The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-06
PROGRESSIVBS HALT
OWNERSHIP VOTE
Colby Fights Government pur.
chase Of Railroad and
Telegraph Lines.
POINTS TO PARTY PLEDGE
Ex-senator Insists Regulation
Should Receive Fuller
Test.

VIEW AENs D., May 81 ne f-H.,
county Progressive committee. members l-
which have been urging the Governmer,
ownership Of telephone. telegraph AMI
railroad companies. decided tonight IN
postpone for a month a vote on a resoll.
ton recommending that the National Pro.
gressive party incorporate Federal owner.
ship of those utilities In Its platform
Edmund q. Osborne of Montclair spoke
In favor of the resolution.
Opposing the resolution ex-Ststs SEN
ator Everett Colby said: This propo-
sition means an investment OF Sl75 500.
600. 900 by the people of the United STATS
for the purchase OF 1900 railroad com
panies operating 100000 miles OF track
and employing some 1000. 900 men. I,
means q further investment Of $4,000.
900. 900 70 take over the telephone and
telegraph lines with i.s60.000 miles ~
wire and employing about 100000 men
and women. giving to the dominant pollt!.
cal party control over the distribution ana
circulation OF news and an indirect In
fiuence over a number Of votes greater
than President Wilson's plurality over
Col. Roosevelt at the last Presidential
election"
Mr.. Colby said he did not think the
this programme for the reason that Il
had committed itself to the policy o;
regulation"
To change from the policy OF 'ree1-
lation' to that of Government owner
ship before regulation has been given
a fair and thorough trial. he said. would
be unwise and wastefui. unless IL can De-
established that regulation has already
failed and that Government ownership
would be successful.
He didn't agree with Mr.. Osborne In
his contention that the Rock Island and
Frisco scandals and the New York. New
Haven and Hartford breakdown proved
the failure OF regulation
Thinks Change Would BE Folly.
81 have heard no one blame the In
terstate Commerce Commission or the
policy OF regulation FOR these unfortunate
failures" Mr.. Colby continued. "Regi-
lation, II Is true. brings unsound fnan-
cial policies TO light and that which 10
revealed shocks the public confidence ana
disaster follows This Is as II should b.
Government ownership would not guaraH
tee efficient management. and we know u
would not turn the searchllght OF pub
liclfv upon its own shortcomings
I'VE have little 10 gain. therefore. from
Government ownership. and II would he
the height Of folly 10 change our polio
Just as We are proving that regulation
through the exercise of the police powe"
can secure al the benefits OF OWNERSHIP
without assuming any Il It's burdens.
Mr. Colby pointed out that IN England
and Europe generally there was no salts
factory evidence that Government owner
chip mad reduced the cost OF living. IN
creased wages decreased rates. shortened
the hours OF labor or improved service.
I'm Germany" he said. the cost OF
living went up IS per cent between 1900
and 1910. while in the United States -
went UP IS per cent. In Germany under
Government ownership II costs tho ship
per al mills 10 move a ton OF freigh
one mile. In the United states. undo
private ownership. il coets the shipper
5ji mills per ton per mile.
Makes Comparison with Europe.
The Government telephone and te
are inferior 70 ours and charges are 00
lower on any fair basis of compare
Striking AN average on seven Sia'a
owned telephone systems In Europe.
fnd the total annual earnings per s-7-
ton toll and exchange 70 be 1859 ors
In the United States IL Is Si0lt Max x
allowances for taxes, which the fore 2
systems do not pay, and for N. G'Tss
ence in wages and cost OF materlA'. .
will be found, believe, that the rates IN ts.-
country are as low as Il not lower thar
in Europe II must be rene ber.d roo
that the American subscriber gets "a
more for his money than subscribers DO
abroad
In Offering substitute rssolu.ioU n
Indefinitely postpone further cone,derstior
OF Mr.. Osborne's resolution Mr. Colby SAT
that II didn't lock the doors upon Gov
eminent ownership and throw AVA ;na
Key, nor was II policy OF watch.
waiting"
1T is the policy OF the though.fu no
OF the country. the thoughtfuily progre.
sive men, he concluded. "a1d IL Is -r
with the American principle that eve---h.ux
should be left TO private enterprise gr"
Il becomes clear that the public ve:5so
demands Il be done BY the State