The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-07-29
HOT CLASH OVER PLAN
FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES
Government Ownership Only Way to
Run Them, Declares Former
Governor Foss.

Washington, July 2S.-Eugene n |
Foss, former governor of Massachu-
setts, advocating government owner
ship of all public utilities, and James
l.. Quackenbush, counsel for the In
terborough Rapid Transit company.
of New York, who declared Mr.. Foss'
proposals were stuff and nonsense"
gave the electric railways commission
the liveliest session since it started
its investigation of the condition of
street railways in this country.
Private ownership has fallen
down" Mr.. Foss asserted. There is
left only public ownership with pri-
vate operotion or public ownership
vate operation or public ownership
a better democracy. We have got 10
democratize our transportation; then
we have got to democratize our in
dustries; otherwise they will be in
the same condition they are in
abroad"
Put stop to this cheap talk, to
this old stuff" retorted Mr.. Quack-
enbush. THE thing TO do is not to-
talk bunkum, but to recognize facts.
Unless we can get an increase in far,
between now and January it means a
receiver for the lnterborough If you
are going to do something get busy.
} Put little oxygen into the patient.
and then if major oneration is nee
essary, perform it
Other witnesses were j. D. Morti-
mer, president of the Milwaukee
Electric Railway and Light company.
and James o. Carr, of Pittsburgh.
formerly member OF the New York
Upstate Public Service commission.
. A letter from Thomas A Edison was
read. in which he said:
The iron-clad contracts between
the roads and cities made in pioneer
ing days under normal conditions
have no protective clauses against the
greatest change that has taken place
\ in centuries. due TO the world war
The municipalities can exact their
pound OF flesh if they so desire. with
ganizations. but the spirit that is now
abroad in the world is against this
, We are all trying to play fair If
4 suffer we must, let us all suffer alike
{ If prosperity comes, all should par
j. ticipate in a like manner"
Mr. Foss expressed a belief that
the electric lines in his state would be
well on the way TO public ownership
before snow flies" Recent fare in.
= creases TO 10 cents in Boston were
). not popular, he said. resulting in a
y loss OF 25 per cent in traffic and s4.-
& 600 day in revenue.
3 we have a campaign on in Massci
5 chusetts this fall. in fact ii = on
: now" he continued "In my judg-
= ment they are going to go 10. govern
ment ownership"
? Control of the railroads by the gov
T. ernment during the war was said TO
o be fair test of government owner
n ship by the former Massachusetts gov
ernor who ascribed the existing deficit
TO war conditions. despite the cam
= paign' 10 make it appear that gov
:. ernment control was responsible. Re.
4 ferrinc 10 scandals in connection with
4 the management OF the New York
4. New Haven and Hartford railroad
Mr Foss said:
Banker management Of all public
L sevice corpoations has got Il
cease, why? Because the temptation
- 10 wreck these properties and reor.
!, ganize is too great. They do it every
,s 10 years. These stocks have got to
cease being speculative footballs"
Asked about increases in operating
H. costs Mr. Foss declared the railway.
8 had grated and stolen so" that nc
" commission had the courage to tel
h. the public what ought 10 be done and
DO that rates should go up not 25 pei
H. cent but so per cent He said /,
g might be necessary in some cases tc
gran; fare Increases TO tide over lines