The sun., 1918-12-01
HUGHES WARNS
GOVERNMENT OF
ABUSE OF POWER
Says Continuation of War
Time Control Is Sure to
Bring Censure.
URGES READJUSTMENT
. Asserts Government Owner
ship Tends Constantly
to Inefficiency.
CONCERNED FOR LABOR
Urges Intelligent Cooperation
Over Country to Avert
Unemployment.
CONCERNED FOR LABOR

70 those forces in this country
which for their own gain or capi-
vated by what seem to them new
emergencies consider that strong
power In the Government during the
war justifies continuation of strong
power in the Government after the
war there was issued solemn warn
ing by Charles Evans Hughes, speak
Ing last night before the Institute of
Arts and Sciences at Columbia Uni
versity.
Mr.. Hughes devoted his speech to
n discussion Of the situation certain
to follow in this country as a result
of the war and of dangers of false
economic and political doctrine born
OF conditions which to persons who
do not understand the foundations of
American law and Government Hp-
pear to he without precedent and re-
quiring measures without precedent.
. He characterized any plan of
Strengthening Government control in
the absence Of military necessity as
IAN abuse Of power which will not be
permitted to escape censure," asserted
that governmental ownership and op-
Grafton tend constantly to inefficiency
and urged as n provision against i'm
pending labor conditions, intelligent
effort and coopera ton all through the
country to the end Of preventing un-
employment.
Must Avoid War Powers.
with the ending Of the war" said
Mr.. Hughes, I'VE find ourselves with
the familiar constitutional privileges
and restrictions. and it behooves off,
GERS of government to realize that to
make a pretence OF military exigency
for Interior purposes, when military
necessity has ceased, is simply an
abuse Of power which will not be per-
mitted t. escape censure.
1T is undoubtedly true that when
ever, during the war, extraordinary
powers were fittingly exercised and
governmental control was assumed for
war purposes. the readjustment to
conditions of peace must of course be
effected gradually and with the cir
cumspection essential to the protec-
ton OF all the public and private in
ltTtSlS lHNOlNeu- buI IIlc lTnnleuld'e
purpose should be to readjust as soon
as may be, not to use war powers to
control peace conditions, a proceeding
essentially vicious and constituting the
most serious offence against our in
stitutions.
What changes we shall desire to
make in order TO suit new conditions
which follow the war we must make
.latt tnI, 1f&
proper authorization. Peace policies
must he prosecuted with the authority
and distribution OF powers, and ac-
cording to the methods which pertain
to peace.
Federal ownership inefficient.
1T is regrettable but II is true, that
governmental enterprise tends con-
stantly to inefficiepcy. 1t would, from
any point of view, be unsafe to take
the experience OF the last year as a
guide. The splendid stimulus OF the
war spirit put us at our best. The
general disposition to serve and TO be
content made conditions exceptionally
advantageous for governmental ex-
pertinent. Again, the situation in the
past year with respect to the move
ment of traffic has been abnormal.
But apart from these considerations
the experiment would not appear to
afford a basis for expecting a net bal
nnce of benefits in Government owner
ship and management.
Il do not mean to imply that the
record of private enterprise is an
agreeable one, but on fair examina-
tion OF conditions where governmental
management has been maintained I
believe that from the standpoint OF
efficiency the comparison favors prl-
vate enterprises and that in this coun-
try we cannot afford TO ignore the
fact that inefficiency is the blight upon
our public undertakings.
1T cannot fail to be observed that
even in connection with the war, de-
spite the endeavor and patriotic i'm
pulse OF countless workers. inefficiency
in important fields of activity has been
notorious. The notion that the con-
duct OF business by Government tends
20 be efficient is a superstition cher
ished by those who either know moth
ing of government or who know
nothing Of business The tendency is
strongly the other way.
Danger In Political Control.
Along with this is the grave ques-
ton OF putting the direct operation OF
these great activities unnecessarily
under political control That is the
most serious question. The dovetail-
ing Of government with business is apt
10 injure both. Such Is the havoc
wrought by political machines. de-
nanding that position and profit go
with political favor and as political re-
n ward. We shall have quite enough of
~ his sort OF thing in the necessary ex-