Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-11-06
QUESTION TO ANSWER.

TIE Government and the Rnilroads--shall
che People Own tho Railroads or Shall the
Railroads own ths Peopief
In the late convention at Sedalia the
e. g. l. u. OF Missouri modified their
previously formulated demand on the
| United States Government In regard to
railroads, by substituting for the words
Government ownership and control OF
railroads" etc, the idea that the Gov
ornment should control but not own the
public highways The control Of them
to involve the remodeling Of the stock
companies to the extent OF eliminating
all the water from the stocks.
We do not doubt that this latter idea
will fully cover the ground sought 10 be
covered by the farmers in their de-
mands provided It proves TO be feasible.
Hon. Casslus NJ Clay recently reduced
the railroad problem to a brief ques-
ton which covers the whole case:
"Shall the people own the railroads,
or shall tho railroads own the peo-
ple?" And this is the proper way TO
look at this matter. Up to this time
the Government, whether State or
National, has not been able to exercise
any very thorough control over the
railroads, and it is really a matter of
doubt whether a government can exer-
else control that is efficient without
ownership, and II such proves to be the
case we should unhesltatingly advocate
Government ownership. Indeed, we be-
lieve that while It might be impolitic to
urge the putting of any radical change
4,,t Itat 90 Il "a,
ownership OF the railroads and tele-
graphs by the Government will become
a necessity There are great many
arguments in favor of such ownership
and so far as we have heard, not one
valid one against it. We will refer in
the first place TO this one argument
against government ownership which
seems to have much weight 1t is this
The vast amount OF patronage in the
hands OF the Government would enable
political party to perpetuate itself
We confess, that as things have been |
going in this country, the argument has |
some weight, but by slight change in
tho method Of distributing patronage |
and the strict enforcement OF good |
C,vil-ServiAa law, this question will |
cease to cut any figure. The old max
i'm, now in control, ''to the victors be-
long the spoils" Is vicious in every
sense OF tho word and should be up |
rooted from the unWritten law of the |
country. Properly, there are no victors
and no spoils- In the filling of appoint
i've Offices there should be a law, and it
should be strictly enforced. that the So
L. ~l,a 4 IL, a.. Il n
ness and from each Of the political par
ties in proportion to the votes they.
pori6d'a't the last 'precsd ing election. As
to tenure OF Office, every efficient man
should be retained in office, regardless
OF his political belief, and it should be
as much a crime to dispossess a man Of
a position he filed capably, by the Gov
ernment as it is regarded when done by
an indidual employer. This would set
tle the patronage question entirely.
Now TO consider the question Of Gov
eminent ownership Of railrooaH 90
business proposition involves several
propositions;
The ability of the Government to
buy the roads.
. The efficiency of the service it can
render.
s. The benefits to the people.
Tho Government is amply able to buy
the railroads, water" and all, and
make a good investment Of It. Let us
look at the figures. From Poor's Man
ual for 1889, the acknowledged author
ity on such matters we find the follow
ing facts
Total track tuoludlng sldlngs),