The people's voice., 1959-02-13
PUDs AS A Force
For Democracy

TOT UcIAHOCFdCy
The 4th part of my testimony ha
to do with the second part of the PUl
motto: Progress Under Democracy
Thus far | have covered the Prog
ress part. Now | will attempt at leas
to outline or suggest what is much
more difficult to prove, namely thai
this progress has been achieved under
conditions which have been more
democratic.
PROGRESS UNDER DEMOCRACY
1t is easy enough to show and prove
that the Washington PUDs are gov
erned by a Board of three commits
sioners which meet in their respective
counties at least every month and
some every week. All meetings are
open to the public and the press. The
commissioners can be reached by the
average citizen by no more difficult
method than a telephone call. | have
sat in on many PUD Board of Com
missioners meeting. They are demo-
cratic affairs. They are the essence
of grass roots government. This is
democracy at work.
The Washington PUD movement
level and dedicated type of public
servant. The commissioners have been
and are community leaders. One fac
tor in this good record has been the
continued grass roots interest and
leadership of the Washington State
Grange in the welfare of the PUD
movement.
The PUD commissioners and mana
gers are respected for their perform
ance and honesty and devotion to the
public good. This is shown. for ex-
ample, by the high regard in which
they are held in Olympia by both the
state administrative group and by the
legislature. Where once the legislature
was hostile to public power. now it
is friendly. This transition took many |
years.
The PUDs have been honest in
their press relations and have not
tried to buy editorial pages by pres
sure on the advertising department.
POWERFUL FORCE TO
COUNTERPART UTILITY LOBBY
At the State Capitol the PUBS have
been powerful force to counter the
efforts of private utility lobbyists. In
the civic and commercial clubs in
county after county the absence of
private utility financial control and
the absence of private utility Off
GERS always volunteering to perform
special favors has freed these civic
and commercial groups from the old
power company domination. Again
and again the old timers have told me
that possibly even more important than
the rate reductions has been the elimi-
nation of the corrupting influence of
the former private utility corporation
before the PUD took over.
The PUD is useful organization.
1t is often the largest business in the
county. 1t has significant payroll
of its own. The high standards set by
its employees is noticed and respected
in the community. The PUD is owned
by its consumers who directly elect !
the commissioners. The commissioners ;
are selected from local residents and +
they know the problems of their COM r
They are interested in local .
progress. Their first and only re-
sponsibility is to their people. They
do not have to please any absentee, |
ividend-hungry investment groups.
the PUD commissioner
,an concentrate on one field, the field I
If low cost power. or low cost water, y
rs the case may be. z
1t has been well said but not too
)ften said that either we will have 7
ownership of utilities or b
Utility ownership of government. In tC
he State of Washington it can gen
,rally be said that the predominant la
condition is one of consumer owner 10
hip of utilities. The predominant fc
ondition in Montana is one of utility W
of government. 1t is Just SC
hat simple. w
Although it is easier to put your II II
finger on rates, industries and other Ch
examples of economic accomplish
ment, too share the view that very r
possibly the greatest good that is C
coming out of the PUD movement g
in the State of Washington is the t
gradual house cleaning at Olympia O
n our State Capitol by virtue of a
the effectiveness of the f