The Washington times., 1929-04-15
BAT STATE WILL.
PROBE POWER
TRUST

BOSTON, April is. - Following
disclosures by the Boston Evening
American of insidious propaganda
on the part of the power trust in
New England to hoodwink the pub
lie on pending and future legisla'
ton, two measures were filed In
the Massachusetts, legislature call
ing for complete public investiga'
ton of the trusts activities.
Foreign corporations having a
financial interest in Massachusetts,,
especially in gas and electric com
panies. and the New England Blu
reau Of public Service Information
as well. would be investigated
under resolution introduced by
Representative James e. Hagan,
who asks also that the investiga.-
ton of the bureau include propa-
ganda, If any, disseminated in the
schools.
Eyes Paper Firms
Paper and pulp companies" in
particular, would be tscrutinized
under the other order, filed by
Representative Anthony A. Nc.
Nulty, taking cognizance of the
purchase by the International Pa
per Company. subsidiary of the
$500, 100000 international Paper
and Power Company, of two Bos-
ton daily newspapers.
The secret effort to hoodwink the
people by throttling their press was
discovered today to have greater
ramifications than suspected. Owners
of daily journals in various parts Of
New England say they have been
circularized by an agent allied with
the buying which has already taken
place. In some cases representatives
have been sent to publishers to bid
for whole or part Of the newspaper
properties.
A wave of reaction against these
activities has set in on Beacon Hill,
seat of the State government.
Bills Teeth Shown
The American has shown that
bill supposed to give municipalities
the right to compete with private
electric light and power concerns
which charge exorbitant rates has
had its teeth drawn under the gliss
of making 'perfecting amendments"
The first direct clash between the
champions Of the people and their
opponents will take place this week
over this bill, and because of the
agitation. it is expected the ways and
means committee will report aut a
real measure curbing the releRtless
profit-grabbing of the trust.
The legislature failed to heed
the warning of former Governor
Alvan T. Fuller. as to the need
OF Legislation TO protect the people
and industries against the buying
up of local distributing companies
by the gigantic power combine out
side the state.
The result is that many local
electric companies. are in the hands
of these interests. Among these
are the Lowell Electric Light Cor.
poration, Lawrence Gas and Electric
Company Webster and Southbridge
Gas and Electric Company. Gardner
Electric Company, Worcester Elec.
trio Light Company, all controlled
by the international Paper and
Power Company. and all highly
profitable and arrogant as to rates.
Representative Charles T. Cavan.
augh, of Cambridge, said today that
the purchase of the Boston dailies
by the international Paper Com
pany, considering it's affiliations,
was an infringement of the pub
lies rights to free press.
Shows ExtreIneties
Representative Denis ]. Sullivan.
R1x -
revelations made by the Boston
American are an indication OF what
these monopolies will resort to in
order to attain their aims"
Representative William P. Cor.
bett: This last gesture of the pri.
vate utility combines. to pour propa.
ganda into the homes of the people
of Massachusetts and New England,
is one of the boldest and most
brazen gestures the private monop.
olies have made in this section OF
the country
Representative George c. Nc
Menimen: 1.-The people of Massa-
chusetts and New England will now
awaken to the seriousness of the
situation, with private combines that
stoop to any means to affect their
purposes.
Press Must Be Free
Representative C. F. Nelson
Pratt "A free and Independent
press is the only safeguard the
people have to combat this group"
Representative Timothy j. Gro.
min: THE time is now ripe for the
people to acquire their local plants
for the purpose of manufacturing
and distributing their own electricity
at cost. This inroad into the field
of Metropolitan Journalism in order
to defeat legislation for the bene.
fit of the public Is direct violation
of the antitrust act. Are the
power companies to be exempt
from a Federal statue enacted to
prevent the pilferage Of American
homes?"