PRACTICES OF UTILITIES HIT BY RAY W. GILL
Gill, Ray W.
Practices Of Utilities Hit By Ray W. Gill Grange Writer Tolls of Power Tust Tacties in U. S. By RAY W. GILL (In The Oregon Grange Bulletin) THE history of the private power business indicates...
...I am glad to advise that Congressman Pierce's bill, RH 7270, has been passed and signed by the president...
...It is not uncommon to find their henchmen Intrenched as clerks In various committees...
...In a recent statement issued by Walter M. Pierce he refers to a group of congress who: "Under the leadership of Dlrksen of Illinois and Taber of New York, surprised us by making a determined attack to prohibit, hy amendment, the construction of transmission lines i~lo eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington...
...Others arc influenced by advertising or trade rela-tions...
...Many of those who were members of the last legislature voted to handicap the PUD legislation, and their records should be carefully studied in the forthcoming primary...
...Support must rome from interest shown by the people bark home, and through united action on the 1 part of those who de"'re to have the : public benefit from the government-generated power of the Columbia river...
...The friends of public power in congress fought valiantly and won without a vote to spare...
...It is important to have the full list of candidates available who are absolutely committed to public ownership of power program...
...It is the privilege of every voter to know where these men stand on this important question...
...Their legislative tactics are quite well known to the average person who follows the state legislature or our national congress...
...It will probably he repealed in the senate...
...Organizational picketing of a company by non-employes was upheld by the state supreme court...
...It is very important for those who believe in public ownership of power to make a careful study of candidates for congress and the stale legislature...
...The friends they are unquestionably advancing under skilled leadership...
...At the state legislature we often find a large lobby of the power companies, and they generally work together with the representatives of other utilities...
...In some cases business firms are In debt to the...
...The swinsj toward public ownership is rapidly increasing...
...The notable part of this election was the absence of whispering campaigns and newspaper advertising...
...1, 1942...
...We resisted w:th all the power at our command, and when the final vote was taken...
...In discussing this situation...
...Every day I hear of many converts to the cause and among these are many prominent businessmen who are waking up to the need of Oregon's power development...
...Many reports from the dealers in the public ownership movement have been relRted to me and tell the story of businessmen who have been intimidated by power rompany officials...
...A similar attack had been made before Ihe appropriation committee and had be'n defeated there...
...For many years the city of Mc-Minnvllle...
...Piercr's statement: "The debate In the House strongly Impressed upon me the imperative necessity for quirk action bv those who believe in co-operative distribution of the electric energy generated at Bonneville...
...It stood 70 to 70...
...the amendment losing and our rights to transmission lines being sustained...
...DENVER, Colo...
...This means that 50 per cent of the power generated must be reserved, except for temporary sales, for public ownership...
...In the recent congress desperate efforts have been made to prevent appropriations for Bonnvllle and one of these attempt* centered around a proposed amendment that would have prevented the building of transmission lines to eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington...
...This provides that the 50-50 clause in the Bonneville act will be extended to Jan...
...I quote again from Mr...
...Practices Of Utilities Hit By Ray W. Gill Grange Writer Tolls of Power Tust Tacties in U. S. By RAY W. GILL (In The Oregon Grange Bulletin) THE history of the private power business indicates thai there has been altogether too much intimidation and sharp practice...
...power company for service, and even though they are strongly in favor of public ownership, they dare not speak out...
...The more we delve into their dealings with the public, especially in legislative matters, the more impressed we become with the many channels" through which their influence has been made felt...
...This provision was included in the Bonneville act at the instance of the Oregan State Grange...
...One of the purest ways to rlepn up politics in Oregon is lo get rid of the private power company operations...
...The enemies of public power are active, well financed, and under skilled leadership...
...The story of their activities in service clubs, chambers of commerce, colleges, public schools, and churches is one that brings disgust to the average voter...
...Ore., has had Its own publicly owned power system...
Vol. 10 • April 1940 • No. 16
