The Washington herald., 1917-01-18
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

can conceive of no more efficient ap-
piiance of brakes to the wheels OF pro-
sress than a surrender of competitive
trade to government or municipal owner
snip, said Ralph b. Lathrop. promi-
nent business man. OF New Orleans. La.
VINO spent the past three days at the
New willard
Il find tendency throughout the
country to favor municipal operation of
all public utilities. The idea has develop
ed from mere municipal ownership into
Federal government control. The fight
that Is being waged in Congressional halls
to secure government ownership of tele-
phones in the District of Columbia, is
eut the forerunner of a movement that
Will sooner or later demand that other
public utilities. street car lines telegraph
systems, newspapers and mercantile bust
nesses be brought under the immediate
control of the government ..
The argument that has been sounded
time and time again, describing the eco
nomic effect that government ownership
would produce, falls short OF convincing
strength when you consider that while It
may give cheaper rates, better service
and reduce the high cost of living, 1t will
also strangle industry.
Destroy the competition that now
exists between the public utilities and
merchants and you have robbed mankind
or the possibilities that urge him on to
greater efforts.
Suppose that a bill is passed giving to
Congress the control of the telephone
system. What Incentive will the ordi-
nary business man who aspires to become
future captain OF the telephone indus
try have? He will work with the knowI-
edg that he must necessarily be a hire
ing OF the government always, however
hlgh he may ride. Before skill and ap-
phance can accomplish results you must
face the old need of political pull" II
VIII stalk into the government-owned
telephone office just as it has entered all
other things that come. under the direct
control OF politicians.
Il merely point the telephone agitation
out as a sort of forecast of the future.
Federal control of the telephone in the
District might possibly prove of big
value to the inhabitants. But the prin-
clple will become the tool Of schemers
sooner or later and the arm of the gov
ernment will be stretched out to gather
in other public utilities!
when the grocery business becomes
the legal business of the government,
then the clerk and the delivery man will
nave no hope of some Say becoming the
owner OF a little corner store and eoh-
sequently their work will lack the punch
OF those striving after a bigger end and
the inevitable result will be industrial
and business chaos" he said.
I am in favor of letting Congress
provide the laws that are destined to
shape the affairs of the Federal gov
ernment here" declared James Shaw.
OF San Francisco. who Is regfsterad 1T
the Ebbitt. but I believe that govern
mental machinery is slipping a cog
when IL is brought to bear on matters
that vitality effect local District affairs.
1t appears that the people of the
District are just beginning TO awaken
TO the fact that they have been cheated
out OF their inherent right as set forth
by Thomas Jefferson and his co-writ-
ers OF the Declaration of Independence
L realize that the District or CO.
lumbta is Federal territory and conse-
quently must be under Federal turis-
diction, but 1t Is high time that the
inhabitants of the District be allowed
the privilege of voicing their own de-
cisions on matters affecting their daily
life and welfare.
In my opinion, II Is an outrageous
usurpation of the peoples power on
the part of Congress to knock the
means of livelihood from under any
set OF merchants, regardless of the
line of business that they may happen
to be engaged in. 1 am not defending
the liquor interests. 1t is simply a
matter of American principle to allow
the people to settle for themselves
such local questions. They are The
ones to suffer or to be benefited, and
consequently they should be RESPONSE
BILE for results.