SOUTHERN HORIZONS 



sincere, and there is no doubt that, if the will to make 

 a fundamental, factual contribution to some of our 

 most perplexing problems had inspired the TVA experi- 

 ment, a priceless yardstick of economic and social values 

 might have been created. Public utility bookkeeping is 

 terrifically complicated, but for years municipal, state, 

 and federal power commissions, private and public ac- 

 countants, have all wrestled with its technicalities. 

 Standards have been set up and rules laid down. It is 

 perfectly possible to find the financial facts honestly 

 and to present them simply. The TVA could have done 

 so, can still do so. If the Congress really wants a yard- 

 stick, we can have it. For comparison a veritable moun- 

 tain of public service corporation reports is ready to 

 be measured. 



During every minute of its existence every private 

 enterprise Joe the bootblack or the General Motors 

 Corporation must do two things that no enterprise of 

 the Government, be it the dairy inspector of Cross 

 Corners or the United States Army, is ever called upon 

 to do. It must meet competition and it must count the 

 cost. The voter exercises a very remote control over the 

 management of public business compared with the im- 

 perative, immediate orders of the customer to the man- 

 agement of private business. The TVA certainly is not 

 responsible for these conditions, but because it has to 

 operate under them, it scored its second failure. 



The TVA was created by Congress to benefit the peo- 

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