Evening star., 1928-06-03
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
HIT BY UTILITIES
Letters Reveal Concerted
Action Planned to Combat
Government Control Plan.

BY the Associated Press.
Information that "a concerted effort
on the part of the utility industry TO
combat and stem" propositions for
Government ownership of the industry
was decided upon at an emergency
meeting of prominent utilities men at
Chicago in 1925 came from two letters
introduced yesterday in the Federal
Trade Commissions investigation of
power utilities.
The letters were among the last of
the large batch which had come from
the files of George E. Lewis, manager
of the Rocky Mountain committee on
public utilities information. and were
both written by him. Lewis completed
his testimony yesterday and was fol-
lowed by o. A. Weller. secretary treas
urer of the Rocky Mountain division,
National Electric Light Association, and
secretary Of the Colorado Utilities AS
sociation. After short examination
Weller was excused and the inquiry
suspended until June IL. when pub
licity methods of utilities in Mississippi,
Louisiana and Texas will be looked into.
Referred TO Conference.
Writing TO Fred Norcros5 of the
Home Gas g. Electric Co, Greeley.
Colo, under date of February 3, 1925.
Lewis said he had lust returned from
q two-day special conference held in
Chicago on the call of NJ. S. Sloan.
chairman. national public relations sec
ton, N. E. L. A.; Martin Insult. Com
monwealth Edison Co, Chicago. M. H.
Aylesworth. managing director. N. E.
L. A; F. T. Griffith. president, N E.
L A. and other leaders in tie utility
industry"
"Ths utmost secrecy was main
tanned" he added, "as to the purpose
OF the meeting.
Lewis said those mentioned above
and others" had revealed at the con-
ference that a group of radical repre-
sentatives in Washington have banded
together. backed up by the Hearst in
terests. for the purpose of making cap
ital out of the utility industry" He told
NorcroSs that every phase of this men,
ace was discussed: after which resolu-
tions were adopted preliminary to
drive against this dangerous tide OF
fadicalisn"
Second Letter Similar.
Another letter. dated exactly a month
later. informed K. w. KiSsick. manager
of the Deming Ice &: Electric Co. DEM
ing. n. NJ Of the Chicago meeting and
said 1t had been disclosed that there
q
fort to bring about Government and
State ownership Of pub1ic utilities than
ever before" He added. The group
which for four years has devoted its
time, attention, money and influence 70
the effort to nationalize the railroads
has now turned toward the public utlli-
ties. especially the light and power IN
terests."
Senators Norris and La Toilette,
Lewis went on, ~and about 20 others Of
that group have started q concerted
drive on public utilities at the National
Capital. in at least Is States and in
score OF towns and cities Already
seven ether States besides California
and Washington. are confronted with
State ownership proposals. The utility
organizations Of California, as you
know, have been compelled TO spend
millions 20 protect their properties
against the onsiauglats Of those VINO
would turn to State ownership. which
tn that State involved primarily an in
stsai expenditure Of $500. .000. 900. The
Utility organizations Of Washington for
three consecutive years have cOnbated
the efforts Of the radicals to inaE-
gs1rste State ownership. Both Of these
measures al the November elections,
but had they not been organized both
measures would have carried"
Senators Called Presidents"
Robert z. Healy, chief counsel for
the Federal Trade Commission, gues-
toned Lewis about the assertion in the
letter regarding the expenditure Of NIL
lions Of doliaTL 10 fight Government
0wnerEn1p. The witness Said that was
. matter Of common knowledge"
Senator Norris Of Nebraska and the
late Senator La Toilette Of Wisconsin
were called ~tae national press agents"
o. the group seeking Government owner
ship an the Lewis letter 10 Kissick.
Lewis predicted that propaganda" By
Norris and La FolIetse would lead 70
much progress for the government
ownership principle within the next
syesr or two unless protective measures
are perfected here and there and every
where"
Every man IN the industry and
every company comprising the industry
noalSt take a very definite and active
par" Lewis continued Ia his letter 70
K1ssack- lie said his committee would
take leading part in this region,
adding that It already en5oyed the
confidence u hundreds o1 newspapers
an New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. =
II ENJOYS the friendship of dozens
q editors" he said, IT has taken