Evening journal., 1914-07-21
FAVOR UNCLE sam
OWNING Wire Lines
Diamond State Oranges
Against Private Owner
ship of Telephones
SUBJECT DECIDED
BY MAJORITY OF ONE

Advocates Of government owner
ship Of telephone and telegraph lines
won by vote of II to 16 following
debate on the question in Diamond
state Grange. Patrons of Husbandry,
at Stanton last night The debate
was one OF the most interesting ever
given before the grange and was
heard by large number OF members
and visitors. Attorney Francis Fl.
iioftecker and District Manager l.. r.
Bardo OF the Diamond State Tele-
phone Company argued against gov
ernment ownership while Francis I.
DUPONT and Mrs. Francis l.. Springer
Of Newport, represented the advocates
Of government ownership
MIR. DUPONT was loudly appauded
when he exclaimed "Since we have
railroad ownership of government,
would 1t not be we'll to turn the
tables and have government owner
ship Of railroads?"
"The railroads are trying to take
S50,000,000 more profit from the peo-
pies pockets" he said. "They are
asking the Interstate Commerce Com
Tfission TO give them FIVE per cent in
crease In freight rates which will
mean the amount OF money ! have
mentioned" the speaker continued.
rs there any reason why the rail-
roads should have S50,000.000 more
than they are now receiving from
the American people? None except
that the spectators and stock job
bers at the head Of the railroads want
the money.
The people have commission con
slsting of seven members to regulate
the railroads The commission is
made up of high-minded honorable
men, but it is wrong to place them,
as they are Suppose they wished 1t,
they could be rich for life by accept
ing money from the railroads and
then voting that S50,000,000 more
must be paid the carriers by the peo-
lle.
Il say such condition is wrong
Such a situation does not show good
business sense. No bank in Whining
ton would tolerate the thing for
moment Government ownership is
the solution Of the railroad and pub
lie utility corporation problem
The address of Attorney Hoffecker
was one of the features. Answer
ing the points brought up BY his
opponents and chiding Mr. DUPONT for
mentioning corruption in the New
ork New Haven and Hartford rail-
road as reason why the people
should take over the telephone lines.
Mr. Hoffecker said such a move would
be folly
1T is said the telephone business Is I
o monopoly" Mr.. Hoffecker said, "but
those who make the assertion do not
know the facts The telephone bus
mess is not and never was monopo-
~. because any body of men may en-
gage in the business. Have we not
three or four telephone companies in
this section? We have, and they are
competing. Monopoly cannot be pos
sible where there is competition.
Government ownership of the tele-
phone would mean higher taxes and
chaos as far as service is concerned. 1t
would mean that politicians would be
placed in charge of the companies. Do
you, not think politicians are getting
enough from the people?
''The fact that corruption is found in
the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad is no reason for the pub
lie taking over the telephone and tele-
graph systems. What on earth have
the telephone companies to do with Mr.
Mellen or his railroad? Nothing.
advocates of public ownership point
to Germany and England and ask why
can we not have the same thing here?'
Conditions here and abroad are differ
ent England and Germany are mon
arches, while in this country govern
ment control is changed from time to
time, passing from Democrats to Re
publicans and from the latter to the
former. With such situation it would
be impossible for the people to obtain
good service. When YOU think of gov
ernment ownership of telephone lines,
remember that taking them over means
more money out of your pocket
The New York, New Haven and
Hartford railroad came in for scath
ing arraignment at the hands Of Mr..
DUPONT, who read red hot Indictment
Of the company He told Of its trans
actions in the Portchester and West
chester franchise deals; its purchase Of
steamship lines with view Of prevent
ing competition, and sailed into a New
York banker for his alleged activities
with the railroad.
Mrs. Springer made short talk
in favor OF government ownership
saying that If the people could build
and own the Panama canal they could
take over the telephone and telegraph
lines
Manager Bardo presented by read
ing, an article containing data sup
porting the anti-government owner