Evening star., 1937-01-29

move, designed to D.v;a y.vr.re..
end the war be- D''' '"''
tween the Government and the utili-
ties. Some, who professed to see IN
MI. Roosevelt's candidacy good deal
more conservatism than his foes in
the business world did, were convinced
that the President was not ready to
see a $l2000,0OO,o00 industry sabo-
tagged by Government ownership ad-
vocates.
This correspondent pointed out at
the time, that while many persons
would consider the Presidents power
conference idea as political gesture,
the issues involved were fundamental
and meant that Mr.. Roosevelt was at
the cross roadside would have to
decide some time between the two op-
posing schools of though which were
trying to shape his power policy Tor
him.
Now 1t has been announced that
there are to be no more power con-
ferences and the reason given by the
President is that, since the last ses-
sion was held, a sweeping injunction
was granted by Federal court. The
interesting part of this information, Is
that, when the conference was held,
It was specifically stated that the
utilities were not going to be required
as a condition of further participa-
ton in the conferences to agree to
Withdraw their suits. On the authority
Of Louis Brandeis Wehle. New York
attorney, who represented President
Roosevelt at the conferences, it has
been revealed this week that the utili-
ties were not asked last Autumn and
did not agree to withdraw their suits.
Way Out Of Dilemma.
To give, therefore, the issuance OF
IN Injunction as a cause for terminate
ing the parleys might seem puzzling.
It might even be used by some to
bolster up an impression that MIR.
Roosevelt really wasn't interested last
Autumn in q settlement of the power
controversy.
Such an idea would be most unfortu-
nate. Mr.. Roosevelt unquestionably
issued his statement this week ending
the power conference because 1t was
the easiest way out OF dilemma.
He didn't want to choose between
Chairman Morgan Of the T. v. A. and
Director Lilienthal, especially since
the latter has Senator Norris and the
La Follettes on his side. He didn't
want to let either side among the
New Dealers down, nor did he want
the utility problem to come to a head,
with the consequent danger to utility
Investments In the midst Of . re-
eovery era.
Mr., Roosevelt has found himself
enmeshed in the tangles Of contro-
versy In which personalities and
clashes of principles are involved. He
doesn't really have to decide the merits
of these questions himself anyhow.
In line with previous predictions in
these dispatches, Mr.. Roosevelt Is
going to pass the matter on to Con-
gress for settlement.
This means merely that the ter
nination of the power conference was
brought about because Of the irrecon-
cilable positions taken by the various
parties to the controversy and that,
rather than bear the brunt Of con-
troversy Of this kind all alone, Mr..
Roosevelt prefers to let Congress
thrash the matter out.
Incidentally, it will be noted that
the contract whereby T. v. A. fur
nishes power to certain utilities can
be extended on temporary basis after
February 8, when 1t expires, and it Is
said that the utilities could operate
very well even If the renewal was not
Forthcoming. Anyway, the official word
Is that the ending Of the conference
on a power transmission pool does not
preclude the possibility Of another ex-
tension Of the contract between the
T. v. A. and the private utilities.
Easiest Way to Blame Judge.
There Is another element in the
situation which caused the ending Of
parleys-the pool transmission" idea
wasn't really considered practical
anyway.
Mr.. Roosevelt, however, doesn't like
to slap ideas that emanate from men,
bers Of the New Deal, even If they are
mistaken. so the easiest way out for
him was to place the blame for the
ending of the conferences on the fact
that a Federal Judge issued sweep
ing injunction. This postpones the
whole issue and transfers the ques-
tion of power policy to other groups
here to debate, notably the members
Of Congress from the Northwest and
other areas, where the question Of dis
posing Of Government power is a con-
crete issue, along with the question of
permitting Government competition to
destroy existing investments.
The theme word Of the year 1897
IN Washington is to "stall' and avoid
clashes and final decisions where sub
stantial agreement or adjustment isn't
In sight. Maybe in the long run such
an attitude is best for everybody, be-
sause time permits further study,
sdper second judgments and plenty Of
ed.cation on what are the damages
as veil as the benefits that might flow
fron1a radical departure in the func-
ton Il the Federal Government, such
q when it enters the power business
on q Nationwide scale.
Girl Eneineery Shin.