Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-04
FAVORS FEDERAL OWNERSHIP
Congressman Kennedy Returns from Great
Britain Committed to NATURALIZATION.
TIMES NOT so GOOD ACROSS THE OCEAN
Says Free Trade il Causing Depres-
sion, Yet Joe ChRmberIain's
Protection Policy is Gem
orally ScOrned,

Congressman John L. Kennedy has re-
turned from trip to England and Scotland
firmly convinced of the wisdom of govern
ment ownership and operation of telegraph
lines and of the federal supervision of in
surance companies of all kinds.
The congressman was away from home
just four weeks, sailing both ways on the
Umbria He took the trip by way of vaca-
ton and to see his mother three brothers
and two sisters, who live in the vicinity of
Glasgow. They had not seen him for twelve
years, or since his last journey to Scotland.
Coming home has strengthened my be-
lief that the United States is the best part
of the world to live in and that the west is
the best part Of the United States" says
Mr. Kennedy. II was impressed in Eng
land and Scotland by evidences that times
are not so prosperous as they were when
was there in 1898, when, it will be remem-
bered, the democratic party had charge of
things In the United States and was tinker
ing with the tariff. Then affairs there were
much on the upward trend Now rents
have decreased and while the farmers are
doing fairly well, yet little or no improve
ments are being made to physical property.
People Take Narrow View,
In trying to find out what is the matter
the people are handicapped by a lack of
breadth of view. They seem able to grasp
the situation in their own town or county
or business, but no further. The persons
who know something of public affairs know
that it is the free trade policy that is caus-
ing the depression, yet Cnamberlain's pro-
tective policies are so scorned, due to their
| contradiction TO long established usage.
that they realize it will be years before his
IDEAS become operative. Yet they think
this Will become the case in time.
The idea that trusts and Industrial com
binations do not prevail in Europe and that
the governments there handle such matters
better than in this country is a mistake. I
ran across one big trust in Scotland-the
thread trust-which has factories near my
| old home. Other industries are combined
| also. If there were as much energy and
| activity in the old world as in the new
they would far outnumber us in trusts and
their development. AS It is they are no
| better regulated or controlled than ours.
FavOrs Government Ownership.
| Il was much Impressed with the British
| telegraph service, maintained by the gov
! eminent in connection with the postal sys-
TEN. The service given is much better
than ours and the cost in some cases. al
least, is only about one-half what it is
here. am confirmed believer in gov.
eminent ownership and control of telegraph
lines.
Il did not inquire into the management
and conduct of the large insurance compan.
les in Great Britain, but as a matter OF
fact, believe the government should hav,
| supervision over all kinds of insurance
think this supervision should be managed
somewhat after the manner of nationa
banks. Investigations and reports SHOULD
be made at intervals and the government
given authority 70 check abuses. Institu
lions that take money from the mass Of tn,
people, money that the people are en-
deavorng to store up against DEATH mis-
fortune and calamity, should have tn
most careful and rigorous conduct and su
pervision.
AT home l found nothing critical o
acute TO engage my attention. As sool
as the republican tickets are nominated
expect to get out and work my best 70
their success"