Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1933-07-13
Frank Mclaughlin
Replies to Attacks

outspoken reply to present-day at
tacks levelled against privately owned
public utilities Is contained in an ad-
dress TO the Pacific Coasts electrical
industry by Frank Mclaughlin, presi-
dent of Puget Sound Power &c Light
Company, copies of which were today
In the hands Of the companys 10000
stockholders and 2,240 employees.
1T is particularly unfortunate" Nc
Laughlin said, that efforts should be
made to cruelty utility companies and
impair their proper functioning lat
this time when the president OF the
United States is engaged in program
of initiation with the objective in mind
of building back the purchasing power
OF our people, Of saving homes and
farms, of enabling debtors to pay off
their mortgages on the same value of
the dollar at which the debts were
incurred.
Many people the power company
head goes on, have put their hard
earned savings In the securities OF
utility companies. Insurance COM
panies and savings banks have heavy
investments in utility bonds and notes.
Fair treatment demands that such in
vestments be preserved.
"The solution of our present eco
nomic distress is not to be found in
undermining the credit and stability
of the private utility"
Mclaughlin warns companies
against defiance of the public, when
he says: Regardless of the reasons
for it, public opinion is today chal-
longing the good faith, the sincerity
of purpose, and, in fact, the actual
job which the utilities have done and
are doing. Such utilities as fail to
heed the voice Of public opinion are
adding fuel to the fire which will
eventually ucSIIOy IlicLl.
ITO the extent that public utilities
are doing things not in the best inter-
ests Of all concerned, namely, their
customers, investors, and employees, ac-
cording to their absolute merits, they
should reform themselves or be re-
formed. However, the answer does
not lie in regulation or legislation
which will destroy the utilities so that
the path of public ownership will be
made easier. IT does lie in regulation
and legislation which will eliminate
abuses and which will provide that:
1.-THE people served receive courte-
Gus, prompt, reliable and efficient SER
vice at lowest possible rates;
"Those who have put their hard
earned savings in the utility company
shall have their savings protected;
1.-THE employees who labor for the
success of the enterprise can be justly
compensated for the work they do.
II definitely believe that the people
are entitled to know on the basis of
the merits of actual performance
whether private or public ownership
best serves them. This means that all
those engaged in the furnishing Of
electric light and power, whether
municipal or private, should be taxed
on the same basis, have the same &C
counting system, and be under the
same rules and regulations.
Municipal plants should be strip
ped of their subsidies, their halo Of
saintliness. The efforts of self-seeking
politicians who want to perpetuate
themselves in office by the establish
ment of political, public ownershop
empire should be exposed to the sun
light.
This is no time for pussyfooting.
The people should know the whole
truth about both public and private
operation-and let the best man win.
1t is only the things which are right
and sound that in the end endure"