The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-01-11
BURLES0N IS BIG BLOT
ON THE WILSON REGIME
Texas Autocrat Blackens Eye of Public Owner.
ship-Interesting Gossip on Pending Leg
islation at National Capital.

lie ownership issues before con-
gress. Definite affirmative act
ion is postponed. The public own
ership advocates are not united,
and the men who want to let things
drift-in other words, to leave
the railroads, the wires and the
stockyards in the hands Of pri-
vate monoply-are confident that
they can get through another two
years without committing them
selves, says, a Washington letter.
Hearings upon the Sims bill,
which proposes government own
ership and operation Of stock
yards and stock cars and cold
storage meat warehouses as a
last resort, but which proposes
government control through licens-
ing as the first resort, have be-
gun. The house committee on
interstate commerce is listening
to Chairman Colver Of the federal
trade commission with deep inter-
est, as he explains the meat pack
ers' monopoly, and shows the ne
cessity Of breaking that monopoly
by legislation. Colver favors pub
lie ownership. So do Commits
sioners Murdoch and Fort. Their
report on the packers last July
was definite and emphatic on
that point. They are now asking
congress to, pass the Sims bill for
lack Of a stronger measure.
Senate for Packers.
Some Of the progressive sena-
tors were in conference a few days
ago on plan to introduce a
straight public ownership bill. It
was to be handled by Senator
Kendrick of Wyoming. At latest
accounts the senator had weak
ened in this idea, and was on the
point of agreeing with the politi-
CLANS, who urged that the Sims
bill was cas- radical as can be
passed."
This stockyard legislation will
not be passed during the present
session. The Republicans, who
will control both branches Of the
next congress, are divided on the
issue Of public ownership just as
the Democrats are divided. It is
reasonable supposition that Com
missioner Murdoch, as a veteran
Bull Moose, is now trying to con-
vert Theodore Roosevelt to the
government ownership viewpoint
in order that the presidential
campaign of 1920 may not find
the G.. O.. P. in too reactionary a
position. Inasmuch as Roosevelt,
who now seems to have the nomi-
nation in his pocket, is sending
out confidential warnings to Re-
publican leaders that broad con-
cessions must at once be made to
the organized labor movement, it
may easily happen that T. R. will
take the same precaution to Sc
.ure the support Of the public own
ership advocates.
Railroad Problem Lags.
On the railroad problem no
real work is being done. The SEN
ate and house joint committee
which inquired into railroad fl
nances two years ago is to re-
sumo its probe on January 2, and
the advice Of McAdoo that the
present government lease of the
property be extended five years
will be taken up. Nobody has yet
drafted a good bill calling for
government ownership and opera
ton. On the other hand, nobody
seriously expects to see the roads
turned back to private hands.
Delay Of decision is likely to be
voted; the Republicans may COM
promise by making the term Of
extension Of the present arrange
ment three years.
There will probably be a nat
,ional conference of advocates of
immediate government ownership
and operation of railroads, some
time in January, here in Washing
ton, called by the Public Owner
ship League Of America. The
league is very small concern,
but if the conference takes place
as now planned there will proba-
bly, be formed a really effective
national organization which will
conduct a propaganda through
the press and magazines and with
in all political parties, the organ
lied farmer movement and the
organized labor movement.
Rail Men For Public Ownership.
In the lineup for and against
L