Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-18
COOLIDGE HOLDS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
STATE PROBLEMS
Declared to Believe They
Should Solve Issues Rather
Than Government.
WILL STUDY INQUIRY
OF FEDERAL TRADE BODY
President Also Will Go Over Boul-
der Dam Facts Before Making
Recommendations.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG,


STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
CEDAR ISLAND LODGE. Brule
River, Wis, August 1S.-The impress
sion has been conveyed by President
Coolidge here that he looks to the
States rather than the Federal Govern
ment to solve the problems arising IN
connection with the public utility In
terests, which now are being investi-
gated by the Federal Trade Commits
| sion.
| During a discussion of this subject
with callers today Mr.. Coolidge was
represented as being Of the opinion that
public utility corporations are chiefly
under State control because they do
mostly an intrastate business. Their
interstate business is very slight, he
said. AS he understands the question,
| the Federal Governments principal
concern in public utility matters IS in
connection with the granting Of per-
mits to dam navigable rivers.
( win Study Recommendations.
Regardless Of his viewpoint upon the
much discussed subject of public utility
curbing, the President has let it be
known that he will study the recon-
mendations to be made by the Federal
Trade Commission as a result OF Its
investigation of the matter preparatory
| to making any recommendations him
self to Congress.
The President. however. has indicated
that he has given little thought con-
| cerning recommendations concerning
public utility corporations that he may
make to Congress. This Is true also IN
the case of the Boulder Dam project,
which some members of the Senate
and House have charged IS being
| blocked by ''the power trust" AS IN
the case Of the report from the Fed
eral Trade Commission upon the public
utilities, he viii defer suggestions or
recommendations to Congress regard
ing the Boulder Dam project until ne
has had an opportunity to study the
report to be made in the meantime py
the special commission appointed to
study this proposal.
state Official Appointed.
Reuben Clark Of Salt Lake City.
Utah. has been selected by President
Coolidge to be the next Undersecretary
of State, to succeed Robert +. Olds OF
st. Paul. Mimi. who resigned July 1.
Mr.. Clark was represented 70 Mr..
Coolidge as one of the leading author
ities on international law In the coun-
try. He is furthermore looked upon as
intimately converSant with Mexican
affairs.
He attracted attention to himself in
administration circles by his activities
as general counsel to the American
agent on the Mexican-American Claims
Commissions When the treaty under
which the commissions functloned
lapsed. and new pact was concluded
| for their continuation, Mr.. Clark was
[ called TO Mexico City by Ambassador
Morrow to help the latter in negotia-
| tions with the Mexican government
| looking to an early resumption OF the
| commissions activities. In this latter
capacity also Mr.. Clark attracted wide
attention to himself.
Mr.. Ciark's commission for his new
ONCE is now on the way from Wash
| ington, and the President will sign 1t
when 1t arrives here.
/ 1t is understood that Mr.. Clark was
offered the Undersecretary of State post
| Immediately following Mr.. Old's deci-
sion to retire. At that particular time
| friends of Mr.. Clark back In Utah had
| prevailed upon him to enter the race
| for the Republican nomination for the
| Senate, and for that reason he declined.
IL Is thought, however, that the offer
was held open to Mr.. Clark. because
the announcement Of his selection was
made Immediately following his defeat
yesterday for the Republican senatorial
nomination.
The President was represented today
as being without any additional in
formation about the reported Anglo
French agreement to limit naval arma-
ments. although Admiral Charles F.
Hughes, chief OF naval operations. was
understood to have come here To re-
port upon that subject. as well as others.
The arrangement, the President under
stands. is more in the nature Of a pro-
poSal than an actual agreement. In
connection with this reported pact, II
| may be stated that Mr.. Coolidge is not.
at this time, contemplating taking any
further step toward q limitation Of
armamentS He is satisfied to let the
matter rest with the preliminary con-
ference for limitation. which has been
proceeding for some time at Geneva.
The attention of Mr.. Coolidge has
been brought to the anxiety OF Costa
Rica to have the Monroe Doctrine de-
tined by the League Of Nations before
that country consents TO readmiSsion
to the League. But the President MAIN
tains that whether or not the League
Is able TO make such q definition under
its covenant, the definition would not
De binding upon the United States
which Is not League member.
Strike Intervention Asked.
Requests have been made upon Mfr
Coolidge that he intervene In the
threatened strike of conductors and
trainmen on some OF the Western rail-
roads. but he has left the matter to
the Board Of Meditation. which viii
keep him fully informed and notify him
any special action ON his part 5
required
President Coolidge today manifested
great interest In specially bound ycl-
ume OF the Holy Bible, containing
photoStatic copies OF some of the early
baptiSmal records OF the Episcopal
Church at Cottenham. England. among
the records being that of the baptism
or his ancestor. John Coolidge, who wAs
the first OF the Coolidge family to land
IN America. The record showed that
ne was baptized In the Cottenhan
Church September i6. 1904.
Mr., Ccoliess told callers that John
Coolidge. tn son of william Coolidge,
was born IN t6o3. and came % Water
town. Mass, IN 1880 It was learned
that ON September rs the Cottenham
Church win hold q spsCial service. cele-
hratink the SAITH anniversary Of the