147 



I'athy not want to do it? 1 think that is quite a common 

 practice in most of the states. 



Of course I know there is so little dishonesty in Massa- 

 chusetts that that is scarcely needed here, but I think you 

 probably follow out the custom too. In your national and 

 state banks, you have state examiners and federal exam- 

 iners. What for? Is it because all the bankers have al- 

 ways been so honest or is it because you think you would 

 like to know for sure and would like to keep them honest? 

 It doesn't make any difference what excuse you have, you 

 apply the remedy. Are we doing something we should not 

 do? That is a question for the consumer and producer to 

 Jinswer. That is not for us to answer. 



We have people in this great city Avho are very anxious 

 that the public should have water at the lowest possible 

 I ate and of the very finest quality. It is only a few years 

 ago that the corporations owned practically all the water 

 \rorks in practically all the cities of the United States, but 

 one by one and sometimes two by two these companies were 

 taken over by the different cities, the different muncipali- 

 ties, and they handled the water ])usiness for themselves 

 r<nd water in nearly every city of the Tniited States is ex- 

 tremely cheap and good. Perhaps that is jiaternalism, I 

 am not going to discuss it now. 



You have this parcel post system. The express com- 

 panies did not want you granger folks and farmers and 

 horticulturists to have it, but after many, many years of 

 struggle the corporations at last went down to defeat and 

 the people received their parcel post. It may be a blessing, 

 I hope and think it is, but at least you got what you wanted 

 and that is all that children want, is what they w^ant, and we 

 are all grown up children. 



Our people are extremely anxious about the railroad 

 rate. If the corporations go to the Interstate Commerce 

 Commission and show that they cannot operate at the rate 

 they are allowed to charge the Interstate Commerce Com- 

 mission says, "You may raise the rate." Where is the In- 



