Arizona republican., 1918-12-02
Government Enterprise

The strongest argument against government di-
reotion Of industry is that advanced by Charles E.
Hughes its tendency toward inefciency. Mr.. Hughes
probably had in mind government direction of the
railroads but what he said is applicable to almost
activity in which the government may engage. One
would hesitate condemn government control of the
railroads evidence have of its inefcien
cy 1t has not it is true, been satisfactory, but we
must concede that government direction has been
attended by many difficulties not ordinarily present
But we must also that there has been nothing
in the governments managementaof the railroads that
gives earnest Of it's ability to manage them
efficiently even in normal times.
There are certain functions which border closely
on those of private enterprise, that belong to the
government, that part of the government That
prominently true of the postoffce, originally pr
vate enterprise. The postoffice could be and would
be efficiently managed by private enterprise
tina it by the government but private company
would undertake it with the prospect of loss. The
government sets the theory that it will give
public the best service it can If it give this
service the compensation Derived the sale of
postage stamps, very WELL if not the government
stands ready pocket the loss Ii properly regards
the postoffice not money making institution and
not even as necessarily sef-susaininG. As We have
said the postoffice is part of the government and
the whole people bear the expense government
and not merely those who the govrnment most
Now and then a postmaster general arises and
proudly announces that there is a balance to the
credit of the post office Frank H. Hitchcock was the
first to make such a claim. Mr.. Burleson has also
made IT, 1t was not to the credit either of these
officials that such showing made. 1t meant
either that the bookkeeping that the
saving has made at the expense the service.
We do doubt that under a highly efficient
management all the work done in all the posoffices
and railway postal could be done and would be
done by a much smaller number of men and women
but in many by other and than
employed. But there evidences of an in
creased efficiency of service under either Mr.. Hitch
cock Mr.. Burleson Things went along then in the
same old easy way and that is the way they will al
ways go. 1t is in the circumstances
rs to expect different things. the all the
governmental departments and must remain the
indefinitely 1t impossible put them under private
direction and impossible to install the efficient meth
DDS of private enterprise
The that be said Of civil service
system present is that is better than the old
spois system it designed supplant But it has
never brought efficiency and do so; indeed
so efficiency concerned, spoils
system under discreet party rule might surpass it.
The examinations of the civil service only disclose
that certain persons have displayed a certain degree
l II
no test aptness any position earth
But they placed, round pegs in square holes and
square pegs in round holes and they there stay
A private business could not afford the chance Of
disaster involved in the civil service system 1t pro-
ceeds surely to put its employees where they
belong and if it finds they do not fit anywhere they
rejected Every employe is made to feel that his
advancement his very position depends
ly upon his making good.
But have said, there functions which
belong especially to the government which like the
postofce, private enterprise would not undertake
the required of it. Another enterprise is
waterworks system. So all others which
practically all the people not therefore, to be
regarded producers such draw their
revenue from the comparatively few who have need
Of their special services.
One of the many cratic notions of the people of
oregon, instance state lime plant to furnish
lime for fertizing. 1t put in at cost of $4,000
and run at an annual expense of many thousands
more. Its administration expenses alone $4,000
furnishes the lime to farmers cost The expense
is borne by general taxation. Now much more than
half the population of Oregon have use lime
There many situated by reason of dis
lance from the plant and their proximity to other
private of supply that they patronize
the paterna plant Thus this institution furnish
ing a special service furnish it to but a compare
lively few but the expense falls upon ALL 1t is there
fore the kind of enterprise in which the gov
eminent should engage.
to the railroads, it is quite evident that
the people of this country in favor of govern
nent ownership and it. is equally evident that they
have had all they want of government direction But
one thing they will demand, that there be
much more rigid control by the government of rail-
roads private ownership than has before been
exercised.
The celebrated German efficiency will in
handy in paying off the indemnities The rest of
the world will also be interested in finding out