The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-05-22
.SHAW'S VIEW OF IT,
Former Secretary of the Treas
ury Talks on Public Ownership.

There are over 10000 public servants,
exclusive Of presidential appointees,
under the direct supervision Of the de-
Dartment at the head Of which l had
the honor to temporarily preside. They
are a good. conscientious, painstaking
body of men and women, and yet II
the treasury department were pri-
vate enterprise every whit as much
work could be accomplished with
reduction of one-third in number and
one-fourth in the salary of those re-
naming. This condition is not to be
charged to civil service rules and reg
ulations. of which / most heartily APP
prove. but to the inherent nature Of
public service.
Some years ago while walking
through Lincoln park, Chicago, / no
ticed a group Of twenty-five or more
men pushing lawn mowers. Stopping
to make some inquiry Of a policeman,
l innocently asked why the city did
not use mowers drawn by horses. l
shall long remember his reply: 81 guess
you don't live in Chicago, do you?
How long do you think the city adj
ministration would live If 1t moved
the park with horsesT
The cornerstone of the city hall In
Philadelphia was laid on July 4, 1874,
but the building was not completed
until the first year OF the present CEN
fury. The capitol at Albany was be-
gun in the sixties, It was far enough
advanced TO be the scene Of an inau-
gural ball in the seventies and was
completed, all save the tower. for
which the foundation was found in
sufficient, in 1899 In the meantime
the two great political parties alter
mated in control, and am told in one
or more instances four generations
performed work on the building.
The appropriation for the public
building I'm Chicago was signed by
Grover Cleveland, and about sixty
days ago l made final settlement and
signed the draft for the last payment
and was then able to answer public
criticism because the work had pro-
crossed so slowly with record proof
that it had been about as expeditiously
built as most structures of It's charac-
ter erected by the government.
The Harlem river, extending from
the Hudson to the East river, eight
miles in length, was dredged by the
government to a depth OF fifteen feet
In seventeen years.
Now note a few instances Of private
enterprise. In 1904 the Pennsylvania
railroad began the construction Of twin
tunnels through the mud beneath the
Hudson river and four tunnels extend
ing thence under the city Of New
| York and beneath the East river to
Long Island City, and now at the end
Of two years feels confident that its
fifteen miles of nineteen foot water
proof tunnel Will be completed and in
use within the contract period of four
years
John b. Mcdonald began work on
the sUbways Of New York in March.
1900, and had nine miles with double
track and stations in operation i'm four
years and seven months.
These instances illustrate the natural,
the necessary and the inevitable differ
ences between private enterprise and
government work and might be multi
piled indefinitely.
| do not know that l can explain the
reasons why these differences must
and always will exist better than to
reclte a very commonplace experience.
received telegram some days ago from
the cashier Of a little bank in which
am interested. 1t read: Il am offered
$3.50 an acre for your East Boyer
land. What shall l do" / answered:
You know better than | do. DO as
you think best" To this he replied, 81
think the land is well sold" These tel
egrams were not even preserved. But
II | had been acting for the govern
ment ! would have had the land ad-
vertised for sale, l would have sent
commission to examine and appraise
1t, would have had not less than two
subordinate officers of the department
go through all the papers and submit
their recommendations, l would then
have rendered final decision, but /
would have been careful TO preserve
a complete record Of everything, lest on
some unhappy day after my retirement
and perhaps after my demise an inves-
tgating committee, appointed per
chance by an adverse congress, would
make inquiry and, failing to find posi-
tive 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 sub
ordinates took the same precautions
and safeguard their regulations with
an equal amount Of red tape whenever
they sell an old horse or wornout piece
Of furniture.
1t is the appropriate function Of the
government to safeguard the individ-
ual and to see that the game of bust
ness is fairly played. that the cards are
held above the table and that every
body is given a square deal. 1t is not
the appropriate function Of the govern
ment to sit in the game.
Control Easier Than Operation.
The Dlea for municipal ownership