The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-07-24
POWER PROJECT
Pennsylvania P. s. G. Satisfied
With Engineering Features

With Engineering Features
Public hearings on the ConowIngo
power project before the Public
lService Commission of Pennsylvania
were concluded in Philadelphia on
Thursday, July Is.
After final attempt to show that
the project was uneconomical, the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
Announced it's fight to prevent con-
struction of the $52,000.000 power
plant in Maryland was ended.
Responsibility for permitting such
construction now rests with the
commission, Ellis Ames Ballard,
counsel for the company, declared.
1t was indicated by the replies OF
members of the commission that
while satisfied with the engineering
| features of the project, revision OF
the financial plans would be neces-
sary before the development could
be authorized.
A conference of the Pennsylvania
| commission with the Maryland Pub
lie Service Commission and the Fed
eral Water Power Commission to
consider measures for adequate
regulation OF the project will be held
before any action is taken, ]. d.
Benn, acting chairman, said.
This conference, with the neces-
sity for revision of plans before the
| three commissions, indicates that it
will be several weeks before any OF
the commissions will be in position
| to act.
Development at the final hearing
ON Thursday, indicates that the
revisions to be demanded in plans
for the project and which will be dis
cussed at the tricommission confer
ence are as follows:
The proposal OF the power COM
panies to project the Susquehanna
Power Company, owner OF the
physical property in Maryland, and
the Susquehanna Electric Company,
the Maryland operating company OF
the power plant, into Pennsylvania
so that the Pennsylvania commission
would have jurisdiction over them.
A proposal to be discussed, by
which the Philadelphia Water Power
Company, owner Of the physical
property in Pennsylvania, would be
projected into Maryland so that the
| MARYLAND oopo m iccio,, xvin bovo
jurisdiction over it.
A proposal for joint estimate by
accountants of the three commits
sions OF, the costs Of lands and prop
critics acquired by the Susquehanna
Power Company in Maryland in the
last thiry-five years.
Commissioner Been pointed out
that the Philadelphia Water Power
Company will issue the bulk OF
securities in the .$52,OO0,000 pro-
ject. The Pennsylvania commission
has no jurisdiction over securities
issues after approving the project.
The Maryland commission has no
jurisdiction over this company under
tu0 present SGC-up.
Harold E. West, chairman, and J.
Frank Harper, commissioner, OF the
Maryland commission, explained that
II this company was extended a
short distance into Maryland it
would come under Maryland juris-
d1ction and all securities issues
would have to be approved in that
State. 1t was agreed to discuss
this possibility at the pending
conference.
Mr. Been suggested that for the
protection of Pennsylvania the
power companies might enter into
contract by which they would agree
not to sell securities at a price which
would allow margin of more than
tour points to brokers. Mr.. Masin
replied that these securities would
nave to be approved by the Federal
Commission.
Neither of the State commissions
appeared satisfied with this 1uris-
dlction and it is almost certain that
APohJ WILL U0 d6h6O 10 IoYlS6
tnat set-up so that the State commits
slons will have Jurisdiction over
these securities.
The proposal to project the two
Maryland companies into Pennsyl-
vanla is for the purpose of giving
the pennsylvania commission turis-
dlctlon over the entire project. The
company suggested it and it is cer-
tam to be required by the COM
mission.
These are the principal changes in
tne nnancial set-up as contemplated
al TINS time. The three commissions
VIII discuss other details at the con-
ference, and plan to consider regu-
iation in all of its aspects. Before
taxing action satisfactory regulation
tnro1gh the three bodies will be
agreed on.
IN