Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-10-12
MORE s0cIaLIsTrC TREND.

Z EW realize the socalistlc possibilities the
Il Emergency Power bin now pending in Congress.
In the words of Representative Sydney Anderson Of
Minnesota "Thls bin more important and more far
reaching in the powers which It grants than any bill
which have heretofore passed" From the report ac-
companying the presentation OF the measure to the
House we learn that its purpose to increase the power
facilities Of the country order that the war program
may be carried forward without delay To that end the
President is clothed with powers to power
plants, add TO the capacity and equipment Of existing
private plants, construct pipe other transmission lines
maintain and operate plants and transmission lines and
to sell exchange plants that may under the control
OF the Government
Those provisions are in line with the declared object
of the legislation but the bill does not stop there 1t
proceeds TO authorize the President 10 acquire any
private power plant within the BOUNDARIES of the United
States and to require the operator Of any private plant
to place all Of his power at the disposal the United
States. After the President has exercised his powers Of
acquisition conferred by the bill IL is provided that he
may retain any property and operate any plants trans
mission lines, structures facilities appliances
sructed or acquired the provisions this Act
such time he may deem necessary or advisable the
purpose Of selling or otherwise dlsposng thereof"
In other words, although the emergency under
which the plants presumably were acquired may have
ceased the President may retain them long he may
deem advisable" The avowed Socialists could ask for
nothing All they have urged is that the Govern
advisable which they interpret TO be for all time.
That this bill is being put forward by the Admins
tration principally for the purpose OF continuing Gov
eminent ownership Of utilities after the is indicated
by the fact that the food control law Of last year
fers all Of the communicating powers contemplated in
the present BILL with the exception OF the power of re-
tention after the The foed control Act reads
follows:
He dhe President is authorized 10 requston and
take over for operation by the Government any
factory packing house. oil pipe line mine other plant
any part thereof in through which any
may be manufactured, produced prepared, or
mined and to operate the same"
That language is broad any similar grant OF
power under the present BILL but in the food control
act is further provided that when such utility rs not
essential for the national security and defense the
shall be restored 10 the person entitled TO the possession
thereof" The pending bill not only does not contain
similar restoration clause but It specifically authorizes
the President to retain the utilities he has over
as long as "he may deem necessary advisable"
1t is safe to say that the repetition and application
in the pending OF the powers conferred by the
food control bill but cloak TO hide the real pur-
pose behind the legislation namely to continue Govern
ment ownership for indefinite time into the future.
The report specifically states that "The bill was intro
duced with the Endorsement of the Administration to
the general principles involved" That being the case
the propositions II contains be charged TO the same
minds that opposed the fixing Of specific date when
the railroads should be returned TO their private owners
and which have evolved the other ura-socalstlc egs
ation that Congress has invegled into approving
during recent months.