The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-27
The Present Scope
OF Government

From Paper Read Yesterday at Cleve-
land, o., by Eugene Wambaugh, of
Cambridge, Mass, Before the American
Bar Association.
To get an every day basis for discuss
ing the scope of government, let us as
sumo that statutes recently in force are
in force still, and let us then view rapidly
the experiences of an imaginary Boston,
ian during a day differing in no respect
from ordinary days-in short an average
daily record of an average man. He be-
gins the day by bathing in water sup
piled by the public through an elaborate
system of public pumps and reservoirs
and pipes, and his Use of the water Is
guarded by public regulations as minute
as those ocntaired in a carefully drawn
contract. After use, the water escapes
through the citizens own plumbing sys-
tenn; but that priv6te plumbing syste
has been constructed in accordance with
public regulations, Is subject to inspec-
ton by public officials, and empties into
sewers constructed and managed by the
pubic. After dressing himself in cloth
ing of which every item is probably the
subject of d national tariff intended to
affect in some way production or price,
he goes to his breakfast table, and finds
there not only table linen, china, glass,
knives, forks, and spoons each of them
subject of the same natioral protection,
but also food, of which almost every item
has been actually or potentially inspect
ed, or otherwise regulated by the ma
tional or state or municipal government
The meat has been subject to inspection.
The bread has been made by the baker
in loaves of certain statutory weight.
The butter, If it happens to be oleomAr-
garine, has been colored and stamped as
statutes require. The milk has been fur
nished by milkman whose dairy is Of
ticially inspected and whose milk must
reach a certain statutory standard. The
chocolate has been bought in cakes
stamped in the statutory manner. The
remnants of the breakfast will be car
ried away by pubic garbage carts; and
the public will also care for the ashes
OF the coal that cooked the meal.
Nor do this average Bostonian and his
family escape from public control upon
rising from the table. The children are
by law compelled to go to school; and
| though there is an option to attend a pTi-
vate school, the city furnishes a school
and school books gratuitously, and II the
public school be chosen, the hours of at
tendance, the subjects of study, and all
other details are quite Independent OF the
childrens or parents choice. AS for the
father himself, WI en- he reaches his door
he finds that Lublic servants are girdling
his trees with burlaps ard searching his
premises for traces of the gypsy moth.
Without stopping to reflect that he has
not been ssked to permit these public SER
wants to go upon his property he steps
out upon a sidewalk constructed in ac-
cordance with pubic requirements,
crosses street paved and watered and
swept by the public, enters a street car
whose route, speed, and fare are regu-
lated by the public. Reaching the center
of the city, he ascends to his office Ly
an elevator subject to public inspection,
and reads the mail that has been brought
to him from all parts OF the United
States by public servants. If the dimness
OF his office may cause him TO regret
that sunlight appears to be outside Of
public protection, he may be answered
that by recent provisions the height OF
buildings is regulated and the malicious
construction of high fences is prohibited.
II now he leaves his office and goes 10
some store or factory in which he owns