The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-12-21
GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF FRAN
CHISES.

We quite agree with Professor Scott
tsee his letter in another column, for
there is only difference in the use OF
terms.
Our proposition is, that when the
Government can construct only, or
construct and operate, economic con-
Germs, better than individuals can, 1t
should do so. 1t cannot or will not DO
so, 80 long as the citizens behind 1t
are not wise, or are dishonest. They
may be honest and ignorant. But the
effect may be the same as II, instead
of being ignorant, they are dishonest.
A man may lose his fortune through
the dishonesty only, or the ignorance
ONLY of another. The effect is the
same; he has lost his fortune.
The history heretofore of govern
ment work, in economic matters, has
been one, rs rule, OF extravaganza
and ineficiency. Read the repeated
statements, in, and out of, Parliament
about the condition of the British
navy. Read the reports about the
American navy, and then look up the
"open secrets" about mismanage-
ment. IL is conceded that individual
dockyards build better ships, than the
State dockyards, aud at much less
expense. Read the history of public
buildings, canals; hear, today, the
groaDs OF the people of Philadelphia,
over the extravagant expenditures
over their new City Hall, and Of the
people of New York, over twenty
million" Capitol at Albany, which
had to be reconstructed before it was
safe to enter il. It is the came in
Texas, and other States
Behind this, is always, the ignor-
ance or carelessness Of the people, not
really their dishonesty. tits because
The people have been honest, and
ignorant, that the governments have
been ignorant, and, generally, dis
honest, and, the logic OF this is,
that the individual plumbers the
State, because he knows more
than the citizen or the State. The
character of the Government, in the
long run, is just the character OF the
average citizen. An individual, own
ing the land on which this city stands,
would have, at a cost of S175, 900, sup
piled it with water some years ago,
and prevented these painful drouths.
The citizens of the city were so care
less, or ignorant, or Indifferent, that
they allowed the Government to be
careless, or ignorant, or indifferent,
and we have not yet got the water
supply.
But the conditions are changing. A
people, becoming intelligent in eco
nomic matters, creates Government
intelligent in economic matters. The
people of the United States in past
years, through their Government, al
lowed an architect, MULTI, to con-
struct public buildings of an inferior
grade all over the country. They
would not allow il now. III they had
employed an engineer to build tram
ways the result would have been the
same. The people know more than
they did.
Read the story of the Manchester
ship canal, and see how stupidity COM
munities act until they are educated.
We sincerely believe in Govern
ment control whenever the people,
behind the Government, are intelli-
gent euough to control il. Until they |
are, individuals will always get the |
best OF them, as they have done here |
tofore, here and elsewhere.
The debts which swamped the |
Southern States of America were |
those contracted in making improve
ments-railways, canals, etc. The
people who demanded them were ig-
norant then, and the governments
blundered. They could do the same
thing over again, today, with great
profit. They all know something