Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-05
u. S. CLERKS DAILY
GROW IN NUMBER
Government Ownership Of Public
Utilities Suggested by Accu-
mulating Commissions

Special Correspondence Ercriuo Public Lcdgcr
WASHINGTON, II. C.. Jan. t.
BUREAUS and commissions have increased
- 80 rapidly during the Wilson Administra
ton that 1t is difficult to keep track of them
all with the influx Of these new governing
and oversight bodies the number Of Federal
employees has also greatly increased. There
are now so many new clerks in Washington
that Government assistance to house them Is
beng discussed. II Is no longer n question
of What shall We do with our cX-Prcs-
dents?" hut "IIow shall VIC accommodate our
cerks?"
So serious is this problem. due party TO
tho crowdnG of apartment houses and hotels
by new army aud navy officials, that a. first
step has been taken through the shipping
Board to build homes for its employees. To
the man who has worked the Panama
Canal, where Government ownership and con-
trol made living comparatively easy for the
Federal employc, this housing proposition
seems quite proper and natural; but to the
old time clerk, who has been ploddlng away
on $1,000 or $1,000 per annum, bearing his
domestic expenses up to the limit of his sal
airy for the last twenty-five years, it is little
short of amazing
But Government control is coming in more
ways than by the appointment Of Mr.. McAdoo
as Director General of Railroads. II is COM
ing rapidly as to suggest Government
ownership of public utilities and such>GoNern-
ment inspection and control OF private busi-
ness as to make mere agents of the Govern
ment of many of our business men. who have
hitherto believed themselves to be independ-
ent factors in the worlds affairs. II Is no
uncommon thing now to see men who have
and
large Industrial institutions working for the
Government and inviting others to come In on
the same basis. Some of them are In charge
of the contractual relations between the Gov
ernment and individual manufacturers who
bv reason of contracts undertaken are sub
sidized to extend their plants and then TO
certain extent become the agents of the
United States on percentage basis.
Whether these establishments which are
now deriving help from the Government will
be able to keep up the pace set for them by
the Government, or will unload on the Gov
ernment before or after the close of the war,
remains to be seen. II is by no means GER
tain that many Of the railroad officials who
have been absolute in their own jurisdiction
heretofore, and who now fguratively take
off their hats" TO Mr.. McAdoo, Director Cen
eral are not better satisfied to have the Gov
ern assure them that their salaries and diyi-
dends will be paid than they were RS inde-
pendent operators,
Commissions on Commissions
A cursory review of the new commissions
| established under President Wilson Is sufil-
| cient to show the tendency. The Federal
Farm Loan Bureau and the Bureau OF War
Risk Insurance are two new bureaus OF the
| Treasury Department which have figured In
large appropriations and the addition of thou
sands of employees one is pretty close to the
| farmers of the country and the other TO the
| soldiers and sailors. Both come under the
| immediate direction OF Secretary McAdoo
| who In addition to his other duties now takes
| charge of the countrys railroads. In the
| Interior Department, under Mr.. Lane, the
| Alaskan Engineering Commission has been
| created, a body charged with the superin.
| tendence of the affairs of the Alaska Railroad,
| which employs a great many men In Alaska
and makes large purchases In the United
| States.
The Bureau of Markets is one Of several
| new bureaus added to the Department OF
| Agriculture. The chiidren's Bureau, which
| has wide field OF inspection, has also been
added to the Department OF Labor. The in
| spection laws Of the Departments Of Com
| merce and Labor have both been considerably
| extended. as have those OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission. the powers of which.
for the present. may be somewhat peutral-
lsed under the general directorship OF Mr..
<A4ro l4Ha loQklhg " ~ Gorornl