t is the
Grand Army of the Republic which
solemnized the day and made it a time
for strewing flowers and setting little
flags on the graves of men who fell in
the cause of the Union ffty-eight to
sixty.two years ago and on the graves
of men who served In the Union
armies and survived the struggle be-
tween the north and south. In the
public mind there would have been no
fitting and appropriate observance OF
the day but for the Grand Army vet,
Grams and their auxiliary societies.
Washington remembers when the
Grand Army Of the Republic was an
organization Of large membership. 1t
could turn out veteran regiments and
divisions on parade. The grim reaper
has worked in its ranks and compare.
lively few Of these brave and patriotic
men are still with us, Though we
have fought war with Spain and
played a major role in the world war,
we should not lose sight of or affec.
ton for the severest test, Americans
have ever been called on to bear.
The decoration with flowers and
Gags OF graves at Arlington; Soldiers
Evening star., 1923-05-24
Closing the Avenue.

Decision has been reached not to
close the Avenue to vehicular traffic
in the daytime during the Shrine con-
gestion, but to close it at night, begin
ming tomorrow, between the hours of
7 and IL o'clock. This will permit
the crowds in the streets to use the
pavements and will not interfere with
business. Vehicular traffic will be per.
mitted across the Avenue.
The purpose of this closure of the
street space Is to lessen the chances
OF accidents. 1t Is the. practice or.
dinarily when Pennsylvania avenue Is
illuminated and Is the scene OF spsc.
tacles for motorists to assemble and
drive to and fro to enjoy the scenes,
The stretch between the Peace Monu.
ment and the Treasury is on such oc.
casions packed closely with moving
cars. When the sidewalks are free
for pedestrian traffic these streams Of
motors are not menacing. But In the
present conditions, with the sidewalks
choked with stands, it is obvious that
there will be large overflow from
Evening star., 1923-05-24
Shrine-Time Traffic.

Traffic regulations for the Shrine
period have been promulgated by the
superintendent of police and these
regulations become effective this mid
night. Numerous one-way streets
have been listed and these are indi-
Gated by yellow arrows on lamp posts.
No parking is to be allowed in the
downtown congested section and the
limits of that section have been an.
nounced, The regulations have been
made as plain as the authorities can
do it and the responsibility is now up
TO motorists to obey them and the
police to enforce them,
Loyal Washingtonians will do their
best TO keep within the regulations.
The list of one.way streets is probably
too long for the average driver TO
commit to memory, but he generally
follows one route from his home to
shop or office and he can easily revise
his route to conform to the new rules
AS cars in the no-parking area will
be allowed to stop only long enough
to discharge or take on passengers
and, as the great majority of automo.
bilists do not employ drivers, it is
likely that large percentage of per-
sons having business or errands down
town will give their machines a rest
and take to the street cars. Nearly
every Washingtonian will have a little
problem of his own during Shrine
time, but there is no doubt that he
will solve it
The normal run of things will not
prevail in Washington during the
crowded period close at hand and
the authorities have worked out a
plan which they hope will give the
greatest comfort and safety to autoists
and pedestrians under the unusual cir.
cumstances. Perhaps it is not a per
feet plan, but it represents the best
judgment of the men assigned to the
work. That there will be many cases
Of individual discomfort is not to be
doubted, but by accepting the new
and temporary regulations in good
faith and calling on reserves Of good
humor we shall get through the situa-
ton all right.
There is bound to be good deal Of
confusion and much bad driving ac-
cording to the Washington standard
The number of foreign cars coming
here has been estimated at 10000 to
10000 and it may be conservative to
set the figure at 10000. A large pro-
portion of the drivers will know moth,
ing of our regulat tions. such as giving
right of way TO the car coming from
the right, passing a car on the left.
keeping to the right around circles,
even though it is the longer way
around. stopping behind !, treet car
while it is taking ON Or discharging
passengers, etc. Some thousands Of
the cars will come from small towns,
villages and the farms. The Wash
ington driver should know his book,
watch the one-way signs. drive with
extraordinary caution and be ever on
the lookout for jaydrivers and jay
walkers and pedestrians forced into
the street by crowded sidewalks or by
stands which close the sidewalk to
pedestrians.
Evening star., 1923-05-24

