Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-15

eminent In that way this province in
ia far corner of the world has an I'M
portance out Of all proportion to its size,
and has contributed more than its share
to the welfare of humanity.
New Zealand has experimental in gov
erhment ownership, to a greater extent
than other countries. New Zealand owns
railroads and telegraph lines, and some
oil us municipalities own their street
railways MIR. Noyes writes that there
mas been nothing in New Zealand's ex-
perfence with government owned tele-
graph lines which should discourage this
country from undertaking to operate such
mes as 1t operates the mail service. OF
the experiment in government owned
railroads he speaks more positively.
lie is quoted as saying that "the re-
suit in New Zealand" does not unequali-
fedly commend to the United States
ownership rather than stringent regu-
atlon of the railroads" lie finds the
same true Of municipal ownership of
trolley lines. It was claimed that gov
eminent ownership of railroads would
result In low freight rates and passenger
rates All profits over three per cent.
are claimed to be returned to the people
In lower charges or improved service.
MI Noyes writes. that the freight rates
here in the United States under private
ownership are from one-third to one
halt what they are in New Zealand that
the great mass of passengers have no
advantage over those In America, while
cheap special rates are enjoyed only by
| special classes OF passengers who are
carried al loss which is made up out
OF the public lie says further that
'roadbed, rolling-stock, the speed and
the general conveniences of travel, are
not up to the American standard and
that the service Is poor and coupled with
Indifference to the criticisms Of patrons"
We are almost all socialists in this way
and generation to the extent of desiring
TO secure for the whole Of society, the
greatest possible amount of genuine
benefit, and uplift. Our differences are
differences OF method rather than Of In
tent. Many men, particularly among the
more theoretical of the professions, hon
estly believe that the minute a man be-
gins to work for the State, he Will be-
come honest, enthusiastic and efficient,
and as long as he works for himself or
for private masters, he will remain either
grudging and corrupt or a mere wage
slave. Actual experiences like the ex-
pcriments in New Zealand. lead to con-
tclusion that the human animal as at
present constituted is capable of being
most inventive, most resourceful, most
energetic, only under the spur of COM
petition, and under the leadership and
| example which comes of employment by
a person.
ployment is not that it is hard-it usual
~ pays better wages-but that It is i'm.
personal. State employment In actual
practice has always proved still more
impersonal. A man will steal from the
state who would never think of stealing
from his neighbor a man will live upon
the State without giving an ADEQUATE re-
turn, when he would not consider accent
ing charity from another. We see graft
ana ineificiency every day in public
works, and know that the time is a long
way off when it Will be practicable for
governments to go extensively into the
business of owning and operating bust
nesses which it can, just as well. control
and regulate.