The Delta independent., 1917-03-09
PLAN FOR GOVERNMENT OWNER.
SHIP IN DISTRICT NOT LIKE
LY TO CARRY.
MEASURE DESIGNED AS TEST
Efforts to Put City Of Washington In
the Prohibition Column Rouses the
Residents to Bitter Battle-lower
House Must Decide.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


ernment ownership of the telephone
system In the District. The intention
of the promoters of the bin was to
test government ownership of the tele-
phone system in the city of Washing
ton, which is coincident with the Dis
trict of Columbia. with n view pos
sIbly to more extensive territorial ac-
ton in the future.
Representative Lewis of Maryland.
who is the father of this government
ownership proposition. will leave
congress on March 4. II has been his
desire to secure affirmative congress
sional action during his term of Of
fee. This specific government owner
ship proposition probably will come be-
fore congress again, but the word Is
that 1t has little chance of enactment
into law at the present session. The
hearings therefore are held by the
proponents of the measure to be at
present valuable merely from the edu-
cational point of view. The opponents
of the measure say that there Will be
no chance TO pass 1t at the next con-
gress because opposition to II will be
strengthened In the new body. The
country must take its choice between
the two sets of opinions on the sub
ject.
The District of Columbia which, as
has been said. means the city of Wash
lngton. has been deeply interested ever
since congress came together In two
propositions. either one Of which II en-
acted into law would affect material
ly the business interests and the resi-
dents Of the district generally. wbeth-
er they would affect them beneficially
or detrimentally is. OF course, entirely
according TO the viewpoint.
Senate Passes Dry Bill.
The Lewis bill for government own
ership of the telephone lines In the
district held the center of interest In
the house, while prohibition for the
district held the center of Interest In
the senate. The upper house has
passed the measure forbidding the
sale and manufacture OF Intoxicating
liquors In the capital city of the coun-
try. The house committee now is con-
sidering the same measure.
The senators either have cleared
their skirts or besmirched them. ac-
cording as men view the thing, by
their nction on prohibition for the dis
trict. Today the upper house men
say. at is up TO the lower house men,"
md so the prohibition bill has been
sent over to the mercies OF the repre-
sentatives. 1t perhaps may go without
saying. that this prohibition bill has
stirred the city of Washington as few
A.,
many years.
Prohibition In Washington is war
like subject. The advocates of dry
legislation nre ms militant rs any sol
diers In Europe. The same word can
he said concerning the advocates OF n
continued wet season in this city of
legislation. Words were not minced
In the hearings which the senate COM
mittee gave on this subject nor are
they being minced in the discussion In
the corridors and committee rooms of
the house. II is n battle royal. us
someone has put II. between the black
bottle and the water wagon.
Debating Grayson's Promotion.
The scenes of the other days
have just been re-enacted In the
United States senate, although this
time there has been more red fire.
to say nothing of thunder and flashes
of lightning. The senators have been
discussing. with more than usual of
theatrical accomplishments. the nom
inntion by President Wilson of Cary T.
Gruyson. United States navy. to be n
medical director and n rear admiral.
As everybody knows. Doctor Gray
son has been the naval aid and per-
sonal physician to the president ever
since Mr.. Wilson came into Office.
More than this. he was for n time n
medical adviser of President Taft.
Doctor Grnyson Is, comparatively
speaking, n junior officer OF the medi-
cal corps OF the sea service. The
president promoted him over the heads
Of 115 navy doctors to the post OF
medical director md rear admiral.
1t is not the intention to enter into
questions affecting Doctor Grnyson's
fitness for the rank to which he has
been promoted, nor the policy which
would jump one man over the hends
of others of much longer service. but
only to say that whenever promotion
by selection occurs there always is
trouble for the nominee. the nominator
and the senators who must confirm the
nomination.
Roosevelt Didn't Promote Wood.
There Is one curious thing which
has accompanied this case OF Doctor
Grnyson into the limelight. The in
stant thnt the young surgeon was
named for high promotion, not only
Washington, but the entire country
said: "Well, didn't Theodore Roose-