Home, Battle cemetery, st. Elixabeth's
and many other cemeteries has been
the work and duty Of the @. A. r. and
its auxiliary. the Womans Relief
Corps. 1t has been the custom of the
G. A. r. to raise large part Of the
necessary fund by soliciting contri-
buttons in the governmental depart
ments, but this year that practice was
prohibited under an order forbidding
all soliciting in government Offices.
Now these good gray veterans. many
Of them bent and stopped. must raise
in other ways the slender sum they
need for strewing the graves Of SOL
diers with flowers. The veterans make
public appeal. All the old friends
and all the new friends of the veterans
Of 1876 and all those who hold dear
the memory Of men who served the
Union in all it's wars should hear the
appeal and answer it.
In it's news columns The Star has
printed this: '.The Grand Army of the
Republic and allied veteran organiza.
tions in Washington are prohibited
from making their annual solicitations
IN the government departments for
funds with which to bear the expenses
Of placing on Decoration day land on
June for the Confederatesl a small
American flag and a flower at the
head of each Of their comrades graves
and Of holding appropriate exercises
in each cemetery where rest soldier
dead. These veterans appeal to you
through The Evening Star, which will
accept and acknowledge contributions.
Send something, no matter however
small. stating whether it should go to
the Decoration day fund or the Con-
federate veteran fund for use June So"
Evening star., 1923-05-24
EDITORIAL DIGEST

again, in connection with the claims
of those who favor the grouping that
it will not interfere with competi-
tion, the Worcester Telegram sug-
gests 'If unification and coordination
are undertaken with a view TO the
complete systematiZation there Will
have to be less competition. The
problem seems to be TO obtain uni
fication and at the same time avoh
government ownership or govern
ment control"
The entire problem is extremely
Complex" the Baltimore Sun insists,
although that the merger proposal IS
a desirable one is the belief of most
disinterested students of the railroad
problem. In spite of that, practical
railroad men are not unit in favorf
ing even the general idea. 1t IS
argued that the arrangement would
limit present competition and dis
rupt existing routes. in sense. II
is because these existing routes and
channels of trade are held TO be eco
nomically uns6uRd, costly and waste
full that this proposal to consolidate
is made. The layman can see how
the proposed groupings would alter
the channels of trade and how GER
tain communities may be affected by
them. comparatively speaking, but
unless the whole scheme is unsouna
the bulk of the traffic under the
grouping plan can be handled more
expeditiously and cheaply and the
great majority Of the communities
figures showing railway finances con-
clusively indicate. the Wilkes Barre
Record holds. that the country Is
verging toward railroad crisis that
down to the level of common sense.
That means that people who have
been misled by the clamoring class
interests, and by the strident shriekT
ing of radicals who know not whereof
they speak, or who knowingly seek
welfare, must think straight. Unless
existing conditions are remedled
there will be increasing congestion
of traffic, with coal famines in Ger
tain sections and general delay IN
the movement of heavy freight. 1t Is
time to make an accurate appraisal
of the needs of the railroads in tho
light of reason and to act accorda
ingly."
Inasmuch as to stabilize the trans
rortation industry VIII necessltale ht.
stronger, the New York Tribune
argues regional consolidation can
not be accomplished without com
pensation to these stronger roads
which take dn their poor relatives.
Financial adjustments must be work
ed out after agreement on group
ings is achieved. Such a thorougR
going settlement cannot be rushed.
But 1t is evident that the railroads
themselves are not averse to. discuss
ing constructive and-rational regional
consultations" 1t Is the opinion OF
the New York Journal of Commerce
that what Is demanded today from
the railroads standpoint is q recog-
milton of the fact that new era has
arrived in connection with the trans
portation issue. That our railroad
policy in the past has been foolish
and unjust no one could doubt
Something is clearly called for that
will bring about constructive ap-
proach to the railroad issue and VII
render possible the development of =
program that can be offered against
the demands OF the -confiscatory- ele-
nnent- in Congress" ---..- 5ssssssra
Evening star., 1923-05-24

