The Carlisle independent., 1921-02-10

says. "It has not, however, robbed me of my serenity of mind or spoiled either my disposition or my appetite. You see know who my enemies are, how I made them, and why, and the reasons are satisfactory to me" In the list of these enemies, Mir. Burle- son places the express companies, the railroads and the newspapers and magazines. In his mind they are a bad lot, and even though it may be 8 fact that they all reciprocate the kind of sentiment that Mr. Burleson ex- presses and are as non-lovabie as the Texas politician, still the reasous for the differences may be entirely dis tinct. Mir. Burleson asserts that mail is now being delivered to six million more people in the country and five million more in the cities than eight years ago, and that is "less waste, less fraud and less politics now than ever before"
 Mir. Burleson's proud enemies as- sert that in taking over the wire lines of the country, after the war was over, he did so for the sole purpose of foisting Government ownership on the United States, because it was a pet hobby of his-and not a national necessity. Students of the parcel post system say that in the matter of the carriage of small packages that the express companies still have the most profitable end of the business while Burleson absorbed the unprofit- able end. Just what solace "the most unpopular man" finds in his attempts to hold up the newspapers and maga- zines of the country, and make their rates, he does not explain.
 After all, MT. Burleson's principal unpopularity is doubtless due to the fact that he cared more to create a surplus in earnings for the Postoffice Department that he did to promote the welfare of the thousands of men whose wage he sought to keep below the actual cost of living. He failed in both instances.
 A National Referendum
 The referendum just concluded by the Chamber of Commerce of the Uni ted States covering the question o1 local transportation throughout the country has produced 1889 votes, cast by local Chambers of Commerce anc Boards of Trade throughout the coun. try in the affirmative on the question Existing traction facilities should be conserved" There are no negative votes. The same results attends the vote on the following question "Fhe attitude now taken towards street railway problems should be based upon the present and future needs of the Community" Private ownership with regulation 'that will promptly follow changes in the situ- ation," with provision against unfair competition, as well as relief from "all burdens unrelated to the service, are overwhelmingly favored. The ref erendum also declared in favor of def mite official responsibility for the Zap plication of regulation as well as for the availability to the public al all times of "the facts as to the re. suits of operation" and for "resident responsible executives wholly conver- sant with local requirements.
 These referendums, in which the trade bodies of the country have been participating, are interesting inas- much as they show a disposition to deal with absolute fairness with the public utilities of the country. The political situation has also cleared itself materially, and the policy o1 Hive and let live" appears to govern the attitude of members of the Fed eral administration, in and out o1 Congress. Reports to the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Fedora Trade Commission, and the Interior Department, all indicate that the country has settled down to a sane determination to encourage private ownership and efficient public regula- tion, not only of local transportation but of lighting and power plants as well.
 All He Got Out of Life
 Senator Fletcher of Florida tells this story in illustrating the difficult