New Britain herald., 1930-03-06
PROFESSOR LEVITT
 SPURS TO ACTIVITY

ing has indicated to New Britain ties dissatisfied with electric and power rates what to do about ob- taining relief in the form of more | reasonable charges.
 At the same time he instills a doubt whether the recommended ! appeal to the Public Utilities Con- mission for a hearing would be of much value.
 Richard T. Higgins, chairman of the P. U. C., he points out, is a Democrat retained in office as chair man of the Commission because he | is willing to allow the Roraback | electric interests to collect the pres ent prices. A hearing, with MT. Higgins chairman of the Commission, might be doomed to failure from the start if all the Professor says is true.
 There are also other points need ing consideration. Hearings of one sort or another in the past have generally been won by the public utility interests with the aid of law yers reminding one of the reputed breed in Philadelphia who can make two and two look like five. The utli- ties, in an emergency like a hearing, seem prepared to expend unlimited fees for the kind of legal talent they need.
 Who does not remember the hear ings when local committing rates on the New Haven were being threshed out. The utility lawyers had nearly as many statistical charts, blueprints and the like as there are ties along the railroad tracks.
 The cost of defending themselves at hearings usually is included in operating expenses. We suppose that, so far as the P. |. C. is con- cerned, that makes no difference.
 Since the Public Utilities Commis- sion was established in 1918. Pro- lessor Levitt points out, the utilities have obtained what they wanted. The P. U. C., instead of being d fighting organization in behalf of the people, has been a quiescent body we'll satisfied to let the utilities pretty much alone.
 Before the telephone rate in- crease of year ago was put into effect, telephone managers went be- fore luncheon clubs and told the hard luck stories that came from headquarters At that tina sven the hard-headed business Iir-II swallow- ed the bait, sinker and all. The rates went into effect-as announced by lHo ttiepllouc COlilp pduS- anu lleH somebody could instigate a hearing before the P. U. C., if desired. Confi- dence that the P. L. c. under Mir. Higgins management, however, was so shaky that nobody bothered about asking for the hearing.
 The instance of s2,000,O0O in fictitious capitalization in connection with the legerdemain at Windsor Locks winch Professor Levitt illus trated while here. is only one in. stance of many that could be cited of charging the public on unreason- able capitalization. The Roraback interests, as has been shown repeat edly, have profited from the easy acquisition of power sites along the Housatonic, and the subservient Legislature that Professor Levitt mentioned was q party 10 the deal Now. through notifications extend ing all over the East, the United Ga: Improvement Company Of Philadel- phia, towns the state of Connecti. cut" according to the law expert at least in an allegorical sense.
 Purge the Legislature of minion: subservient to J. Henry Roraback is sound advaice from the professor We have taken pleasure in advo eating such measures for years. w, do not feel inclined to change ou, mind. The rank and file o ctizenry in the state, voting the Re publican ticket as a habit of lon: standing. likwise think no higI thoughts of Mr. Roraback; yet whel they vote for the Republican part. the. vote for MT. Roraback, ant most of them usually vote for thu party first. and for MT Rorabacl because he happens to have tukel advantage of the political situation by perching upon the captain