Ambassador Harvey Is occupying
historic quarters In the White House.
His spacious bedroom on the south
front is the apartment In which Abra-
ham Lincoln signed the emancipation
proclamation on January 1. 1868.
That event Is commemorated by a
bronze tablet affixed 10 the fire.
place. President Harding accorded
Col. Harvey another distinction when
the ambassador became White
House guest ten days ago Being "a
fundamental democrat" as Harvey
styles himself, Mr.. Harding put at
his disposal thte rour-poster canopied
bed In which Andrew Jackson slept
while an occupant of the executive
mansion. 1t is not of record whether
the spirit of "Old Hickory" has trou-
bled Harvey's dreams or not. The
colonefs future plans remain the
acme of uncertainty, as well us q
matter of general speculation. He
may come home for another vacation
If he returns to England on the Lee
viathan's maiden voyage. The Har-
veys want to spend some time at
Chief Justice Taft's summer place at
Murray's Bay Canada. while the colo
mel longs TO hunt and fish on the vast
preserves of the Laurentia Club, in
the heart of Quebec, to which he has
belonged for many years.
Booksellers of the nation have re-
elected a Washingtonian. Simon j..
Nye. president of their national as-
ISOLATION. Their annual convention
has Just ended at Detroit. where the
frNw- oh Toe
Ferris. newly elected democratic SEN
ator from Michigan. Senator Ferris
rallied eloQuently at books OF the
Main Street" type. declaring works
like Sinclair Lewis authentic nara
tive of small-town stuff should never
be written. Ferris himself haila from
Big Rapids, Mich, which, despite Its
name, is Of Gopher prairie proportions
from a population standpoint. Mr..
Nye describes Senator Ferris as
statesman and speaker of tha old
school and prophesies that hs Will
speedily rise to eminence on Capitol
Hill.
Senior Don Isnaeio Calderon. for six
teen years Bolivian minister to the
United States. has decided to return
to this country and make Washing
ton his home. About year ago Senior
Calderon, wife and daughter.s said
goodbye to their many friends here
and sailed for Taena. on the western
coast of South America, whare the
diplomat lived some thirty years ago.
Now he and his family intend to cast
anchor permanently in Washington
pronouncing IL the most beautiful
and attractive city In the world
Senior Calderon resigned his minis
terial position when the Bolivian gov
ernment was overthrown in 1921. lie
is an enthusiastic admirer of the
United States and a firm believer in
the Monroe doctrine. During the
world war he electrified the Southern
Commercial Congress at New York by
declaring: If the allies could use
Bolivian troops Bolivia would send
them"
There's always room fer one more
in the democratic bandwagon of
presidential possibilities. and this
week, while in Washington, Gov.
William E. Sweet of Colorado got
aboard The governor came TO ad-
dress the national conference of
social work, and many democratic
politicians who had not met him
Evening star., 1923-05-24
Every Detail Should Be Inquired
Into.


