Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-20
CITE HOOVER TALK
!. ]. J: IN UTILITY INQUIRY
ID
Of --
Candidate, in 1925 Speech,
Opposed Federal
Regulation.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Financial records introduced yesterday
as evidence in the investigation OF
power utilities by the Federal Trade
Commission presented a comprehensive
picture of the activities of the Nation
al Electric Light Association, and wide
ly known names figured occasionally IN
testimony by representatives OF that as
] ISOLATION.
Distribution of speech made by Her
] bert Hoover here on october IA, 1870.
was disclosed by George F. Oxley OF
/ New York, public relations director OF
the N. E. l.. A. He identified check
for $646 made to Harold Phelps Stokes,
and addressed to the Department OF
Commerce under date OF october 28.
1925, as payment for 49.500 copies of
I the speech. Mr.. Stokes was formerly
secretary to Mr.. Hoover.
Entitled. "Why the Public Interest
REQUIRES State Rather Than Federal
Regulation of Electric Public Utilities"
the address was made by Hoover while
Secretary of Commerce to the thirty
seventh annual convention Of the Ma
tional Association of Railroad and Util-
titles Commissioners.
w. A. White Paid $500.
cit was so good" said Oxley, "that
I ordered large quantity to go out
. to our people"
! Oxley named Mrs. John D. Sherman
of Estes Park, Col, former president of
sthe General Federation of Women's
Clubs, as having been paid 5000 apiece
for several" articles on rural homes
which were published as news" This
was done through an advertising
agency, he said, indicating that the
payments had been made monthly for
about year. Checks to this agency
we're put in evidence, and in addition
Vouchers for $50 and SIG to Mrs. Sher-
man were presented. One of these had
The notation lacking UP the farm
womens home equipment"
Estimating expenditures for adver-
Using by the N. E. L. A. at about
$4,000 for one year and 100000 a
testified that the amount given to per-
sons for writing articles which appeared
In news columns had amounted to 3d.
800 'for the last year or So
Earlier A. j. Marshall, secretary OF
the N. E. L. A, identified $500 check
to William Allen White. editor of the
Emporia tKans.) Gazette. which he
said was for speaking to the Atlantic
City convention of the association in
Nav, 1926. The speech was found in
records of that convention already IN
evidence 1t dealt with utilities selling
Service to the public. and hailed the
N. E. L. A. members as leaders OF the
Nations progress.
Bruce Barton Also Paid.
! Checks for $4,000 and 1888 made to
pr,lce Barton. the writer, by the asso-
cation also were presented. The $4,000
pavnent was said to be for envelope
Advertising matter. while the latter was
for expenses attendant upon his speak
ing to the 1925 convention at SAM
Francisco.
rour checks totalling 1922, made out
to George L. Hoxie of Los Angeles, were
p,i. in evidence by Robert E. Healy,
commission counsel. voucher ior
81 900 of this amount said it was for
payment "to mutual friend" and Oxley
produced a recent telegram from Hoxle,
which said the money had been paid to
sJames Mavor for information respect
ing affairs of Ontario Highway Com
mission" that had subsequently been
embodied by Hoyie in a confidential re-
port of the National Electric Light AS
ISOLATION.
4 Commissioner McCulloch recessed the
INQUIRY until tomorrow when Marcy b.
Darnall of Florence, Ala, will take the
stand. No intimation was given as to
what phase of utilities activities will be
covered by his testimony.
/ Then the investigation will go over
until Tuesday, when witnesses from
Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and North
Carolina will appear. Those under sub
poena include C. M. Kilian, Atlanta, Sec
rotary, Southeastern Division. National
Electric Light Association; j. S. Thomas,
Birmingham, former secretary of the
Alabama State committee on public in
formation For Wednesday, September
IS, the following are scheduled to be
heard: j. A. Switzer. University of Ten
ressee, Nashville, secretary, Southern
Appalachian Power Conference; DR.. Jo-
seph Hyde Pratt, Chapel Hill, N. c.;
chairman executive committee, Southern
Appalachian Power Conference; Thorn
dixie Saville, Chapel Hill, N. c., former
treasurer, Southern Appalachian Power
Conference.