Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-16

was dredged by the government to depth
of fifteen feet in seventeen years.
NOV note lev Sa
began the construction Of twin tunnels
through the mud beneath Hudson river.
u tbe c ,tyr Of ' New York and beneath East
river to Long Island City, aEd now at the
end Of two years feels confident that its
tunnel will be completed and In use within
the contract period OF four years
John B. Mcdonald began work ,o on the the
subways of New York in March, 1900, and
had nine miles with double track and
stations in operation in four years and
seven months.
Government I'm Business.
These instances Illustrate the natural, the
necessary and inevitable differences be-
tween private enterprise and government
work. and might be multiplied definitely;
reasons why these differences must and
always exist better than TO recite very
commonplace experience / received tele-
a little bank in which I am interested. IL
read: 81 am offered forty-two fifty an acre
for East 5oyey ap Know Better than
I. Do as you think best" To this he re,
piled: 'T think the land is well sold,
But IL / had been acting for the govern,
ment l would have had the land advertised
for sale; would have sent a commission
had not less than two subordinate officers
OF the department go through all the
papers and submit their recommendations'
] would then have rendered final decision,
but I would have been careful to preserve
a complete record of everything lest on
some unhappy day aft S my aetiT emesti
eating committee, appointed per chance
by an adverse congress, would make In
quiry, and falling TO find positive proof
OF honesty would make a report filled with
suggestions of doubt and that would be
quite enough to brand my name with
shame My subordinates take the same
precaution and safeguard their regulations
with an equal amount of red tape when
ever they sell an old horse or wornout
For the last ten years the railroads of
the United States have paid on an average
9. fraction over per cent In interest and
Ing their bonded Indebtedness. This would
be about ~ per cent on what y is estt-
Government bonds sufficient to cover the
present purchasable value OF the trunk
lines of road or 10 construct new ones
could not be floated; free of the burden Of
taxation even. for less than ~ per cent,
and under government management the
roads could not pay per cent on the cost
at present freight and passenger rates.
Lost year the railroads Of the country
paid S54 0C0 900 in state, county, township and
municipal taxes. Since government property
is not subject to taxation Of any kind. ]
fancy Colonel Bryan's scheme will develop
some local opposition before the states
surrender revenues averaging over tl,2O0,oOO
| for each.
Mail as an illustration.
II Is sometimes said in support of this
] proposed new civilization that the govern
lnent does transport It's mall and operate
ply that the government does not transport
| It's mail. The mail is carried under con-
are let after advertising for sealed pro
/ posals. Astonishment Is sometimes ex'
pressed at the cheapness With which thC
government carries and delivers its malls
and yet am ctedbly advised that any ex
press company would gladly contract e
| render the same service at very sub
| stantial reduction from what II now cost;
provided the government would continue e
| build postoffices in all the large cities and
in many of the small towns and charge tn
/ tenance to other and independent appro
priations as IL does at present.
| But II Is one thing to have government
| servants handle the money at subtreasurie
and pay II out as public administration re
quires. and quite different thing for tn,
posits. buy and sell exchange and loal
money on interest. The government doe
inspect and exercise jurisdiction over sucl
charters. / would be glad TO have tn
right and privilege extended for saving
banks. trust companies. insurance com
panies and trunk lines OF railroad, and pcr
haps other enterprises, to incorporate un
der a national charter. thereby inviting
and submitting to federal supervision. Tn,
ness OF all common carriers that cleo. q
cross state lines and thus engage In inter
state commerce. 1t not only proposes 4
fix and determine all freight rates when tn
road and the public cannot agree. but ais
70 so supervise the operation OF these road
as TO prevent rebates Of every characto
whether they affect individuals or com
munities
Liquidation and Morality.
Not every avenue OF evil In this life ca
be closed by legislation. Israel suffere-
seriously tor having worshiped a goldel
calf while Moses was receiving divine com