The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-06
ATTACK AGAINST.
CANADIAN 'TVA'
is TO Be PROBEO
Senate Lobby Committee to
Study Power Drive on
Ontario Hydro.
BY RUTH FINNEY
Times Special Writer

" SA-DAAA-NA 4O-Ns u W A4EAl
the Senate Lobby Committee meets
again this month 1t Will be asked
10 investigate a nation wide attack
recently launched on Ontario Hydro
By the power industry OF this coun-
try.
The attack on Canada's nearest
approach to the IVA is intended
TO undermine the confidence Of the
people Of the South and of the ma
ton IN the Tennessee Valley Au-
thOrity. the St. Lawrence and other
yardstick projects being built under
President RoOseveIt's leadership, -
the National Popular Government
League Charges, and its statement
has been laid before the Senate by
Senator George w. Norris, father
OF IVA.
The League says the spokesman
for the new propaganda are Wen
dell H. Willkie, president of the
Commonwealth IL Southern, and
representatives Of the Associated
Gas and Electric, Howard c. Hop
sons company.
Attack by Pamphlets
The methods of Mr.. Hopson's
agents are on an ethical parity with
their forged kilograms, and the &C
CuraCy of Mr. Willkie is on a par
with the exploded misrepresenta-
lions of the National Electric Light
Association" says Judson King, di-
rector OF the league.
The Associated attack is being
made by means Of pamphlets sent
to members of Congress and others,
entitled Public Ownership Suffers
Grea test Defeat in History" and
signed by f. A. Lowry. self-styled
electric power cost specialist of
Toronto. The pamphlet contains a
notice that pamphlets for the
United States are printed and
shipped direct from Rochester, N.
Y. One of Associates subsidiaries
operates at Rochester, and its house
organ has been printing Lowry's
articles
Investigation. the League says,
shows that the address given by
Lowry is an old. dingy, third class
store building, the front end first
floor Of which IS occupied by an
old insurance man, where Lowry
gets his mail and where he sell
dom stays more than 10 minutes at
a time"
Poses as Rate Expert
II adds He is NOT an electrical
engineer, but was once employed in
a subordinate capacity in the Hydro
at Guelph. For several years he
has posed as a rate expert to pri-
vate manufacturers, and sought en-
ployment in that capacity" 1t then
quotes an editorial in Electrical
News and Engineering" warning
manufacturers against a "so-called
power cost specialist" which, the
league was informed. referred to
Lowry.
The League also attacks an adj
dress delivered by Wendell Willkie
before the Economic Club and Har-
ward Business School Clubs of New
York, calling Ontario a financial
failure.
The truth is that the Hydro,
despite the depression, is in the
healthieSt financial condition of
any utility of like magniture on the
North American continent" says the
League. and appends to its state
ment detailed statements of assets
and liabilities. and also a statement
of the financial status of plants in
the first IA Hydro municipalities.
Assets Have Mounted
They show that Notwithstanding
the depression, then in its fifth year.
domestic consumption has increased
and average costs have consequently
lowered, while assets have grown
and liabilities diminished SO that.
whereas these municipalities as a
group were in debt I'll cents on
each dollar of assets in 1913, and
2O4 cents in 1888, their debt was
lowered in 1884 to 16.9 cents.
While the liabilities are nearly S31,-
100000 the reserves and SURPRISES
total over S46OOO.OOO, and in many
instances these sUrpluses far exceed
the book liabilities. The munich
palties would buy the outstanding
bonds but the investors won't part
with them in many cases since
they are too safe an n,eStment."
The league explains that operat-
ing deficits during depression years,
due partly to loss Of manufacturing
business. were met out of a S14,-
1000 contingency fund. which still
has a balance of S6,567 900.
The other factor causing these
deficits. contracts for buying power
from private companies. entered
into after the death of Sir Adams
Beck. by an administration hostile
10 his methods. have been found
Illegal and cancelled. the league eX-