Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-29
SCIENTISTS TALK
WORLD PROBLEMS
Charles A. Prouty Discusses Public
Regulation Of Utilities Versus
Public 0wnerhip.
MANY DIVISION MEETINGS HELD

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-Eminent
scientists. historians, economists.
statisticians. archaelogists. geograph-
ers and others discussed problems OF
worldwide interest at score OF
conventions held here today in con-
nection with the second Psnanerican
Scientific congress.
Members Of the congress. which
opened here yesterday with joint
session. separated today into nine
groups to carry on the deliberations
OF the gathering.
In addition the following organizations.
affiliated directly OF Indirectly with the
congress. also settled down TO work;
| The American Historical association.
International Congress OF Americaniste.
| American Eoonofnic association.
| American Political Science association.
American society Of International Law.
| Naval Historical society.
American History society.
American Statlstioal association.
American 6ocialogical aoclety,
American Association for Labor Lesis-
American Folk Lors society.
American Anthropological association.
Afonleoiotlcai tnsutute OF America.
American civil association.
The Association OF American doegraph-
ers.
From time 10 time in the next two
weeks most Of those organisations will
meet In Joint session with certain divi-
sicns Of the Scientific congress.
Prouty ON Pebble Utilities.
The question OF highest importance that
remaina to be answered before the sue
cess Of government regulation of public
utilities can be affirmed. according 70
Charles A. Prouty. director Of the division
OF valuation. Interstate Commerce COM
mission. who spoke before division OF
the congress in THE regulation Of public
utilities" ID whether necessary private
funds can be obtained under regulations
for the development Of these utilities.
lie said Il was certain that the rate OF
return must be very much in excess Of
the rate At which the government could
borrow money for providing the same
utilities and the question might finally
be can the people afford TO regulate
their utilities, or IL Il better that tbs
governmen furnish tho service at first
handf"
Mr, Prouty said that the need OF gov,
|
to the fact that the corporation furnish.
Ing the service usually has monopoly
The patron who requires the service must
pay the price asked. lie said that slnos
the individual IL powerless TO protect
himself the government must protect
him. Otherwise society could not prop,
erly develop.
The political development OF American
countries II largely dependent OF
whether the blood OF Aborigines, Euro
peans or negrOes predomlnates. accord
lng TO Franz Boas. instructor In anthro-
4 pology Of Columbia university In an ad
4 dress before a Joint session OF the In
: ternational Congress OF Americanists an,
z the anthropologieal section OF the Pan
4 American congress
Address ~ MeAdoo.
Secretary MeAdoo spoke AZ the open
: ing session OF the section OF the con
Z gress on transportation. commerce. n
nance and taxation. Secretary Ian
y addressed the mining and sociological sec
. ton OF the congress.
q The woman's auxiliary conference 9
y the Scientific congress held its first SEE
, sion today. Mrs. Robert Lansing pre-
Y sided. More than 800 women ATTENDED
Addresses were made by Mrs. Perc
d Pennypscker. representing the Geners
u Federation Of Woman's clubs. and Mr.
= william Cumming story, president OF On
= Daughters Of the American Revolution
Dr. Charles w. Elliot. president emer
J. tus Of Harvard. was 70 have addresse