The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-08
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF RAIL

GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF RAIL-
WAYS.
In q well-considered article in The arena
for December, on the Government owner
ship of railroads, General Master Workman
T.V. Powderly declares that. by the infiu-
ence of the railroad lobby, tho Interstate
Commerce act was so emasculated as TO Dc
almost worthless, except to provide places
for a few individuals. In the five years
since the creation of the Interstate Com
merce Commission it has punished but one
offender, freight agent, who was hned.
Unjust discrimination still continues;
reckless combinations are entered into with
less attempt at concealment than before;
passes are issued to Legislators, Judges,
County officials, Governors and clergy
in greater numbers than ever before; and
where it is necessary, to silence the voice OF
opposition, blocks of railroad stocks are be-
slowed in liberal quantities" The Railroad
Commissions in every State where they
have been established have proved dead
failures H
Competent authorities make the follow
ing estimate of the aggregate corrupt ex-
penditures of the railroads Of the country:
Annual distribution of passes $50 COO 600
Annual political corruption fund ....". 30,O0OOoo
Secret rebates to Directors and others 5O,ooo,ooo
Total ,O0o, 600
The only remedy he can find for all the
wrongs the people suffer at the hands OF
these public highways is the Government
ownership of tho railroads. Governmental
control, whether State or National, has
proved utterly insufficient, and public
ownership must come. Such ownership
would begin by saving to the public the
above amount Of $110, 100000 year, which,
if it could be converted into revenue, would
be substantial addition to the public in
come.
He does not fear any of the evils which 80
many predict would follow the adoption of
such policy. The people to-day know
much more about the operations of the Gov
eminent than ever before, and they would
be sure to know all about and punish any
corruption. The party in power could not
use the railroad employees to maintain itself
in ofice-the Australian ballot would pre-
vent that, if there were no other means. It
would really give the railroads very mach
less influence in politics than they now
have, for to-day they control the men who
are elected, no matter to what party they
belong. He sums up the benefits to be
gained as follows:
The enormous sum Of money annually expended
by the railroads fee their lawyers would be saved
If the Government owned the roads; the intermin-
able law suits In which the railroad official always
feels that his road must win would cease TO lan,-
Der the court records. Life would be held more
sacred than now. and the great difference in the
number of killed and wounded in the United
States and countries where the railroads are under
Government control or ownership would not be so
great. Strikes would be at end under Govern
ment ownership. for the employees, in common with
other citizens would be the employers then, and it
would be to their interest to see that the manage
ment of railroads nearly perfec. as possible.
Being managed for the public good. instead Of for
private gKin 1t would be in the interest Of good
Government to establish the eight-hour work-day,
wherever practicable on railroads. The employ
ment OF more men lsteady employment at that)
better service. and reduction Of the dangers of
railroad travel TO . minimum, would follow Gov
eminent ownership. The cry Of "Paternal Gov
ernment" does not frighten the advocate of Gov
eminent ownership. for he well knows that pa
ternaiism has been the mainstay OF the railroads
in the past. Whatwe require Is not paternal but
q fraternai Government. In which the masses and
not the classes will be the beneiciaries- Those
who advocate Government ownership also be-
levers in submitting all laws to the people for
adoption. With the adoption of the Initiative aud
Referendum Ia the United States. the most perfect
type Of democracy will be established, and the peo-
pie can be trusted to sustain the party in power
when right. and dethrone II when wrong.
0----------