The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-25
UTILITIES CHANGED POLICY

UTILITIES CHANGED POLICY
 MT. B. c. Forbes, eminent observer of industrial and financial conditions, said yesterday in his daily article in The Age-Herald that public utilities are en- tering a new era. It is an era in which they beaFsa closer and more considerate relation to the public they serve. The day when utility might safely ignore public opinion has passed. It has been discovered and proved that selfishness, soullessness and heartlessness in utilities are not only unnecessary, but that they are actually injurious to the utilities.
 First among the influences working to this improvement in the public relations of utilities MT. Forbes places the grow ing disposition on the part of public rate commissions to be just to the utilities as we'll as considerate of the public well fare. Indeed, there have been cases when rate bodies have evidenced even more concern for the utility than for it's patrons. But on the whole, it appears that definite principles of procedure are being worked out, and that the public is being protected from gouging while yet paying a rate that gives the utility a fair return on it's property valuation. It is true that there are utilities which are selfish and grasping, and whose every move must be carefully examined in the light of it's possible or calculated effect upon the public; but in general the sit- uation is under control and is improving.
 Utilities are turning to the public more and more for the Notation of their se- curities. It is estimated now that the patrons of utilities buy approximately one-third of their bonds and other offer ings. Although at first thought it might appear that this relationship would weaken the public protest against im- proper utility practices, it is found as 8 matter of fact that the utility is more than ever before anxious to please and retain the confidence of the people, who have become in truth their bankers. The old corporate arrogance is disappear ing, slowly in some cases, but surely, and utility's public relations now form one of it's primary concerns.
 On this point MT. Forbes acutely ob- serves: "There has come about a nota- ble improvement in the type of men running most of our electric, gas and traction companies. In the old days the heads of utility companies too often were mixed up in questionable franchise jugglery; in plain language, they went in for bribing officials. Your enlightened utility president of today appeals direct to the public and scorns to indulge in any franchise bootleggery, The result is that the public have more faith in pres ent-day utility managers"
 This, of course, is speaking broadly and in general. There are still some public service corporations which im- properly seek to control newspapers, rate commissions, legislatures, and even congress itself. But they are growing fewer. It is coldly recognized by those eminent in affairs that such measures are obsolete, wrong and doomed to com plete abandonment. Such concerns as still practice improper methods of fore ing through programs burdensome to the people or inimical to the public welfare are finding themselves embarrassingly conspicuous, for no longer are their methods permitted to lie hidden from public view, and their methods cannot stand publicity and survive.
 In bringing about this changed atti- tude on the part of public utilities, re- lentless publicity and the free expres- sion of opinion have been prime factors. The newspapers are steadily and almost unanimously adhering to the principle that they are the defenders of the pub lies side in every controversy, and that they are the advocates who argue the case for the public on every important occasion. There is still much to be done before all public service corporations are in their proper role, but that condi- tion comes on apace.