New Britain herald., 1929-07-05

leSleu III respect tO all OtlicI lSSueS, the electric stocks have been most active The knowledge is widespread that the big concerns are in the market for all the little fellows that can be gobbled up. that action is imperative if the so-called powe, trusts are 10 gain their mastery be- fore the federal government begins its proposed regulation, and that money is not exactly an object.
 The hurry toward amalgamation is noticeable in Connecticut as else where. The Connecticut Electric Service Co.,, which is linked with powerful Philadelphia power inter- ests and incidentally is one of J. Henry Rorabacks pet companies, took over the Northern Connecticut Power Co. at Windsor Locks this week. The deal in itself is not so much, except that an important power site is included; but it is only one of many such deals be- ing chronicled.
 The widest scramble in New Eng land for independent companies is | taking place in Massachusetts, where law and sentiment has been particularly favorable to the inde- l pendents. Efforts are under way to gobble up the smallest concerns as we'll as the biggest, the stockholders are dizzy contemplating the figures as they hesitate to let go their con- | trol. Most of the stock of these in- dependent concerns is closely held. and opposition 10 the big power combines is widespread. But money eventually is expected to talk loud enough to pry loose the stock The New England Power Co. is said 10 be offering s13O a share for the At tleboro Steam and Electric Co.,, a huge advance over the market price At the same time the power com- bine is out after the big Edison Co. of Boston, despite spirited opposi- ton by bankers and others who wish to keep control in the home city. Of course, the New England Power Co. is linked with a regular chain of power trusts, being among other things subsidiary of the In- ternational Paper and Power Co.
 Some bankers think the l. P. X P. Co. will eventually be swallowed up by the United Company, the great Morgan combine recently formed, which is expected to get control of all the great power con- panies of New York, New Jersey Eastern Pennsylvania and New England. In addition there Is a friendly agreement between the New England Power Co. and the koppers Company, a Mellon con- cern, regarding New England activi- ties, although for propaganda pur- poses it Is claimed that they are fighting each other at times for the control of independent concerns, as was the case when an attempt was made to get control of Massachu- sets Gas.
 Wall street is said to be getting dizzy watching the proceedings; to keep track of the multifarious con- panies involved in deals. attempted deals and their identification with national power interests would near ly require private secretary. The reason Is so self f-evident, now that the fight of the power interests to prevent sentiment in Congress for federal regulations has apparently failed, that no one any longer is be- ing deceived about the prospects. Before Congress trots out it's regu- latory system there will only be a few monster concerns to regulate: and the forecasts of certain pro- gressive senators a year or so ago that the time is rapidly approaching when the power interests of tht country will be joined into one or two huge concerns, will have beer realized.
 What are we going to do about it? Simply nothing. Congress simply hasn't acted swiftly enough. It will act, without question; by locking the garage door after the automobile is gone.
 Meanwhile the question naturally presents itself as to who is to pay the inflated prices which the trust companies are offering for the in' dependent concerns? Our guess i' that eventually the public will pay these figures, regardless of the fed eral regulation to come.
 MARRIAGE A LA CARTE
 The great mind of Eugene O'Neil