The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-31


tendency toward bureaucratic govern
ment
Increase In Power.
II Is pointed out q "a various bureaus
have increased astonishingly IN power
OF late years ana from this rap'i growth
Of power come many evils Tho agri
cultural department itself has grown
from little bureau in the interior de-
partnent to a grand division Of the ex-
ecutive department with a seat in the
cabinet and with pow re- that have FAR
outstrppcd the accomplishment Of the
purpose for which IL was created VI Is
daily more strongly advocated by rep
rcseutatives Of far seeing ana couserNW-
tive interests that halt In our tenden-
cy toward Capitalization Of federal power
Ia bureaus. and hence bureaucratic
form OF government. is desirable and
necessary for the conservation Of the
fundamental principles az the govern--
/ ment.
The washington Post IN commenting
upon this subject together with the cot
ton scandal, says. "But. after all, Is It
| tthe cotton leak) not perfectly natural
result Of usurped power and only an
other illustration OF gratuitous pater-
nalism in government? Usurped pow
er will always be corrupuy used and
there never has been. and never will be,
an administrator honest enough to
reverse that law Of human economy
The whole business is the offspring Of
the Exercise OF usurped power. The
departments are fun Of IT,"
In spite of this present condition Of
/ Iuf 20 no tho npliTg Of
least part ~ the dominant party 10
favor further Capitalization Of power and
government by bureaus through advo.
lcating the creation OF federal bureau
or commission which with the rate
making power. viii regulate the COM
merce Of the country. The dangers Of
such step are obvious with the many
examples now before the country as IL
lustrated by various departmental scan
dals. by the conviction OF two United
States senators within two years, and
by the experience of many large cities
in which Capitalization of power in the
hands OF a few men has resulted in the
mcst corrupt usages.
The Globes Comment.
The New York Globe and Commercial
Advertiser. in commenting on this aues-
tion SAYS:
1T is commonly assumed If the Inter
State Commerce Commission were given
Sihe rate Of making power that whateyel
mistakes of Judgment might occur would
be executed honestly. what assurance
is there that graft would not show itself
Managers Of large interests are not con
sidered scrupulous. weuld they not hnc
means TO protect. by fair means or foul
I ! ..F .,gI. r,.nf,.
erty in their care? Is the danger -
remote that each railroad or group o.
railroads with a common interest should
/ attempt TO get friend on the commits
sion: and II the attempt were made an'
the inducement offered We're enough
I would they probably fail? What
chance there would he for one rlilfoa'
to deAtroy rival ty orders obtaine'
Z IrD... :hv commission.
1T is conceivable that we have out
: grown the parable Of the talents an'
should COVE power as to great things 4
Z agents who have been unftitnful as t'
I small things, but the change seems risky
"rhe majority Of people repeat 4
Z irfayef which asks n leading away IRON
I temptation. Should we, with that peti
ion on our lips, seduce by more aiiur
4 ing opportunities an OsltltIe iitA ouN
to resist those which Il now has?
Local conshtetionalists aver that fft
! years ago bureaucratic adminis traton o
the law was undreamed of and such de
Z partmental scandals as are now uniap
Z PLY of too common occurrence were thei
! impossible with the Capitalization am
4 usurpation Of power has ccme this con
! sequent abuse and the question is becom
Z ing more and more to be- where viii J
2 Ian end The creation of a federal bod
] with the rate making power would b.
\ greatest and on account Of IT'S tremeR
4 doLs responsibilities the most dangerou
step IN the policy which has. bs ceutrali
4 zatlon Of power. made possible such mis-
4 use Of power as instanced in the case o
the scandal in the postofice department
/ or the more recent one concerning th
cotton crop Greater Capitalization o
! power means greater chance for It's abus
z and a rate-making commission woul'
! certainly be the most powerful body
4 the most extreme illustration Of bureau
Z cratic government yet erected in tn
4 country.
( incidentally the creation Of such
body would mark the most complete de
Z parture from the early ideas OF a demo
cratic form Of government.