The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-28
PRESS COMMENT
Which Plan Is Best?

Which Plan Is Best?
Should man devote all of his time
to his own personal and private bust
mess to the exclusion. of public af-
fairs?
Or should he seem at times to neg
lect his own business just to give at
tention to affairs which affect the
community in which his business is
located.
7 One of the good friends of The
Times recently found fault with three
or four of his acquaintances, because
he said he couldn't find them at their
places of business.
"They are always running about
helping to finance the ball team, work.
ing on chamber of commerce commit
tees, helping with the school fund
drive attending meetings of the Rot
airy club, going to other cities on CONF
mittees to get data about this or that
city, instead CT tending to their own
business"
Thus spoke this friend Of The Times
in effect if not in words.
Unfortunately The Times doesn't
agree with it's friend. And we would
doubt that this friend really believes
what he would make it appear he be-
lieves.
Tending to your own business is.an-
other, but they are things which can
not be separated, no matter how we
may try to separate them. The man
who tends strictly to his own business
without thought of the general good
of the community is a poor citizen.
On, n 0f1 ha
all his time to the public's business
and none to his own is a poor citizen.
It's the happy medium, the Times be-
lieves, which works for the best of all
concerned.
However, The Times leans to the
favor of the man who may seem to
neglect his own affairs now and then,
If he may be found working in unset
fish spirit for the good of the COM
munity. Such man rarely fails in
business, because he is good enough
business man to know that what prof
its the whole community must be gain
fer him.
ST. Petersburg's success has been
due. The Times believes, to the fact
that a large percentage of her bust
ness men have been of this type, and
il you will look about you, it will not
be difficult to find proof that the most
successful business men are those who
are laboring not only for their per-
sonal gain, but for the citys best in
terests.-St. Petersburg Times.
Rates and State Lines
In its decision denying the right of
Florida and Georgia to regulate freight
and passenger rates within their linn
it's, the interstate commerce commits
sion brushes away practically all that
remained of the once formidable
stock of state rights. Incidentally it
assumes powers which are almost uni
versal in their scope.
The reasoning by which that body
reached its decision is worthy of the
line OF arguments by which the states
have gradually been emasculated. l.
fact, 1t is this. This state must not
permit a lower rate between Lakeland
and Tampa than the federal authori-
ties prescribe betweet Savannah and
Jacksonville, because it would give the
Lakeland man shipping to Tampa an
advantage over the Savannah man
shipping to Jacksonville.
Such logic Is hard to answer; be-
cause, if it's fallacy can not be seen at
q glance, it is hard to demonstra te--
like proving that one and one make
two, or that the shortest distance be-
tween two points is a straight line.
But that is not saying the supreme
court will not uphold the decision.
That august body, with Cue respect to
its augustness, has never lacked an
excuse when 1t was a question of TAX
ing from the states and giving to the
nation.
Yet one can not help wondering
where the interstate commerce COM
mission will stop. If it can regulate
Ultra state steam road rates, il can
control the jitney 'busses. Because,
the line of argument to which it is
committed is al1-comprehensive in its
scope.
However, there is one point in this |
connection that is timely and worthy |
of earnest reflection. A commission
after the Prussian model-with both |
legislative and judicial powers-is a /
fearful and wonderful thing: and /
enough of the operations OF this ard |
other similar commissions have been |
observed TO show the public what il /
may expect when every business, So
cial, domestic and moral activity OF