The Washington times., 1907-01-13
NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME.

Dr. Wallace, being a philosopher or
the advanced style, does not stop 10 ar
que the benefits and deslrahility of pub
lie ownership of highways; he assumes
.hem a nd that intelligent. thinking peo-
pie cOucede them. lie adds that the
lime IL plainly al hand when the gov
emmett must assume ownership. IN
Ser the present system. the public's in
terest and convenience is the least con-
iidered; the interest OF stockholders gets
more attention; and the interest Of
stockholders and manipulatOTs is given
shief attention.
That all this IS wrong the author con-
cedes. Then he proceeds to outline his
plan for the government 10 bring itself
Into control OF the roads. To do this in
such manner that the public shall get
Immediate benefits. and yet stockholders
and bondhOlders shall not suffer real in
justice. Is his problem. He thinks he
has solved il. The same problem, it
must be said. has been an impasse TO
most thinkers On this subject OF govern
ment assumption of public highway
ownership.
The Philosophers Plan.
Dr. Wallace comedies that direct pur-
chase and payment IN securities or
money would give The money kings just
as great power as they now have. More
over. under such "a plan valuation would
be so exaggerated for the purpose OF
fixing the selling price that the public
would be put under an impossible bur
den.
All this DR.. Wallace proposes TO
avoid His plan Is addressed 10 the
American and English peoples alike.
FOR both are facing the same problem.
And here IL the startling proposition
he lays down at the beginning of his
argument.
The unborn have no special property
rights
The present generation shall not con-
tinue 10 DC plundered ana robbed in or
der that certain unborn individuals shall
be born rich
II is not denied that The present gen
Grafton may properly work for future
& generations. that Is only proper re-
turn Tor what past generations nave
done for as.
Says It Is Unjust.
But it Is unjust that this generation
pay, work or suffer. that certain in
with wealth and special power that
wealth gives.
And In support OF this series of
proposals he quotes Spencer.
Each individual ought 10 receive
the benefits and evils or his own IA
Uure and consequent conduct neither
being prevented from having whatever
good his actions normally bring him.
A. D. ar
persons whatever i'll IS brought to him
by his actions"
But. Spencer did not follow this prin-
cipls 10 its logical conclusion and point
out its application 10 some of the insu-
tutions Of the present Dr. Wallace,
though inJimating his great admiration
OF Spencer, which indeed is well known.
places himself at this point somewhat
I'm sympathy with Henry George. who
bitterly attacked the great philosopher
for failure 10 accept the conclusions 10
which his own reasoning led.
Georges Point of View
Mr.. George vehemently declared not
only that Spencers logic led him TO the
single tax conclusion, but that in his
earlier writings Spencer outlined that
pL4AI4p4V. N4-AS 50 49, AZ 1-l'''- -N4''
declared Mr. George. the first reasoning
OF Spencer was right, and he went so
far as 10 attribute the later revision OF
Spencers opinions 10 a sOrdid and un-
worthy motive.
DIT. Wallace makes no such accusa-
ton. but like George he urges that
Spencer failed to make application OF
his congratulations 10 social conditions.
Had he done so, DR.. Wallace insists. il