Evening star., 1934-12-11

and a Nationwide barrage of propa-
ganda has been laid down to mislead
and frighten the people. But the at
tack not only failed, but has solidifled
| the support of this program by the
people, for they knew that behind the
smoke screen of poor widows and Or
| phans" stood their fearful and valiant
defenders, those entrenched manipu-
latorS who have been reaping their
millions where they have not sown.
And now press dispatches indicate
that the Edison Electric Institute,
which is controlled by holding COM
panies and represents about 80 per
cent of the electrical industry, may be
planning an open and mass attack
upon the Governments ''yardstick'
power developments. Two eminent
lawyers have been employed by the in
stitute and have rendered an opinion
to the effect that the Tennessee Valley
! Authority act is unconstitutional.
Whether such opinion may be the basis
for an intended assault on this legis-
lation and. possibly, also. upon legisla-
ton underlying other Federal prof.
ects is not known. The legal right to
pursue such course is beyond question.
The wisdom of thus challenging the
combined judgment of the Congress
and the Chief Executive, directed to-
ward economic recovery and the per-
manent veal of our citizenship, may
we'll be the subject of calm and pa
| triotic consideration before decision.
Cooperation Urged.
Recognizing, as do, the great i'm
portance to our national welfare OF a
soundly based prosperity for the power
industry, I indulge the hope that plans
for obstruction may give way to meas
ures of cooperation, that attack may
be abandoned for support Of the Gov
ernment. But if attack is made, am
certain there will be no retreat by
the Federal forces.
| If have read the history of the
industry correctly, if sense public
opinion accurately, discretion would
seem to suggest that the industry turn
its back upon the past with its grievous
offenses against the public interest and
courageously face the future with a
resolute purpose to administer these
public utilities in response to the just
demands of the changed economic con-
ditions in the new era in which we
are living
The Governments program for vastly
increased power consumption at lower
rates has opened a wide door of oppor-
tunity to the power industry. If 1t
has the vision to see and the enter
prise to advance into this wider do
main of public service, 1t will find
there millions of new customers, while
selling more current to present con-
suIners. Thus will it build broader
and more stable base Of increasing rev.
enues, an added element of security
for investors and assurance of legiti-
mate profit earned through better and
cheaper service. This will follow upon
the familiar and primary principle
that consumption of commodity or
service increases as the price decreases,
and in the case of electricity as the
use goes up, the cost OF producing
this service goes down. Numerous ex-
periments by privately and publicly
owned power plants have demonstrated
the truth of this. It should now be
clear to every one that the old system
of limited sales at high rates Is out
moded, and that America Is thinking
in terms of volume production and
volume consumption Of power at great
ly reduced rates.
The New Deal in Power is already