The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-08
WILL SETTLE ITSELF
MR. wATrERsON's VIEW or THE
 RAILWAY RATE QUESTION.
LOOKS FOR COMPROMISE.
Looks for Compromise-s-Draws . Dis- function Between Municipal and
 Public Ownership-Goy-
 ernment Control.

ashington Star.
 Henry watterson, surrounded by half a dozen of his political and per sonal friends. set down in cozy cor ner of the Willard Hotel last evening and discussed things generally. After respectful reference to the "Star-eyed Goddess" (whoever she may bel the colonel drifted to such more materia, questions as municipal ownership ana railroad rate regulation
 Tn the first place." began MT. Wat terson (of Louisville and Paris). n may interest you to know that have never written a line in my own paper concerning railroad rate legislation. and I've been mighty shy on municipal ownership conversation. But did my first piece of reporting for The Star, away back in 1853. and I don't mind giving you q scoop on my opinion, 1T you think it will add to the gayety of nations. When I got back in dear old Louisville last August after year abroad, I found the town in the throes of a political contest My affectionate enemies were dreadfully busy. and things looked blue for such friends as I had left.
 well. sir. I got to work. and for seven weeks did not know there was any place on the map outside of Louis- vile. had troubles of my own. with out thinking of railroad rate legisla- ton or municipal ownership. The re- suit was that my friends won out by a majority of 1000 when all along they had expected to get licked by from 20. 900 to 30.00o majority. So much for that. but it took so much of my time that I do not believe can talk in- telligently concerning these great public questions" tAs if year abroad and seven weeks indulgence in a local campaign could dim the Louis- vile editors perception of national af- fairsi)
 Municipal and Public Ownership.
 Generally speaking. we should not confuse municipal ownership with public ownership. There are many properties which a city might with profit control--such as gas works, the water works and the like--but when 1t comes to the operation of railroad lines by the municipalities that is diff ferent; very different. That would he sure to lead to boundless corruption. and would be but a prelude of nation al ownership of the great transconti- mental railroad systems. This would soon include the ownership of the tell egraph lines and the telephone ser vice, all of which would mean the dis solution of the government by public opinion With the government in such absolute control of the railroads and the telegraph what show would the poor outsiders have? We might as we'll abolish the elective for moi gov ernment and give the President a life tenure of office. or establish the he- reditary form of government
 "As to the railroad question" MT. Watterson remarked, "T think 1t is mostly tempest in teapot. The railroad question will settle itself by | compromise act of Congress which will leave the railroads and the ship. pers in exactly the same position to- ward each other that they now oceu- l py. | believe that in the end there will come a general publicity act that will provide for the remedy of the I more serious evils complained of The insurance scandals have at least done this much good. At present the peo- pie do not know exactly what they want and Congress does not know exactly what to give them.
 Story in Peint.
 ''The story is told of Spanish pre. mier who was appealed to by d mob of workmen. These workmefi imaRin- ed they were being ill-treated and they surrounded the house of the pre. mier. demanding that he speak to them Finally tho premier raised a asked: U'
 "'what do you folks want?" And the answer came. in chorus:
 We demand our rights.
 grant them to you responded the premier. whereupon the men dis persed. and that was the end of their discontent. It is much the same way with the people on this railroad ques- ton. On the whole, I think the coun- try Is doing fairly welI.'
 $2S.O0 in Cash Prizes will be given to readers of tbe advertisements in Ahe Christmas Advertiser. Why mof win