Evening star., 1928-05-10
UTILITIES PROBERS
TURN TO FLORIDA
Information Bureau Official
Tells of Contributions From
Electric Light Group.

BY The Associated Press.
Turning to the activities Of utility In
formation bureaus in the South, the
Federal Trade Commission received
testimony today from H. E, Simpson of
Miami, assistant treasurer of the Flor
ida Public Information Bureau, THAT
the bureau had received $22 500 since
July. 1927. from the National Electric
Light Association to carry on its
activities
Testifying in the commissions inquiry
into public utility financing, Simpson
said the bureau collected monthly con-
irfoutionS from its member companies
in the State. but said he was unable to
give the total amount of the annual
receipts and expenditures.
He told the commission he also was
treasurer of the southeastern division of
the National Electric Light Association
and assistant treasurer of the Florida
Power s; Light Co.
Assessments Collected.
Explaining the contribution OF the
National Electric Light Association To
his bureau. Simpson said the association
collects assessments from its member
companies throughout the country and
then returns a portion. not exceeding
so per cent Of the amount collected. to
the Il geographical divisions.
Robert E. Healy, chief counsel for the
commission, introduced from Simpsons
files numerous vouchers issued in pay
meniS for entertainment at the South
ern division convention at Miami in
April.
Ss.0S1 for Entertainment.
Expenses of entertainment at the
convention totaled s70sl. or $4,000 in
excess of the registration fees, Simpson
said Healy asked IL the money did not
come through the National Electric
Light Association from member COM
panieS, which contributed to the ex-
peTses from their funds, and the witness
said he supposed so.
Healy also asked about an expendi-
hire of 500 for orange peels" at the
convention and a deep sea" fishing
trip participated in by the delegates.
Simpson said the expenditures had been
made and that the delegates went on
the deep sea fishing trip"
Heaiy endeavored to show that the
entertainment was paid for indirectly
by consumers of public utility products.
n j. Holly of Sanford. Fla, director
NJ the Florida Public Utilities Bureau.
said that so per cent of the papers in
Florida print 900 inches of utility
publicity each month. He said about 20
per cent Of the newspapers reject the
matter he distributed
He said fear of competition between
Florida and potential tomato growers
in Mexico who would benefit by the
construction of the Boulder Dam
prompted an editorial he wrote against
the project.
Hoily said there was no State utility
regulatory body in Florida and declared
that we are not averse TO such a
BODY"
Asked by Healy If he felt sure the
companies contributing 10 the buresu
would support him in that statement,
Holly said he was sure they would.
Trained in Speech Making.
Almost every employe in any Florida
utility company can make a speech
about his own work, Holly said. adding
that they were trained in this work by
the company.
Eolly said that a speakers bureau
was maintained and speeches were
made by utility men and women before
clubs and conventions
He denied that any effort had been
made TO put utility text books in Flor
ida schools or colleges. and added that
the only connection he had had with
educational institutions in utility work
wa6 the assistance Of professors in the
University Of Florida. Stetson Univer-
sitg. at Deland. and Southern Univer-
sity. at Lakeland. IN arranging lectures
on public utilities
Publicity methods OF the Ohio COM
mittee on public utility information,
particularly the distribution of utility
tex books among Ohio students, were
revealed yesterday In the Federal Trade
Commissions investigation of utility
financing under the Walsh Senate reso-
luton.
Fred j. Bollmeyer. director Of the
committee, said that a text book en-
titled "Aladdins Of Industry" has been
placed IN the classToonas OF high schools
and colleges throughout the State A
report On the committees work which
was introduced into the testimony
described this distribution as the out
standing accomplishment Of 1925" %
Activities Of Committee.
Testimony was introduced 10 show
that the committee had conducted a
survey Of the text books used in Ohio
schools. had opposed a ST. 900 600 bond
issue proposed In 1925 for the Cleye-
land municipal power plant. secured
publicity In 62s Ohio newspapers. or
Esnazed woman workers and arranged
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