The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-01-05
The Burlesen Proposal for Covers
meut Owpership.


ment Ownership.
We think it is pretty generally con-
ceded that Postmaster General Burle.
sons advocacy, in his annual report to
Congress, of government ownership OF
telegraph and telephone lines, only rep.
resented the sending up of trial bal
loon by the government in order that
public sentiment on the subject might
be tested. President Wilson has since
taken occasion to say in a very en-
phatic manner that he had never pro-
nounced himself in favor of the
scheme; and, for our own part, we sim
cerely believe that President Wilson'S
real attitude in the matter is not mere
ly noncommittal, but that he is opposed
10 any of this taking over by the gov
eminent of public utilities on large
scale. The President is a wise man.
and the course of recent events has
been such as to enhance his reputation
in the community for common sense
and caution. 1t has also enhanced pub
lie appreciation of his ability as firm
and tactful manager Of men. The
President of these United States is no
Socialist, and is no radical, but he
knows that Congress is full of radicals
and Socialists. These men must be
allowed to spout and have their say,
but the entire conduct of the President
in Office thus far has justified the view
that whenever radicalism and Socialism
in Congress show signs of getting out
of hand, firm and immovable barrier
is presented from the White House to
their further advance.
The President is alive to his respon-
sibilities and the responsibilities of his
party He does not propose to see
either himself or his party wrecked by
wild men, by dreamers, and by rainbow
chasers who call themselves Democrats.
He sees the business of the country al
ready much depressed. Two great laws
have been passed reforming the tariff
and recognizing the country's banking
system. People hope and believe that
these changes will be for the good, but
they are not absolutely sure about it.
and their present attitude is one of I'M
willingness to make large business COM
mitments until the future is more clear
ly outlined. 1t is plain enough that the
country wants rest, for the time being,
from law-making, and from anything
else that involves an upsetting of the
existing status. Now the way to give
it rest is to give it a resti
We are glad to notice the highly
practical statement as to the effect of
Postmaster General Burleson's govern
ment ownership scheme that has been
made by ex-senator Jonathan Bourne,
jT., who was for six years a member
of the Senate Committee on Postofices
and Post Roads, and for two years its
chairman. Declaring that he has no in
terest in any telephone or telegraph Sc
curities, and is, theoretically, in favor
of government ownership of telegraph
and telephone lines, Senator Bourne
points out that plan, such as proposed
by Mr.. Burleson, would only be the be-
ginning of a system of general gov
eminent ownership of national public
utilities resulting in bureaucratic pa
ternalism and dry-rot. Senator Bourne
submits figures showing that this
would raise the number of government
al employees to over 100000, and that,
taking into consideration the fact that
in the last ten Presidential elections the
President has been elected by a plu-
rality varying from little more than
1000 to little over 100000, it is per-
fectly clear that these governmental
employees could absolutely control the
government. -
We think it occurs to sensible people,
even those who, like Senator Bourne,
have been inclined to look more or less
favorably upon the idea of the govern
ment running this or that particular
public utility, that the government has
already embarked in schemes of this
character that are a~good deal of an
experiment, and that it would be just
as well to see how the experiments
turn out before going further. We all
know, of course, that the operation of
the new parcel post arrangement is
conducted at the expense and the loss
of the railway companies, and that
sooner or later readjustment will be
made and the burden be placed upon
the shoulders of the government, where
it equitably belongs. There may not
then be quite so much pointing with
PRIDE to the extension of the parcel
post idea as there has been in the i'm
mediate past by government officials.
Meanwhile the trial balloon, whether
or not it was really sent up by the