Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-07


eight adio-telegraph stations. nearly
all of which, have a working radius Of
more than 1000 miles; owns and man.
ages the ports work in practically
every port on the immense Atlantic
seaboard; holds controlling interest in
and runs the Bank of Brazil, which is
establishing branches in the capitals
and important centers in every state.
and numerous other enterprises the
least of which, persaps, is the govern
mont pawn shop and poor mans saw
ings bank in this city.
The public ownership idea il carried
still farther by the states and mu-
inequalities which often develop their
own utilities. II established policies
are not changed in the future every
public service in the country will come
under public ownership.
Concessions granted to public service
corporations almost invariably carry
the provision that the service in ques-
ton must revert to the government
within specified time, and also the
provision that the government may ac
quire the property at stipulated or
arbitrated price after a set time.
To provide against possible devalor
ization of the propert or service. strict
government fiscalization is established
and maintained. Repairs, renewals
and improvements must be carried out
at the request Of government officials
Considering the engineering diff
culties owing to the mountainous ma
ture of the eastern states of Brazil
the tumultuous rivers to be crossed
and the almost impenetrable forests to
be cut through, the Central, which is
the principal of the government owned
railroads. has made great progress in
supplying transportation to the more
thickly settled territories of the coun-
try.
Allowing for the fact that all roll
ing stock and material are built and
manufactured outside of the country
and imported, the service supplied Is
cheap. The Brazilians take immense
and perhaps justifiable pride in this
railroad and its development.
Although the Lloyd Brazieiro navi-
cation line primarily was acquired for
coasting service alone, the European
war expanded this service until reg
ular trips are being made by several
of its largest steamers to Argentina,
the United States and Europe. Until
the war boosted ocean freights to un-
heard of figures the Lloyd was oper-
ated at financial loss. but the gov
eminent and people maintained that
this loss represented only book fig
ures and that the Brazilian shippera
gained many times over in rates that
te;1 Il; .t,~- H., i
SHIPPERS benefited.
The benefit to the shippers natu-
rally benefited practically the entire
public. The war has taught Brazil full
wisdom In ownership and control of
shipping facilities a proposal recent
Is made by an American syndicate to
i buy this line, which Is now being dis
cussed has raised a clamor of public
protest that eliminated whatever
doubt may have been held in regard
to the sentiments of the Brazilian peo-
pie for public ownership.
The telegraph service has zone more
toward Tightening the bonds or com
mon country in the vast territory OF
Brazil than perhaps any other factor
Communities hundreds of miles from
railroads are kept in touch with tho
government and state, Colonel Rondon
Theodore Roosevelt's companion on his
trip through the Brazilian wilderness
is pushing Geographic communications
TO tho farthest corners of the republic
and when history is written Rondon'.
name proba bly, will be among thu
country's greatest henefactors.
Perhaps one of the least discussed
features of government ownership II
Brazil is that of the solidifying effec
1t has on the country under the fed
eral government. Brazilian states ar,
entirely independent of each other
and they owe but small allegiance t,
the federal government as compared
to the states OF the United States
but common interest and common sen
timent undoubtedly is being fostere,
by the common owned services an,
!. properties now in operation by tn
; government.
The chief argument made agains
public ownership by it's opponents il
Brazil Is that these public owned an,
operated utilities are great politica
machines and that they are used 70
! giving Jobs to politicians and lam
ducks"
~