The Fort Peck press., 1936-01-16
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
ISSUE IN CAMPAIGN
Questions Aspirants for Com
gress Should BE Asked
to Answer.

WASHINGTON.-The federal gov.
ernnient'g broadening ventures into
fields Of public ownershlptGnd opera
tjon appear to be developing an Issue
with which voters can deal at the
polls in November. according to word
that is hltering into the National cap
ital.
There are throughout the country
several dozen Of these experiments,
the greatest Of which, Of course, L.
the Tennessee Valley Authority. That
agency, wholly government owned and
operated. Is developing and digtrib-
uting electric power on q gigantic
scale. 1t Is rapidly driving out ell
private enterprise having to do with
OF built up around the power busi-
ness.
Further than thar the IVA lately an
n0unced the organigatl ton Of q su5si-
died corporation which will sell elec,
tric household equipment to whomSO.
ever wifi buy. Sales Of washing ma
chimes, irons, vacuum cleaners, and
other such equipment are being made
on the lnstaliment plan, much to the
chagrin Of local dealers handling such
merchandise.
Vast Sums Expended
The federal government Is backing
s hundred million dollars or more Ia
bonds Of the IVA and 1t Is paying the
governing board and It's personnel.
The dams in the Tennessee river were
ut government expense.
Public Works Administration funds
localities In ths construction Of dams
and hydro-eiectrie plants, Public
oaecials In Washington repeat
have called attention to the vast
Of electric power to be devei-
,ped from these government plants
all Of it will be sold in direct con
with the products Of private
industry.
In addition TO the utility phases Ia
Thich Yahlic Works Administration
money has been s-pent-money boz
owed by the federal government
unds are being used In the building
t Whole towns, such as ~ReedsvilDe,
Vest Virginia. ana ia numerous other
experiments Of a government Z
hip character. Most OF these OBJ
are In competition with some
r several lines OF private industry,
nd they are being carried on with
lnds provided from the federal treas-
~.
poEinMe 3~tasernenSe Gought.
With ali Of these circumstances II
them, according 70 the wor0
Washington, an increasing
lmber Of voters are reported to be
skiing the candidates In thcir areaa
w they stand. Some OF these candi- 1
stes, who are seeking reelection. !
I'VE let It be known at their Of {
,es here that they do not 9 how /
ey can avoid definite statements very
uch longer as to whether they are
= or against government ownership. .
Two questions are reported to be :
the voters who have become :
terested in the fight against govern ;
ent ownership. One OF them Is '
leeher, under government ownership, :
ere can be operation without that
rticuiag function becoming q polt-
II football. The other question CON {
rAs taxes. The voters are said to be b
what the total cost will he II Il
/, government continues to acquire Q
construct government owned and j
economic units. The inf0rnn- 6
Il is that lneOule are becoming CON
ned over tie mounting tax burdens
federal and state and local govern
nts and have fears as 60 she fu- !"
e, =
Fear Revenue Aoea -
members Of congress lately -
~ received letters from officials
their respective states indicating
I'm over the reduction In revenue Cl
local governments II the federal ar
,grnnlens continues to expand Its
OF what has heretofore
Ii private business. The state an
rifles, as we'll as the county and tH
atc!pal officials, foresee sharp cur {"
mant In the receipts upon which e
= depend for payment Of their run
: expenses and the necessary In
.yeuasnts, such rs highways and the
/. III. one instance, the state otd;
asked point blank what would
pen to the state OF local treas ha
g If the federal government took
: the railroads. Ke added s par III
lph to the effect that if the expan- & (
OF government ownership con fop
there Will be nothing left for
% tax except farm lands Row b8- 5to
blown away by hot winds" -
noDg the groups who are muster
strength In opposition to govern
{ ownership OF the railroads the 4 ,
/ is being sent out to every one
Will listen that the railroads are 3"
ng Approximately $3.50, 000,000 In AV
: to the federal, state and county -
They are pointing out that
revenue will be Lost II the gov A
lent decides TO buy the railroads
operate them under public OVID SIi'
II. -
sone Instances, It has beer .,
II, that the taxes paid by the rail. -.
a., 1.oal oO4,7rnr1ultv op,ouu& - lFti