Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-09-10
State Railways.

DR.. Richard L. Ely, who has gwen eSpeC-
ial study to the subject has been publish
ing series of able articles on the evils of
the existing system of railroad manage
ment, and the abuses that spring there
from, which are well worth careful read
ing and serious consideration. The latest
of these articles is printed III HdIpcT
Mdgdzinc for September. 1t is an aole
argument in favor of State ownership ana
management of railroads in this country,
and is perhaps the best presentation OF
this side of the question which any
American writer has made. In
previous article DR.. Ely described
the abuses of American railroad
management. In this article he aims to
show that there are but two alternatives
possible as remedies of the existing evils.
One of these consists of government resu-
lation by commissions; the other Is state
ownership and management. Or these ne
prefers the latter; and he argues IN taVor
of it that it would put all patrons ana al
business on terms of perfect equality IL
would prevent the enormous wastes due
to needless parallelliug of lines re-
duce charges, both for the transporta-
| ton of passengers and freight, 10
| minimum, prevent vast amount OF poilt-
ical corruption, and improve the civil ser
vice. These would be benefits OF obvious
value. On the other hand there is the OBJ
| lection which would probably occur to
every person interested III the matter, that
| the enormous business interests thus De
volving upon the State would he too eX-
tensIve and too multiform for successful
management. DR.. sly meets this objection
with an appeal to experience. No bust
ness of equal magnitude, lie claims, IS so
well conducted as the postoflice. Why
should not the government manage the
railway system of the country as success
fully as it does the postal service What
has been done can be done. If Prussia
manages her railroads with such s%tisfac-
tory results both as regards the govern
ment and the people, why cannot the
United states =?
As regards the effect which the State
management of railroads would have upon
POLITICS and political morality, Or. Ely
argues that the free pass" system would
be done away. Voters and legislators
would no longer be bribed by railroad
managers. Every patron of the States
| railroads, whether great or small, would
have to pay his way-iust as he has to pay
the postage on his letters. TO the objec-
| ton that the abuses of government pat
ronge which are terrible enough already,
would be UNNECESSARILY increased by the
millions of railway places at the disposal
of the government, DR.. Ely replies that
the very magnitude of the interests at
stake would compel the adoption of "a nom
| tl-t
offices wholly and forever out of politics,
breaking up party oligarchy, and leading
| to a purely Democratic system in which
the humblest citizen could secure Il place
on MS personal merits and without "intloo-
ence." The State has perfect right, says
| Dr. Ely, to absorb any business that is for
the benefit of the public at large-a theoret-
ical right which is sufficiently established
| by the fact that private individuals and
corporations are themselves obliged to go
| to the State for permission to engage in
| this business.
While all this is interesting, it is also
mere speculation. The United States gov
eminent will not in our day take posse,
sion of the railroad system of the country.
1t may, however, and we have no doubt
will, before long, take possession of the
telegraph system of the country-or at
least organize "a telegraph system as past
of the postal service. Beyond that we can
not expect the government to go, in that
direction-during the present generation.
At present, for regulation and control of
the railroads, no better plan has been de
vised than that of efficient railroad com
missions. If these, when carefully organ
lied, prove to be final failures, it will be
time TO talk in earnest of government
ownership of the roads.