Evening star., 1918-07-19
us. CONTROL SETS
EWW0RLDREcORD
War Permits Unheard-of Sit
uation Without Turn
Ing Of a Hair"
PUBLIC WAITS IN A HAZE
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

Barring the war news, the subject
which is attracting most attention and
causing most discussion just now 81
the current and prospective essay IN
federal control Of all means Of com.
munication and transportation. II il
not q topic confined to one class mol
restricted to merely academic treat
ment. From that mystical and some.
what undefnable element described
for lack Of better term Is 1high
finance" or "big business" to the run
of.the-mill of humanity and "the man
in the street" pretty nearly evesy-
body seems interested.
Next thing IT will be breaking out
in politics, 1t is prophesied. and par
ties will be taking sides for and
against 1t. Meantime. as it goes di-
rect to the core of daily hfe and bust
ness. there is much talk and specu-
lation.- -. - .
Secretary McAdoo's announcement.
In the midst OF his western tour of
inspection as director general of rail-
roads. of forthcoming improvement of
the railway service and the intro
duction of new and progressive fea-
lures is expected to give nip to
the growing interest, already en-
hanced by the intimations this week
in other quarters Of radical reorgani-
xation of the system OF 'telephonic
communication.
Controls All Communication.
When one pauses to take stock It
Is realised that at this moment the
federal government has absolute con-
troll Of every means Of intercommuni-
cation available to the people. The
authority of the government is prac-
tically unlimited, being assumed az
a war power, apd extends far beyond
control, embracing power to suppress.
II not, indeed. to abolish. OF course
1t Is assumed that this autocracy will
be exercised as .'benevoleht despot-
ism" and used only for the public
veal in the broadest sense, but the
power is there. just the same
Beginning with the taking over of
the railroads and the regulation of
important lines Of water Transports
express companies. The American
Railway Express now includes the old
familiar titles of Adams, American.
Southern and the romantic WeIls
Fargo. redoient OF memories Of Dead
wood Dick" and the holdf-ups.
~ Public In Haze.
Then came absorption Of the tels.
phone and telegraph comnanies. The
public is not quite clear In mind yet
latest acquisition, to federal control.
It Is suggested that possibly the au-
thors Of It have not LID down their
thumb. but will permit 1t to develop
operate. The postal system completes
the quota of means OF intercommuni-
cation of the people, and there Is
nothing more to take over except the
Htpey: bus.
i ';We ssfill sss ao VIE ssvss ss sefer. ~
sponit Dor iitsbiiity Is GOES witlf itssas with 81
dom1nion The people VIII A9ad stns
which exefciss1 the
authortty to account for results. II
is readily appreciated. therefore. thas
politics will sopa enter INTO the eQua-
.tiou. 1850
a political liability 10 assumed by the
ad there are some aasete
sInnr with 1T. The political possi-
bilities inherent in the vast machinery
of the transportation and communica-
tion systems and the personnel of the
nnnaIIsss nre cIsssed by poiiticians as staEKer-
ing in .theiN Nstupendousness..
1t must be borne In mind. TOO. the
politicians say, that all TINS new
istine federal control of the finances
81 the nation through authority over
the national banks. the federal re-
serve system and the very latest addi-
tton, the War Finance Corporation,
limiting outputs of capital. It Is de-
pIete and far-reaching system of gov
ernmental control the world exhibits
Congress, which Is responsible Tor
the creation Of this new condition
realizes that within the space OF one
year there has been accomplished
would have been deemed next to
impossible to effect In this country
and. II at all, only after score OF
years Of political agitation. The wal
has, brought It about without the
turning of hair.
Now for the Trial.
Now for the trial of it. congressman
say. The people. whom 1t 10 to be
Itl9Q upOHp uI6 dPpeA <ASAy AAaON
anxious ana concerned than the con-
gressmen. They may be classed along
with Jones. he pays the freight u
there is any usufruct the congress-
men may get 1t.
For. the moment, holding IN aDey-
ance the final try-out, everybody Il
talking about the new plans: The
people are promised cheaper telephone
rates. expanded telegraphic service by
utilization Of all wires, greater con-
venience in fling messages and pay
ing for them, and SO on.
Director General McAdoo's sugges.
tion Of a system Of insurance for rail-
way men attracted widespread atten.
tion today, along with the promise u
simplitied mileage tickets . for al ran; sa,l,
to receive the sanction Of Congress
in which event i is certain asnsrs, tnsrs T, ~
duetriaI .insuyance and eimflar re.
lorna. thus opening up a wider held
in which the politicians may roam
At win.
~An pnST,ERS C0NDEMNED.