Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-13
Timely Views
PUBLIC UTILITIES INQUIRY DESCRIBED As
EFFICIENT
BY THOMAS y. WALSH
U. S. Senator From Montana.

"NA 'AN4A
Thomas Jmes Walsh was born al Two Rivers.
Wis, June IL, 1859. He was educated in the public
schools Of Wisconsin. He taught school for a time.
becoming principal Of a high school at Sturgeon
Bay, Wis., and began p~racticing law will his
brother, Henry Walsh, at Redfield. S. d. In 1890
he moved to Helena, Mont establishing the law
firm Of Walsh. Nolan and scallon. in 1907. He was
elected TO the United States senate in 1918 and Il
nov serving hsi third term which expires in 1881
His home Is at Helna, Mont.)
IN the closing days OF the session Of congress com
Ing to an end on March 4, 1927, I submitted to the
senate a resolution proposing an investigation into
the financing and capitalization Of companies engaged
in the generation and distribution OF electrical energy.
including holding companies, and as well as into the ac-
Invites Of such TO influence public opinion or govern
mental action.
The desirability, II not the necessity. Of such an in
.quiry was impressed upon me by a series OF articles
BY Prof. W.. z. Ripley Of Harvard. The cminence of
the author ms q student Of economies, as well a. his
high character. naturally gave seriousness 10 his
structures on abuses that prevailed in the utilities in
dustries, and particularly in the financial set-ups OF
the corporations doing business in that field.
Whatever misgivings may have been felt concern
ing the fate Of the investigation at the hands Of the
federal trade commission have, 80 far a. Il has nro-
ceeded' been altogether dissipated. IL went to work
promptly; apparently gave carte blanche 10 III eco
nomic DIVISION the personnel Of which is Of high char
"bs phvtetttd DN the civil service iaw
and rules entrusted the taking of testimony 70 M If
rs members Altogether, IL il safe 70 say that . So
ate committee could never have done the ;oh IN ~.
searching manner in which 1t has thus far been nrov-
ecuted' although perhaps its work would have sttrac,ed
Cd more widespread attention and been attended u;th
greater no~toriety.
As heretofore indicated, the superiority 90 nr;v.,o
over public ownership Of utilities is a never-end;r~
topic q discussion in the material thus sent I.
much Of it dealing with the question directly. mo,s
ieaoing 70 the same end by indirection.
reference has been made to the employment 81
speakers IN this gigantic movement to enlirhter -.
puohe- Every opportunity to get a hearing for s.ch
= improved They attend all manner or convent;ors
speak before chambers Of commerce, commercial cl,h.
iuncheons Of the Rotary. Kiwanis or Lions, cIuhs
"omens clubs and, by preference apparently. hefora
schools q all grades, from high school IN. The New
York and Pennsylvania committees succeeded n o.
ting their men on the Chautauqua circuits. A. In the
case OF tons OF literature sent out, much Of what thev
say mas 10 particular political or economic sirnifi-
canoe; at least it has not direct relation to any contro-
sersial question in either field-that il, much Of Il
has real educational value, and more has for It's pur-
pose 70 promote the wider use Of electrical energy and
thus enhance the business prospects Of the associated
companies offering suchr