Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-09
POLITICAL ATTACKS
0NUT|L|T|ESRAPPED
Head of Power Association
Defends Firms as Serv-
ants of Public.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

"A a AAA~' n AZ O44 ~. - OhAAC -4AA
an address, which marked the opening
of the fifty-fourth convention of the
National Electric Light Association, at
Atlantic City today, W. Alton Jones,
president Of the association, attacked
politicians who, he said, are trying to
use the light and power industry as a
means OF attracting the attention Of the
voters. Mr.. Jones said in part:
1T would seem to me, and I believe
that millions of other Americans share
my view, that the time has come when
those intrusted with the guidance of our
political institutions should devote more
of their time 10 improving the efficiency
of government and less to dabbling in
private business, particularly where the
records snow that a private business has
been able to reduce its cost consistently
for 40 years.
Il believe the average citizen can see
the great difference between the low
cost OF electricity and the high cost OF
politics. 1t Is no longer a secret that
the cost OF our political institutions has
become one of the greatest burdens
which our people have to bear. The
tax gatherers of this country are now
taking toll of over SIP 600 000,0 900 per
year from the pockets of the people of
this country. This represents 20 times
as much as the domestic consumers now
pay for electric service.
Tax Payment Large.
This industry alone pays in direct
taxes approximately 100000 600 per
year. which represents 10 cents out of
every dollar collected in gross revenues,
an6 almost nne-fhird nf II roll
lected for domestic electricity.
1T is interesting, indeed. to make
some comparisons between the trend in
the cost OF government and the cost Of
electricity in the United States. In
1913 the average cost Of i,nSernrAent
per family was six times tlse ayrAse
family electric bill. In 1923, che iT;est
year for which figures are available the
cost OF government was Is times the
average electric bill That means that
We have now reached the point that for
each dollar customer spends for
household electric service he has to pay
SIS in taxes for the cost OF government.
There is another interesting thing,
too. in comparing the electric bill of the
| Nation and the cost Of government. 1t
must be borne in mind that no one is
compelled to use electric service, that
for centuries before this service was
available 10 mankind some other form
Of energy was used in its stead for light,
| heat and power It would be incon-
venient for any one to dispense with the
use of electric service. but it is entirely
possible TO do so. On the other hand,
it is impossible to avoid the tax COL
| lector. For while many trick schemes
have been devised by the politician to
delude the people about the taxes they
paw, the fact remains that. directly or
indirectly we must all share the cost
OF government, and in the now stagger-
ing tax bill We pay for the most glar-
ing political inetficiency
1T would be interesting indeed, II
some CT the political quacks who are
so prone to criticize the light and power
business could devise some means of
providing free electric service for the
people Of this country. 1t Is hardly
likely that any of these Quacks, no mat
ter how reSourceful they may be in
political strategy. will ever be able to
do anything of the sort. But conceding
for the sake of argument that they
might accomplish the impossible. how
much easier it would be for them to
undertake a reduction of only 5 per
cent in the cost of government. If they
would do this. the total savings to
the people would be greater than the
. entire bill they pay for domestic cleo
( tricity.
Attacks on Industry.
During the year the industry has
been made the target for further politi-
/ raj attacks. These attacks have for
| the most part been a rehaSh Of old
drivel and political buncombe. AS in
| the past they have come from three
! main sources:
81 From candidates for political office
40. From advocates of Government
ownership of utilities in some form.
80. From Socialists who wish to COM
muuize all industry.
| I'm the first group We are dealing
with those in the body polite who are
| always crying out against large business
! institutions.
/ The two latter groups have no great
following in this country and there Is
no indication that America is yet ready
! to turn from the principles of private
| initiative in business to those of Com
| munism.
I'm previous years, and In old cam
paigns before the light and power
industry attained any degree Of promi-
| nence, they devoted their attention to
the oil barons,' to the railroad trust
the steel trust and the money trust
| Their attacks on these industries have
pretty we'll spent themselves and the
| people have become tired Of listening
| to their TRADES
IF evils exist, We should correct them
from within. No industry can be loo
per cent pure. Here and there We have
seen mistakes and mismanagement in
/ the light and power business, but, taken
] as a whole, no industry in America has
done more than ours to merit the conf
cence OF the people of this country"