The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-07-25
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
HAS FAILED, floss
TELLS COMMISSION
Lively Session Held as
Former Official Urges
Government Ownership
All Public Utilities
By Associated Pre-.

Washington, July ei--Eugene N
Foss, former governor OF Massachu-
setts, advocating government owner
ship of all public utilities. and James
l.. Quackenbush counsel for the Inter-
boro Rapid Transit company Of New
York. who declared Mr.. Foss proposals.
were stuff and nonsense" gave The
electric railways commission today the
livellest session since il started its in
vestiration of the condition of street.
railways in this country.
Private ownership has fallen down."
Mr. ,Foss said There is left only pub
lie ownership with private operation or
public ownership and operation. rhis
primarily means better democracy.
We have got TO democratize our trans
portation, then we h.ve got TO dchoc-
rattle our Industries otherwise they
will be in the same condition they arc
in abroad
Put stop to this cheap talk. to
this old stuff" retorted Mr.. Qua, y
enhush. THE thing to do is not to
talk bunkum, but to recognize facts.
Unless we can get an increase in care
between now and January it means
receiver for the Interboro If you are
going to do something. get busy Put
little oxygen into the patient and
then If a major operation is necessary,
perform It,"
other witnesses today were j. n
Mortimer, president of the Miiwaukee
Electric Railway and Light company.
and James O. Carr. of Pttsburr. for
merly member of the New York ,.p-
state public service commission a ~
ter from Thomas A. Edison was reld.
in which he said. The isonelsd cor
tracts between the roads and cities
made In pioneering days under normal
conditions have no protective claLA,s
gainst the greatest change that has
taken place in centuries due to The
world war. The municipalities can OK
pect their pound of flesh il they so de-
sire. with the ultimate bankruptcy of
these organizations but the spirit that
Is now abroad In the world is against
this. We are all trying to play fair
y suffer we must, let us all suffer
alike If prosperity comes all should
participate in a like manner"
Mr.. Foss expressed belief that the de-
clires in his state would be we'll on
the way TO public ownership before
snow flies Recent fare increases to
% cents in Boston We're not popular. he
said, resulting in a loss of IS per cent
in traffic and 5000 day in revenue.
We have campaign on in Massachu-
sets this fall; in fact. it is on now"
he continued. In my Judgment they arc
SoiuS 70 nave government ownership.
Control of the railroads by the govern
ment during the war was said not to
bt fair test CT government ownership
by the former Massachusetts, governor,
who ascribed the existing deficit to war
conditions, despite the Campaign OF
banker owners of the railroads to make
Il appear thai government control was
Referring to scandals in
connection with the management of the
New York. New Haven and Hartford
Mr. Foss said
Banker management CT all public SER
vice corporations has got to cease. Why.
Because the temptation to wreck these
properties and reorganize is too great.
They do 1t every 10 years. These stocks
nave got to cease being speculative foot
balls."