The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14
ALABAMA P.S.C. SHARPLY DENIES
 M'KELLAR HINTS
1nsinuations Of Tennes- sean Branded Untrue By Utilities Group
(State Capital Bureau)


 MONTGOMERY, Ala, Dec. 13.- The Alabama Public Service commission today sent telegram to Senator J. Thomas Heflin branding as untrue, unfounded and unjust the differences, and insinuations" of Senator McKeller of Tennessee to the effect that the Ala bama commission is not actively func- tioning in protection of the public in terest. In a public statement issued in connection with the sending of the tele- gram, the commission declared that they wished to challenge McKellar's criti- cism "as sharply as is consistent with polite language"
 Senator Heflin was requested to read into the record the telegram sent him by the commission.
 Text Of Telegram
 Following is the telegram:
 Answering Senator Cope1and's ref Crence yesterday in senate to Alabama public utility laws, we submit our law is comprehensive and is effectively ad- ministered. The inference and insinua- tions by Senator McKellar Friday that this commission is not actively function ing in protection of the public interests are untrue, unfounded and unjust. Sharp differences have arisen between this commission and the Alabama Power company, and such differences have been settled upon commissions terms, Senator McKellar should inform himself before criticising public officials. Please read this telegram into the record
 Alabama Public Service commission by H. G. Patterson, H. F. Lee and F. P. Morgan. members"
 In connection with their telegram to Senator Heflin, the commission made the following statement:
 Statement Is Issued
 "The commission has not had time to study the provisions of the Under wood-Muscle Shoals bill now pending before the United States senate. and therefore, expresses no opinion as to the measure.
 ''So far as the laws of Alabama with respect to the regulation of public utill' ties are concerned, the commission takes the position that while such laws may not be absolutely perfect in every re- spect, they are comprehsive and com pare favorably with similar laws of other states, and provide substantially for the supervision and regulation of such public service corporations. The criticism of these laws doubtless comes from those within and without the United States senate who would like to take away from Alabama its power to regulate the rates and supervise the op- erations of whatever instrumentality is finally put in charge of Muscle Shoals This criticism of our law is unfounded The commission is convinced that the states power to exercise reasonable reg ulation and supervision over the instru- mentality that is given charge of Muscle Shoals ought not to be weakened or abridged. We cannot express ourselves too emphati on this proposition.
 Time For Reply
 Relative to Senator McKellar's in- situations, Senator Mckellar has once before expressed some criticism of all state commissions, which we did not deem necessary to answer, but when he made specific criticism of the Alabama commission on the floor of the United States senate we challenge him as sharp ly as is consistent with polite language
 "The people of Alabama well know what the position of this commission has been in these matters and the flght that the commission has made ill behalf of the public interest. Senator Nickel lars remarks betray one or two things Either he is ignorant of the facts, ol else he belongs to that class of men who permit themselves to be wilful and ma S.- of off Is