The Fort Peck press., 1936-04-02
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
ISSUE IN CAMPAIGN
Questions Aspirants for Con-
gress Should Be Asked
to Answer.

WASHINGTON.-The federal gov
ernment's broadening ventures into
fields of public ownership and opera
ton appear to be developing an issue
with which voters can deal at the
polls in November, according to word
that is tiltering into the National cap
ital.
There are throughout the country
several dozen of these experiments,
the greatest of which, of course, is
the Tennessee Valley Authority. That
agency, wholly government owned and
operated, is developing and distrib-
uting electric power on a gigantic
scale. 1t is rapidly driving out all
private enterprise having to do with
or built up around the power bust
ness.
Further than thai the IVA lately an
nounced the organization of a subsi-
died corporation which will sell cleo
trio household equipment to whomso-
ever will buy. Sales of washing ma
chimes, irons, vacuum cleaners, and
other such equipment are being made
on the installment plan, much to the
chagrin of local dealers handling such
merchandise.
Vast Sums Expended.
The federal government is backing
q hundred million dollars or more in
bonds Of the IVA and it is paying the
governing board and it's personnel.
The dams in the Tennessee river were
built at government expense.
Public Works Administration funds
are being expended in a score OF more
localities in the construction of dams
and hydro-electric plants. Public
Works officials in Washington repeat
edly have called attention to the vast
supply of electric power to be devel-
oped from these government plants
and all of it will be sold In direct com
petition with the products of private
industry.
In addition to the utility phases in
which Public Works Administration
money has been spent-money Dor
rowed by the federal government
funds are being used in the building
of whole towns, such as Reedsville,
West Virginia. and in numerous other
experiments of a government owner
ship character. Most of these OBJ
viously, are in competition with some
or several lines of private industry,
and they are being carried OF with
funds provided from the federal treas
ury.
Definite Statements Sought.
With all Of these circumstances con-
fronting them, according to the word
reaching Washington, an increasing
number of voters are reported to be
asking the candidates in their areas
how they stand. Some of these candi-
dates, who are seeking reelection,
have let it be known at their Of
fees here that they do not see how
they can avoid definite statements very
much longer as to whether they are
for or against government ownership.
Two questions are reported to be
agitating the voters who have become
interested in the fight against govern
ment ownership. One of them is
whether, under government ownership,
there can be operation without that
particular function becoming a polIt-
ical football. The other question con-
Germs taxes The voters are said to be
inuuiring what the total cost will be If
the government continues to acquire
or construct government owned and
operated economic units. The inforn}a-
tion is that people are becoming con
cerned over the mounting tax burdens
of federal and state and local govern
ments and have fears as to the fu-
ture.
Fear Revenue Loss.
Several members of congress lately
have received letters from officials
in their respective states indicating
alarm over the reduction in revenue
.---l p Lha Enlanal =