The Washington times., 1929-05-02
CLARENCE c. DILL, U. s. sena

ClIAhENCE U. DILL, U. y. Sena'
tor from Washington: Disclosure
wrung from witnesses before the
Federal Trade Commission no longer
leave room for doubt that the power
monopoly is the gravest menace that
ever confronted a free people.
There is only one thing to do un'
der such circumstances. An ever
lasting fight must be waged against
the power monopoly until it has been
dissolved and the people are once
more free.
"As a start toward that end, am
convinced that the Progressives in
the Senate, Democrats and Republi-
cans alike, viii keep up constant
bombardment until public opinion
has been aroused against this
menace.
II am considering the introduction
of a bill which would prohibit the
use of the mails to any papers owned
by a utilities corporation. That is
drastic, I know, but the time for
drastic measures has arrived"
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID
KINCHELOE, of Kentucky: "I DOM I
think any private interests are more
interested in what occurs in Con-
gress and the State legislatures
than the electric power companies.
They have lobbyists before Con-
gress and every State legislature. /"
JOHN j. BLAINE, U. S. Senator
from Wisconsin:
These disclosures demonstrate
that a means must be found to re-
strict utilities companies to their
particular field-the sale of heat,
light and power.
"The revelations are surprising
only in the fact that the power
monopoly has seen fit to buy these
papers outright in wholesale fash
ion. 1t is the first time in history
that such a thing has been done.
I'm the past, great financial in
terests, including the power COM
panies, have contented themselves
with controlling the editorial pol.
icies Of newspapers by adver-
tising contracts. Now, apparently,
they are prepared to color the
news columns in order to distort
the news to fit their propaganda" "
REPRESENTATIVE PHIL ID.
SWING, of California: at was a
startling disclosure of the length
to which power companies will 60
to control public opinion.
II suppose if all the facts were
known it would be found that
other power companies in one form
or another have acquired finan.
cial interests in many newspapers. +"
REPRESENTATIVE ADDISON
T. SMITH, of Idaho: "I believe
it to be wrong for power companies
to buy newspapers. Newspapers
should be free from the influence Of
any special interests, except that OF
serving the public in general"
REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES
ADKINS, of Illin0is: "It is evident
that the purpose Of the power
companies is to acquire newspapers
for the purpose Of influencing pub
lie opinion on questions in which
the power companies are interested
THE power companies should be
devoting their time toward reducing
rates and thereby increase their
volume Of business and profits in
1uSlSdQ Ol
trying to hold up their rates and
make the people believe they are
getting something for nothing"
REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES
L. ABERNETHY, of North Caro-.
lima: 1T must be shocking to the
nation to learn that a lot 'of news.
papers have been acquired by power
companies. The people think that
their papers are independent and
present unbiased views.
when power company buys a
newspaper, what can it's motive be
but to influence public opinion?
Newspaper publishing has nothing
to do with development Of hydro.
electric power"
ROBERT Nj. LA TOILETTE. Jr.,
Senator from Wisconsin: ''The
revelations before the Federal
Trade Commission is chal.
lenge to the very existence of Rep.
re senta tive
;v,