Evening star., 1932-03-17
CAMPAIGN OUTLAY
PINNED ON UTILITY
New England Firm Spent
100000, Trade Com
mission Hears.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Testimony that the New England
Public Service Co. spent 100000 IN an
effort to obtain a favorable vote IN a
Maine referendum on an act to permit
power export was given the Federal
Trade Commission today by William T,
Chantland, commission attorney.
Chantland, who went to Maine in
August. 1890, to investigate the ex-
penditure, said he was told by the COM
mittee that handled the campaign that
the correspondence had been destroyed
because the room it occupied was
needed.
Members of the committee were
quoted as saying they believed records
of accounts and expenditures OF the
campaign were sufficient.
Rules Testimony Pertinent.
This testimony was received in the
commissions investigation of the Public
Service Co. after Commissioner McCul-
loch. who was presiding, ruled 1t was
pertinent.
Robert E. Healy, counsel for the COM
mission. said in introducing such test1-
mony the commission was not indicat-
ing any views for or against State acts
which prohibit export from Maine OF
surplus hydro-electric energy.
Chantland's testimony was taken as
a preliminary to the calling Of officers
of the New England company for direct
testimony on the campaign expenditure.
The attorney testified he had gone to
w. S. Wyman at the company'S office
in Augusta and had secured from him
without any question" the details OF
the company's campaign expenditure.
Chantland further testified that
DempSter McMurphy, publicity man OF
the Middle Western Utilities Co.. in
direct owner of the New England COM
psny, had been sent to Maine to assist
during the campaign.
Chairmen Selected.
He added members of the committee
explained that county chairmen for the
campaign had been selected in each
county and in some cases these had
assistance.
They were furnished with money by
the committee and were told that If
they needed more funds they were to
ask for it." he continued. THE sums
were in round figures and they were not
required to make an accounting
Persons of both political affiliations
we're selected for county positions, men,
bers of the committee said, the selec-
tions being of whichever persons would
bring the better results"
Testimony to show the indirect own
ership of the New England company
by the insult interests was given yes
terday by Frank Buckingham, a COM
mission examiner.
Reading from his prepared report,
Buckingham testified that he had made
an examination of the companys affairs
and its offices at Augusta for the period
from the company's organization in
1925 to December 81, 1890.
He said the company was organized
under the Maine laws in 1925 by the
insult interests"
Controls Utilities.
In what business is the company
engaged?" Buckingham was asked by
Healy.
1T controls through stock ownership
utilities in the New England States"
Buckingham replied
Asked about the New England Co.'S
connection with the National Electric
Power Co., subsidiary Of the Middle
Western Utilities Co., an insult holding,
the witness testified that in December,
1880, "the National Electric Power Co.
held 915 per cent of the voting stock
of the New England Co."