Something TO proceed cautiously
with" seems to be the general inter-
probation of the suggestions for rail-
way consolidation now being inyasti-
gated by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. 1t is agreed that IL q
division of the roads into NATIONAL
groupings 10 to come legislation will
be required. But editors see no good
reason why the plan should not be
thoroughly looked into and the pub
lie given a chance to understand what
1t all is about before Congress Is
asked to act.
The frank manner in which Presi-
dent "Al" Smith of the New York
Central told the commission that his
system was not haphaZard
growth" but had been thoughtfully,
almost prayerfuliy, built up so that
each of the branches performed q
proper function for the benefit of the
entire body, IL pointed out as an ex-
cellent pattern for the commission
to consider should 1t ever decide to
favor the plan and ask Congress to
authorize it.
In the opinion of the Albany
Knickerbocker Press, before any step
can be taken 'it must be shown that
there is a way of combining small
railroads with larger ones, or with
each other, that will be an improve
ment on present conditions. The pub
lie seeks prompt and adequate serv-
ice at as low a cost as possible. The
railroads seek q reasonable return
upon their investment. These are not
impossible ends to attain. But any
thing which does not lead specifically
In their direction may turn out to
have been a waste of time. The
term community OF interest lends
itself admirably to the present dis
cussion. as the Boston Post reviews
the testimony of the railroad chiefs.
and suggests that any apportionment
of the various roads to any single
system must be carefully worked out
so that the interests of the patrons
will not suffer. Sins of past mis-
management" are held Responsible by
the Post for the present plight OF the
New Haven and the Boston and Maine,
and IL suggests. with the results of
past mismanagement eliminated, and
with a unified system, these roads can
serve New England to better ad-
turning them over to foreign domi-
nance"
Had the TRANSPORTATION companies
been permitted TO develop naturally.
absorbing or being absorbed accord
ing. to the laws OF business" the
Pittsburgh Gazette-Times says, '.the
necessity for compulsory mergers
probably never would have appeared.
The point is that the government now
Is insisting on virtually that which
in the past 1t has forbidden. If his
tory may be depended on as a guide,
It is o safe conclusion that fhts ven
ture Of authority will prove more
costly TO the public than would have
consultations by private inittatiVe
that have been for so long forbidden"
To date. as the Boston Herald inter-
tionists can find small comfort in the
Interstate Commerce Commission
hearings, although the Issue is ef
vast consequences te-alh" Thea
Evening star., 1923-05-24
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

before took occasion to give him the
professional "once over" Many think
ne measures up. Colorado Is almost
certain to present Sweets name along
with the flock of favorite sons to be
put forward by other statos.. Huston
Thompson. federal trade commits
si9ner, got q first-hand account OF
states senator. The governor dtned
Ct the Thompson home while In
Washington. Dark horse possibilities
are being associated with another
western democratic governor, Jona-
than NJ. Davis of Kansas. .s.',..-s
Judge Edwin b. Parker of Texas
who succeeds former Justice William
r. Day as umpire of the American
German mixed claims commission.
was one of Bernard NJ. Baruch's dol
lar-a-year men on the war industries
board. Eventually he filled the i'm
portant post of priorities commits
sioner. After the armistice Judge
Parker was sent to France as a MEM
ber of the United States liquidation
commission. and conducted negotia
tions with the French government for
Nidh6lSi vi iiit NdSl Cquip
ment which our Army left "over
there" Parker is Missourian by
birth. but has lived in Texas since
boyhood. Uncle Sam gave him the
ID. s. M. for war services, and France
thrust upon him the legion of honor.
y X
Probably never before was there
such profound satisfaction in Wash
m xt that n al 70
man did not achieve power, as pre-
walls over Lord Curzon's failure to
become British premier. His reputa-
tion. both in England and the United
States. Is that of an ineorrigible anti
American, despite his successive
choice of two American wives, Cur
zon. though his legion OF enemies and
critics considers he has the finest in
tellect now in British public life. is
incurably aristocrattc. Toward Amer
lea he adheres to the tory idea that
the revolutionary war was the crime
OF 1875" Since the days Of his ruler
ship in India, Curzen's manner has
been described as vice regal" Wal
ter Hines Page. our wartime am
bassador at London, cordially dis
liked Curzon and entirely ignored
him in his posthumous Life and Let
erence to Curzon--a threat by Page
that II d certain man became foreign
secretary, Page would resign the
American Enthusiastically.
Il X
Among the distinguished men who
are preparing introductions for the
memorial set of Theodore Roosevelt 8
works is Lord Lee of Fareham. late
first lord of the British admiralty
and chief naval delegate AT the
Washington conference. Lee (for-
merly Col. Arthur Lee) was 1T. RS
closest friend in Britain, their COM
radeship dating from the days when
Lee was British military sttache with
the American Army in Cuba. Lees
contribution to the Roosevelt mem
orial volumes, 1T is understood. will
contain the inside history OF the
famous speech the colonel delivered
at Guildhall. London, in 1910, in
which he criticized British policy in
Egypt. Roosevelt subjected himself
TO bitter criticism throughout the
British empire for his apparent but
ting in" Lee is likely 10 make public
what long has privately been known
that the former American President
spoke with the full approval of the
British government.
Copyright. 1Gc3t