Evening star., 1928-05-28
UTILITY PR0BERS
TOLD PUBLICITY
COST 1000, 900

CONTINUED from First Page %
ing from the sale Of the book win be
devoted 70 the purposes Of the fund"
Crone testified that utility men had dis
eusSed the placing Of the textbook in
other schools. but that ne did not know
whether this has been done.
he said that publicity matter vas
distributed 10 1000 newspapers and that
his committee paid the Public Service
Magazine TO send copies 70 the members
Of the New York legislature
Crone, a former newspaper man, as
sisted in the Liberty loan publicity work
during the var and later vas employed
by the Roosevelt Memorial Association
He testified he had been with the uril-
tty committee since its organization in
1929.
Membership Of Committee.
Forty-seven gas and electric CON-
panieS constitute the membership Of the
committee. he said. all Of which are
members Of the Empire State Gas and
Electric Association. which represents
about 80 per cent OF the gas and elec-
tic production In the State. Some OF
the companies are interstate and do in
ternational business. ne testified.
Crone said that his committee main
tanned speakers bureau. OF which
Frank Reagan is head. and that his as
sociate director was Atreus Won
Schrader. The weekly balletin sent %
newspapers, Crone said. was not sent 70
schools or colleges, but that probably
some college professors were On the mis-
cellaneous list.
The purpose Of distributing the bull
letin was to get the information pub
nshed in the newspapers. Crone testi-
he'd. He said that some Of the matter
was reproduced word for word in edi-
eorial columns without credit being given
to the source
crone said that he thought It would
be better If such news credit were
made.
Paid by Power Interests.
Robert E. Healy. chief counsel fcr
the commission, asked CTone II he was
not paid by the power interests to set
the publicity in the editorial columns
and the witness replied in the afirma-
tive.
Crone said that he had tried 70 find
out what happened 70 the bulletin IA
the newspaper ofices by having local
managers OF utility concerns make con-
tact with the editors. but he said that
he had not advocated the buying OF
more advertising IN order 20 assure
the use Of more publicity matter. He
said that he had heard IL advocated
at certain utility meetings but that this
always had angered him.
Crone testified that the large power
companies N New York also furnished
publicity 20 newspapers.
Asked X the utility companies adyer-
ttSing had not greatly increased. Crpne
said he did not know what the increase
was, but that he saw q statement that
utility advertising amounted to $25.0O0-
900 last year and that this figure rep
resented an increase.
Crone said that hts committee sub
Scribed 70 320 newspapers and made
reports on the amount OF publicity re-
ceived IN them
He declared that he did not know
Magazine was owned largely BY the
utility corporations
A committee on school activities VAS
formed. with y. w. Fisher OF IL:
Rochester Gas & Electric Corpora
tion. as chairman. Crone said. but was
inactive and merged after q year are
half with the speakers bureau
An extensive speaking campaign WAS
undertaken by utility companies EN-
ployes who were coached on Addresses
made before civic organizations through
cut the state and the witness said. tne
committees report showed that ass
speeches were made in November. 1877,
Ssl In December S8S In January N
this year, and 6OA IN February.
Woman employees Of the companies
were urged 20 join or form contacts
with womens organizations crOne said.
adding that ell employees were furnish
ed copies OF speakers handbook scon-
tanning sample speeches and utility m-
formation.