The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-16

the cities and creating the class of idlers
We don't know the meaning of the term
unemployed. We have no such class, be-
cause the opportunity't to labor always ex-
lists in the interior"
Sir Joseph described the system of la
Dor bureaus, under which any surplus Of
labor in one place is reported all over
| the country, and persons registered at
the bureaus are transported by the state
! to the places where there Is a dearth OF
labor
= Regarding the government ownership
| of the railroads, Sir Joseph said:
"Our system is based on the theory that
| the railways are the spinal marrow OF
| the country, and should carry on the
| business of a community at the lowest
| possible price. We make it conditional
that whenever the earnings increase over
| per cent the rates shall be lowered pro-
portionately. Today we have the cheapest
service In the world. 1t Is by these low
rates that our people are able to compete
| with other countries. although they have
| 1900 miles of water between them and
| the home market.
"Iu our country we have been charged
at times with giving the government
| functions which belong to private own
ership. That is not correct The people,
| as focused in a government. Is the only
power which can grapple with certain
| problems. For that reason we have de-
| cided on the state ownership of rail-
ways, telegraphs, life insurance, trus-
teeships and other things. We have
| found it the only power able to secure a
continuity of the system by which all
pay the same rate. We have the most
up-to-date system to be found in the
world. No party which may come into
| power will dare to repeal any one of
| these so-called socialistie acts.
I'VE cannot have any such thing as
private rebates. All our rates are pub
| licly gazetted, and any attempt at mall
administration would be at once detect
ed by the system of public audit and no
| government that shut its eyes to abuses
| would hold office forty-eight hours"
| Sir Joseph talked at some length OF
| the system of old-age pension Anyone
| over 65 years of age gets a pension. He
| said that 1t had been criticised but that
| the people had approved of 1t over
| whelmingly at the last election
"If we were not paying old-age pen
sions we would have poorhouses. They
| are almost nonresident with us. While
| we are told this Is paternalism, we have
done what we believe the people wanted
| There are degrees Of prosprity, but all
| classes are doing well. This kind OF
legislation the people have reaffirmed
| by increasing majorites Most of the
| cities and towns own their lighting and
| water works. Private concerns of this
| kind earning over per cent must di-
vide the surplus earnings with the peo-
| pie of the country. We have acquired
| the coal mines for the reason that the
prices were excessive. If the same thing
I happened with the ice supply we should
| acquire that in the same way. But we
have avoided interfering with private
| trade wherever possible"
Sir Joseph said that there was a fire
| insurance combination to raise rates.
| The government stepped in, took con-
| troll and the rates were lowered 80 1-3
| per cent
There is only one power that controls
the trusts" he said, land that is the
| parliament of a country. There were
many men there opposed to this theory
| ten years ago. They are now in favor of
| it. 1t Is hard to make the leopard
\ change his spots. 1t can be done only
| by educating the people to the fact that
public conveniences should not be al
| lowed to pay enormous profits. There is
no power on earth which would make
| our people go back on the principle OF
| state control because every man know
| that under it he gets a fair chance. AS
| a proof we are the richest community
| per capita in the world"
! New Zealand is going to hold its first
| international exposition In November.
| Sir Joseph said he hoped that America
would be represented, as it would be a
/ great stimulus to direct trade between
| the two countries