The record-union., 1891-06-19


provided on the railroads of the United
States. These facts are patent to the OBJ
servation of every American who has
travelled in Europe.
5. The Government of France has never
owned the railroads of that country, nor
assumed their management or direction
except in time of war.
q. Italy tried the experiment of gov
ernmental ownership and management
of railroads, but it imposed too great a
responsibility, as well as financial bur-
den upon the Government. Accordingly
the Government has Invested itself of this
vexatious function by leasing all the rail-
roads to two private corporations, each
having separate and clearly defined ge-
ographical area. By this means the Gov
ernment has freed itself from the troubles
incident to competition and the deter
mination of relative rates.
z. The people of England, proud OF
their commercial ability and jealous of
their commercial liberties, spurn the idea
of governmental ownership or manage
ment of the railroads.
8. The political objections to govern
mental ownership and control of the rail-
roads were clearly enunciated by United
States Senator Carlisle in reply to in
quiries propounded to him by certain
delegates to the recent "third-party con-
vention," who sought his opinion upon
that plank of their platform, his home in
Kentucky being just across the river from
Cincinnati. Said the distinguished SEN
ator in reply:
"Do you propose to confiscate the roads?
Do you propose to buy the roads, whose
total capital is S10,000 ,000, 900, of which
$5, .000, 900 is bonded debt, which must
be paid? Do you remember that in the
records of history no Government has
done business at a profit? Do you realize
that the ownership Of the railroads would
add 100000 to the roll of Government
employees, which, with those now
employed, would enable any party
in power to perpetuate its rule-a state of
things which would eventually destroy
our Government?''
The attempt to plunge this unconsid-
cred question into the caldron of political
contest at the present time is utter ridicu-
lous, 1t appears to be an exhibition of
ignorance or of malevolence.
The troubles which now affect us arise
mainly from false method of procedure,
viz: attempting to manage what the
Government does not own, and for the
success of which the Government is in no
manner responsible, instead of trying to
build up a body of law based upon the
lesson OF experience and the dictates of
an enlightened sense of self-interest. as
evolved in the interaction of the forces of
production of commerce and of trans
portation. When the latter policy is
adopted, as it has been adopted in Great
Britain, one decision Of our Interstate
Commerce Commission will go further
toward allaying discomfort than hum
dred decisions to-day. At the rate at
which that highly respectable body is
now evolving decisions, it is to be appre-
hended that in the course of ten years
the railroad lawyers of this country, ex-
eept those willing to study themselves to
death, will throw up their profession in
despair, for the reason that it has become
too much for them. The new departure
will come when Congress and the coun-
try shall be brought to realize that, in
the language of Mr.. Evarts, certain of the
fundamental provisions of the Interstate
Commerce Act are "outside of law max
ing" JOSEPH NIMMo, JR.
Washington, June 4, 1891.