The Washington times., 1908-02-22
Senator Burkett Says
Plan Is Against Ameri-
can Principles.
Urges Hearers Against
National Indebtedness
and a Probable Tax.

Declaring that probably within
dozen years the people would have to
decide the question OF Government
ownership OF railroads. Senator Z. J.
Burkett OF Nebraska today voiced a
protest against such ownership IN an
address at the annual cOnvocatiOn Of
George Washington University, eelebrat-
ing WashingtOn's Birthday.
Senator Burkett, who was the prin-
cipal speaker at the cOnvocation an
nounced his subject as being The Pro
test Of Americanism Against Govern
ment Ownership Of Railroads"
Policy to Govern.
For a century" he said. I'VE had ex-
listed as a nation under a policy that
the function OF a government was 70
govern and not to participate in the
struggles OF trade and commerce, which
had been left to individuals.
IF today we shall undertake Govern
ment ownership OF railroads. we will
take a step backward, set aside every
teaching Of the fathers. every principle
OF the Constitution, and trample upon
every tradition OF the Republic" said
the Senator. The possibility and ad-
visibility OF the question. constitution
ally, economically and politically. he
said, were the first things to be con-
sidered.
"GrantIng, as I do. that the first ques-
ton Of possibility can be answered ar
hrmatively," said the Senator Il am
not willing to admit the latter. IN my
opinion. Government ownership OF rail-
roads is not advisable trors any Of the
three standpoints that 1 have mem
toned. Il is not advisable constitution
sfar1FN frgu ne no
Granting that 10 would be possible 10
amend the Constitution, I deny that II
would be advisable: OF granting that
the constitution would not need amend
ing. I am not willing that It should Dc
II think I might say without great
fear OF contradiction that the authors OF
tho Constitution old not contemplate, 10
say tire least, that the Government
should enter, in any degree. commercial
pursuits. In short, the founders OF the
republic. the authors Of The Constitu-
ton believed. as one OF their distlh-
guished members expressed ii. that
nothing should be done by the General
Government which the local authorities
are competent TO do. aG4 nothing ~
any governmental power which ind
viduaIs can do for themselves.
Earlier Conditions.
Senator Burkett reviewed early at
tempts to inveigle the Government into
private pursuits.
He said:
In one Of the early drafts OF the Con-
stitution there was power granted to
Congress to build pOstroads and military
roads. but they were both dropped.
Later on the proposition TO give Con-
gress power to put on stage coaches
was voted down. Again, some one moved
TO authorize Congress to build canals,
and that was voted down. And the
words which we find in the Constitution
today, land postrOads, were finally
added TO the seventh enumerated powers
of Congress by q vote OF six to five
by the narrow margin Of a single vote.
THE pathway Of the worlds history
IS we'll strewn with the ruins OF nations
wrecked on the perilOus expedition Of
mercenary commerce. The Government
should be landlord 10 as few tenants,
and master OF as few servants as pos
sible. The ideal relation OF government
and citizen can never be attained while
the relation in fact IS that Of master
and servant. So keep the Government
out of business-keep II out of COMPETE
ton with its people-let it open up Op-
portunity. but never foreclose 1t.
Fears Results.
II fear that upon this question OF
Government ownership more votes may
be determined by the financial effect, or
the fancied financial effect, on the pres
ent generation, than by the sociological
and political effect upon our grandchn-
dTsn. Pocketbooks OF today may be
stronger considerations than the Hber-
ties Of tomorrow But in nv Indignant
both are arrayed against Government
ownership OF railroads. 1t will be ruin
Gus in our day and disastrous tomorrow.
The United States has never made
money out OF anything so far-how do
you know it would out OF railroads.
Government ownership of railroads mas
paid in some countries. some years. In
some countries no years, but IN no coun-
try every year. Private ownership has
paid at times in this country, at other
times 1t has not paid. I recall that
within ten years more than a fourth