The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-21
REDFIELD OUTLINES
! OWNERSHIP PLANS
Secretary Opposes Control Of
"Great Enterprises by
Government.
DEFENDS U. S. EFFICIENCY
Rescue Of Fishes Shown as Elk
: ample Of Saving by Fed
! eral Control.

Although william c. Redheld. Secre-
tsry Of Commerce. told $50 members
- the Purchasing Agents Association
u New York at the Hotel Pennsylvania
.dst night that he was against govern
t'ental operation OF great enterprises"
scnuse OF the result OF the wartime
d y periments with the railroads and
w.res, he nevertheless asserted his be-
Ief that charges of inefficiency against
Inc Government were not justified by
fke facts. And TO prove his latter point
% said
Take the fact that the value of the
Isscued fishes from the overflow ponds
II the Mississippi River is sufficient at
t;rrent prices for those fishes at the
tne and of the size in which they are
.aken to more than meet the entire cost
f maintaining fifty-two fish hatcheries
n the fisheries service BY these hatch
lries the fish food supply of the country
3 very largely maintained to such an
bXtent indeed that In the year ended
Way l almost 1000, 600, 900 eggs had
kcen collected for Matching. Here Is a
eat countrywide service. which by rea-
n of one element out of many saves to
! C country the cost of one of its major
tperdtions, quite apart from and In ad-
hose operations themselves
Two years ago the bureau of fish
cries undertook TO instruct fish curers In
Alaska in the art of curing herring
according to the Scotchs method, a
process heretofore not used in this
iountry. In two years $500 has been
thus expended. The result from the
taae of the fish has been a total gross
business return of $4,000 for an ex-
wonder" asked Mr. Redfeld. be con-
bidered efficiency from a commercial
etandpoint, especially when Il is con-
iidered that the business thus estab-
tshed is permanent for the futureT'
In discussing Government operation of
Utilities Mr. Redield said:
Il think that out of the helpful expert
knce which the nation has had during
the war and the readjustment period.
with Government operation OF our great
tystems OF intercommunication. whether
BY sea, land or by wire, a fact has clear
h emerged which has peculiar interest
for this assembly and which points a
bnger OF warning for the whole country.
] do not recall that this special phase OF
Government. CONTROL was discussed prior
70 the war. yet to my mind II is Of basic
Importance. %, =.
1T has by itself settled my own judg-
hent adversely to Government opera
lion. in a country as large as this, OF the
kreat enterprises involved in our rail-
Eays. our merchant marine and our tele-
graph and telephone systems. wish to
Express my full confidence in the honor.
brightness and conscientiousness OF the
gentlemen with whom 1 have recently
Offered. They acted as they believed
vas right and wise and are so to be es-
tcemed and regarded.
Let there be given to any one of you
Ability acknowledgement one-third
b. moro OF the coal purchases OF the
United States through your predomin-
INT power In buying fuel. and thattihdus-
try becomes plastic in your hands The
pane is true of other great industries
like steel, copper. the ship yards and
the builders of machinery. II will,
pm sure. become clear to your thought
amer rejecting upon the incidental Gre
alton through Government operation OF
unified buying power, that there
would be established an economic force
20 mighty as TO work its will with in
nustry and labor and make thep its
creatures"