Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-03
SAYS GOVERNMENT
INDUSTRY CONTROL
SPELLS INEFFIC|ENCY

NEW YORK, Nov. 30.--Charles q,
Hughes. speaking before the Insti-
tute OF Arts and Sciences at Column
bia University, asserted that gov
ernmental enterprise tends constantly
to inefficiency.' He characterized as
enemies OF liberty" all those
whose interests lie simply in extend
ing the activities of government so
as to embrace all industry"
Discussing conditions after the way
he declared readjustment should be
brought about as soon as practicable
and that war powers should not be
used 10 control peace conditions.
Such a control, he said, would con-
Stitute 4 most serious offenSe against
American institutions.
The question OF government own.
erShip and operation is, after all, a
severely practical one" said MI.
Hughes. "Of course. there are those
whose interests lie simply in extend
mG the activities OF government so
as to embrace all industry and who
are enueavOring to proceed along
what they conceive TO be the line Of
least resistance in trying to keep n
government hands in time Of peace
what has been taken temporarily by
reason Of the eNigenCies of war.
The instinct of the American PEG
pie, ! believe, can be trusted to
thwart the iusidiOus plans OF these
enemies of liberty, who, if given
their way, would not stop short IL
tyranny which. whatever name il
might bear, would leave little room
for preference as compared to Prus-
SianiSm.
1T is regrettable. but it IS true.
the governmental enterprise tends
constantly to inefficiency. 1t cannot
fail 70 be observed that even i'm con-
nection with the war, despite the en-
GeaVor and patriotic impulse of
countless workers, inefficiency in
important fields of activity has been
notorious. The notion that the con
duct of business by government
tends to be efficient is supersti.
tion cherished by those who either
know nothing of government or who
know nothing of business. The ten
Gency is strongly the other way.
Along with this is the grave
question Of putting the direct oper-
alton OF these great activities unnec-
essarily under political control. That
IS the most serious question. The
dove-tailing of government with bus
mess is apt 10 injure both.
1T is undoubtedly true he con-
tinued, that whenever during the
war, extraordinary powers were fit
ungly exercised and governmental
control was assumed for war pur-
poses, the readjuStment to conditions
of peace must he effected gradually
ana with the circumSpection essen
tlal TO the protection of all the pun
lie and private interests involved
But the immediate purpose should be
TO read1uSt as soon as may be. not
10 use war powers to control peace
conditions. a proceeding essentially
vicious and constituting he most Sc
rious offense against our institu.
tons
Mr.. Hughes added, however. that
undue decentralization would be az
dangerous to national prosperity as
decentralization. Congress. he
said, should provide a sensible plan
for railroad regulation. permittine
sound credit and growth. stabilizing
securities and insuring adequate
service at reasonable rates. He also
declared competition in industry to
be Just as essential in peace time az
during the eXigencieS of war. ana
mat big business was needed r.
soundlyy organized and properly SUI
perVi seds--0ne- great lesson To be de-
rived from the war heaSa i'd was thu
need forneXpert know ledge fl suner-
VlSinT industry and commerce.
He further declared that serious Ia
Dor troubles were looming on 'hs
horizon, and suggested that, in order
10 take up the labor slack. an effort
should be made to start immediately
I'll important public work through
out the country which has been held
llp during the Wal. .-.