The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-04


 Washington, Dec. 4 = The net re- suit of conferences between Roose- welt and public utility executives is simply this: If there is 'a demand for more electric power, the utilities will spend money to expand their plants; if there isn't, they won't.
 And that's exactly where matters stood before MT. Wendell L. Willkie of the Commonwealth and South ern Corporation and MT. Floyd L. Carlisle of Consolidated Edison Company called at the White House.
 Private power companies have sufficient facilities to meet the present electricity demand. Or.
 dinarily the demand for electric power increases steadily, but if
 the business recession continues,
 the demand will be less.
 It is estimated that the utilities will have spent about $400,000, ,000 for capital plant expansion before the end of 1887. If the recession doesn't continue the power com panies will have to keep building next year to meet the increased need for power. Utilities Want Assurance
 Best estimates here are that the utilities might spend between $600,- 100000 and $500, 100000 on ex- pansion in 1888 if they became convinced and were subsequently, re- assured that the business curve would soon turn and clim upward again.
 Rumors that q billion and half dollars might be spent on utility construction - if the industry could be imbued with confidence by . change of administration power policy-seem to have been slightly exaggerated. But Roose- welt heard them and called in the utility men to tell them they were crying over unspilled milk.
 The president explained that gov- ernment power projects were going to cover a very limited field. He suggested lower electricity rates and a utility building program to cover what he felt would be a resultant increased demand. Willkie asked modification of the holding com pany act, an end to government subsidies for municipal power plants and certain other concession.
 Everyone Felt Better,
 Anyway
 The chief result, appeared to be that Roosevelt, Willkie and Carlisle seemed to feel better after the con- ferences. (No further federal grants for municipal power plants are contemplated. Validity of grants previously made by PWA is being tested before the Supreme Court).
 When you find such public power enthusiasts as Senator George w. Norris of Nebraska and COngressmen John Rankin of Mississippi quiescent in the face of whatever is happening to the administration power policy, its fair to assume either that no great changes are being made or that MT. Roosevelt is successful ly kidding them along.
 Norris and Rankin sponsor bill which would create six regional planning authorities in addition to IVA, each with administrative power to initiate and carry out re- gional power. water, forest and soil projects as IVA does. But the administration has backed down on that one and will be content if 1t gets congress to create group of regional boards with authority merely to plan and recommend. Power Bloc Not Worried, Yet
 Actually A and 1t explains why Norris and Rankin aren't shrieking in protest - this is no costly con- cession, in view of all the rest of the trouble the New Deal admins tration is having with congress.
 Planning must precede any act- ual initiation and execution of projects and the business of set- ting up planning boards and mak- ig plans will take some time. Much effort can be avoided and defeat possibly averted if the ad- accepts the milder bill now and leaves the rest for the future. At any rate, that's the strategy on this phase of Roose- velt's special session program. (Couyright 1897. NEA Service, Incl