Evening star., 1928-06-04
UTILITIES INQUIRY
: RESUMES JUNE Z
Federal Trade Commission
Will Pursue Probe in
21 States.
~ the Associated Press.

Fy the Associated Press.
The Federal Trade Commissions in
vestigation of publicity methods of
power utilities has rounded the turn,
but stands in recess until June u.
when attention will be directed toward
methods pursued in Mississippi.
Louisiana and Texas as the next of
the 81 States which remain TO be en-
brsced in this phase Of the inquiry.
The total of exhibits introduced stood
today at 2,oi7, representing data from
the files of national and regional utili-
ties organizations reaching into 27
States. In addition volumes have been
transcribed from the testimony Of Of
ficials in the various utilities agencies.
Adjournment of Congress has made 1t
possible for the Government Printing
ONCE TO speed up the work of publish
ing the testimony, in the form of the
commissions monthly report to the Sen
ate. The April l6 report is the latest
of the presses.
Government Ownership Fight.
Attention has been directed principal
ly to the activities of the National Elec-
trio Light Association, the joint COM
nlittee of National Utilities Associations,
the American Gas Association and their
sectional branches The testimony OF
witnesses has shown a number OF me-
Ciums to have been used by the utll-
ties groups In seeking TO impart tner
viewpoint to the public, incluolng col
lege courses. school text books, Speech-
making. radio and amateur tneaulcalS
and moving pictures.
Numerous documents placed IN tne
record dealt with utilities opposltion 10
general. and the Muscle Shoals resoLu-
fion and the Swing-Johnson Boulder
Canyon Dam bill in particular.
Material against the two power
projects was prepared and circulated by
the utilities groups. Activities OF power
utilities in opposition to the Walsh res
ofution under which the present inquiry
Is being conducted also were revealed IN
kilograms introduced.
Evidence has been obtained showing
that some college professors have been
paid for making speeches IN whicn
Government ownership was opposed;
that other professors have had expenses
maid for attending education" meetings
sponsored by utility organizations; that
surveys of school and college text books
have been conducted in various States,
which were followed by endeavorS TO
have obnoxious" books withdrawn:
that text books and pamphlets prepared
ut the instance Of utility organizations
have been placed in schools and IL
braries: that utilities courses have been
subsidized in colleges by utility organ
izations and that arrangements nave
been made for utility executives to
speak before students and other groups.
Other Evidence.
Other evidence disclosed that speak
ing courses for utility employees have
been financed IN various sections; that
committees of women have been organ
tied by utility representatives, that
newspapers have been given volumes OF
advertising. while at the same time re-
ceiving clip sheets Of articles prepared
by the utilities: that prominent men
and women have consented to have
their names signed to articles by util-
ities employe. which were later dtstrlb-
uted. and that the utilities men placed
a high valuation on free publicity OBJ
tanned In the press news and editorial
columns.
The States embraced in the orgariza-
fions covered TO date include Illinois.
Ohio Michigan, Pennsylvania, Con-
necticut. Massachusetts,, New Hamp-
shire. Vermont, Rhode Island. Maine,
New Jersey, New York. Virginia, West
Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
tina, Georgia, Florida, Nebraska. Iowa,
Colorado, New Mexico. Wyoming. Min
nesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
and Kansas.