The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-04-05
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prise in the empire under their con-
troll. In Germany Prince Bismarck,
the greatest imperialistic statesman
of the nineteenth century, adopted
the policy Of governmental ownership
and management Of railways t"gcth-
rr with Il system Of highways all
controlled from Il central Office in
Berlin and available at all times for
the transportation Of troops to any
part Of the empire or to any frontier.
He also saw very clearly the advan-
ta"e to his imperial master in having
n great army Of railway employees
IN every part of the empire ready, ut
all times, to support every policy Of
the Emperor by their votes and in
ilucncc. He also appreciated the
value of the ratc-makin" power as a
political asset and the possibility OF
coercing members Of the imperial
parliament to the support of impcr-
ialistic policies by granting or with
holding favorable rates. Both Bis
marck and his successors have made
good use of the railway system Of
Germany as a political machine and
it has enabled the Emperor to carry
through many policies that might
have failed if he had not been able
to rely upon it.
In the AuStralasian Colonies Of
Great Britain the colonial and MT
mcipal governments are all controll-
ed absolutely by the public employ
ccs. The tax payer who is not so
fortunate Ms to be nn the government
pay :'"ll finds himself nut-votcd in
every election by those who are in
terestcd in increasing his burdens
for their own benefit. In the Brit
iSh cities the same condition of af-
fais is rapidly being brought about.
In some Of the cities the municipal
employees now hold the balance Of
power and when they go to the polls
their votes are east for their indivi-
dual advantage rather !han with any
view 10 the general welfare. Condi-
tons have gotten so bad in many Of
the British cities that the PROPOSE
tion to disfranschise all municipal
employees is being seriously consid-
chcd. 1t is doubtful, however,
whether any such result can now be
brought about. The officials of mu-
nicipalitics have an organization
known as the association of munici-
pal corporations and town clerks.
The avowed object Of this organiza-
tion is to watch all legislation in
parliament and 10 advocate such rs
is Favorable [" the municipal owner
ship policy. 1t can rely absolutely
! on the Votes If all the municipal
employees and when Il member Of
parliament >hcwS symptoms Of OPP
POSING municipal ownership schemes
he can usually he brought 10 time by
an intimatinm from this association
that his seat will be in danger al the
next election if he does nnl do lis
bidding. In BELGIUM. us in Germany,
the railway service is Il political ma
chine. II is run in The interest Of
the officials in control of the govern
mcnt and Of the railway employees.
The service is noioriouSly inefficient
and ihc number and wages Of en-
pIoyccs are constantly being incrras-
cd at the expense Of the lax payers.
The practical questions presented
to the people Of the United States by
the experience Of other countries are
whether government ownership and
operation i'm this country would not
be Il burden on thr tax payers, di-
rcctly. as practically everywhere en-
ccpt in Germany, or indirectly,
through the higher cost of service,
rs in Germany, in view Of the cxpcr-
icncc Of other countries. govern
mcnt ownership and operation would
not result in deterioration Of ser
vice, and whether the people Of the
United States are ready to create a
great political machine to be con-
trollcl from Washington with an
army Of Il million and n half Of rail-
way employees added to the already
large number Of civil employees Of
ihc government, and with this CEN
trail administration clothed with the
power to adjust rates and service and
TO distribute new railway construc-
iion 50 az to favor certain localities