The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-11-29

this country are enabled to hold the
reforms they have gained during the
| war.
THE American people Will miss q
great opportunity il they allow GER
tain of these temporary powers for
merly within private control to slip
| through their fingers in the next few
months" says the platform adopted by
| the conference.
On the question OF government
| ownership, perhaps the most import
| ant discussed at the meeting. the fol-
| lowing highly significant plank" was
adopted:
THE federal government has
assumed control of railroads,
telegraphs and telephones, open
ing the opportunity either for
federal owntrship, with private
operation, or federal ownership
with federal operations, or a reor-
ganization by economical regional
systems under a method Of control
that will protect the private CAPT.
tai by insuring reasonable re-
turn, yet removing speculative
and anti-social features of the
private ownership Of he past,
with its relatively feeble and mega
tive system of regulation. Which
smaller matter than that the es-
sentia1 features of our present
control should never be relin-
quished'
This was a compromise plank. the
delegates at the conference not being
a unit in desiring outright ownership
and operation by the government OF
our common carriers. But it makes it
clear that nationwide public senti-
ment has crystalized in favor Of some
form of government control of the
railroads, as opposed to regulation.
A committee was appointed to in
vestigate the government ownership
problem os a part Of the program or
national reconstruction, especially as
it affects the high cost OF living, good
government and public welfare.
One the question of government con-
troll of commercial corporationh the
conference is equally explicit. Be-
cause the problems they create are
national rather than statewide, fed
erla control and SUPERVISION of their
practices is urged, together with eff
forts to free them from conflicting anu
Intellectual state regulation through a
federal Incorporation procedure.
Every effort should be made by the
government, the conference held, to
preserve tilS huClcuo VI tIIc IucI 1ilu
food administrations, the War Indus
trieh Board, the War Labor Board,
the War Tradt Board, the merchant
marine and other agencies which have
made for national efficiency during .he |
war.
The Importance Of continuing and |
expanding the federal employment |
service was emphasized to connect !
employees and employers in the only |
right and efficient way" 1t was even |
suggested that this service be en- |
couraged to extend its sphere to I'm |
clude the education of employers in |
modern principles of employment.
Housing
Work Is Commenced.
The work of the government in |
housing it's armies of industrial work.
ers was highly commended. The con-
ference holds that the governments
interests in the welfare Of workers
should not now lapse, but the labor
departments Bureau of Industrial
Housing should be continued and its
poWerh should be broadened to in
clude educational work and research
nto the problems Of housing
The conference also took an interest
n the subject of public health, urging
hat, to protect the health of--our re-
urning soldiers as we'll as our indus
rial workers during the reconstruc-
ion period and after, the federal gov