The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-27
RAILROADS.
Cknuncey n. Depew on the Theory Of
Government Ownership.

" 011ould tie Government assume owner
M and control Of the railroads?"
IA many parts OF the United States at
~ present time the question is being
0o1Nostly asked: "Should the Government
1Goumc ownership and control OF the rail-
4 <oods@" and we hear il discussed in the
market place, the shop, the street car, the
B home, the newspaper, and even in the
pulpit. In my opinion the answer to this
' question should be very decided mega
= 1Ive. In every country there should be
peoper legislation to protect the public
from extortion, and to prevent
unjust discrimination, but aside
from such restrictive action and
with proper railroad commissions
- tribunals for the prompt and inexpen-
Awe disposition OF grievances and the en-
1orcement OF the laws, maintain that the
Qoyernmcnt should have no authority
over the railroads of a country. In con-
y Nejdering this question with regard TO our
own country of the United States, there
y one powerful argument against 1t
s which VIII at once present itself 10 every
thoughtful voter. Let us suppose for the
nake OF argument that our railroads were
controlled from Washington. is it not per-
/. lectly plain even To the meanest compre-
and such administration of them as we
have seen thus far the party In power could
y never be displaced by any means short OF
. revolution? Think of the vast number
Of places that party politicians would
have at their control with which TO re-
ward their followers. Think of the inn
mense amount OF patronage that the sue
ocssful party would control. The imagi-
nation shrinks appalled, from the contem-
pIation OF it and the consequences that
would inevitably follow.
% But this is not the only objection to hav-
Ing the Government assume ownership and
oontrol OF the railroads in this country.
With our railroad system as it is at pres
ont, the bitter struggle which is con-
otantly going on between the many rival
companies force each to raise its standard
Of excellence TO tho very high point in
the hope of attracting to itself the great
ost amount of patronage. As result of
this intensity OF competition, improve
xnents are constantly being introduced
new inventions are eagerly sought after,
md courtesies and concessions are ex-
tended to the T's<-,ic In many ways. In
word, briefly, ,inoer our present system,
railroad directors are forced to study in
overy way the general comfort, safety and
welfare OF the community upon which
they rely for patronage. These numerous
advantages accrue to the people as the
result of the intense competition between
the many rival lines, for the paralleling of
railway lines to the places, however, much
1t may have injured the companies them
selves, has been OF great benefit to the
fT6V0Iing public. Now Government
monopoly would mean sure and certain
death to competition, and therefore death
70 all railroad enterprise and progress.
The ownership of railroads in Europe is
very commonly In the hands of the gov
ornment, and let us illustrate the differ
ence between the competition existing
in our own country under our present
eygtem OF independent railway lines and
the utter lack OF such competition on the
Continent OF Europe, where, as / have
raid, railroads are under government con-
troll. A dozen different railroads vie ac-
tively with each other for the traffic be-
tween New York and Chicago, but
Etonchman about to take his
departure from his beloved Paris
has no choice in the matter.
>9ne company viii take him south, but
only one; another runs to the west or
north, but neither has rival; and it is SO
IL every part of France. The result is,
therefore, that while free competition has
blessed the United States of America with
the model railway system of the world,
france, lingering still in the darkness of
monopoly, has not yet acquired what
oomo good people call "a realizing sense"
of her own inferiority.
Had railway science attained its ulti-
mate development it is possible that our
Government might be able to control the
xajlr0ad lines of this country successfully.
but railway science is veiy far from hav-
ing said its last word, and no Govern
ment, since it would lack the healthful
stimulus of competition, would ever keep |
abreast with the progress of discovery, as
q being done from month to month by |
our great private companies. AS to inn |
pr0vements which are still to come, such !
ns electric motors, electric lighting, etc., |
every railroad man is essentially an op- |
timist, believing all things possible in the |
way OF rapid transit unless 1t be aerial /,
navigation, which as yet seems chimericaI,
1or railway trains at least.
Another and very weighty argument |
Tg6mBt HffUw1ng our Government TO t
assume ownership and control of the rail- |
roads lies in the difficulties that would |
then bo experienced by travellers in se-
curing satisfaction or redress for wrongs
ofiosscs or injuries of any kind. In the
event OF tho Government assuming
ownership and control of our railroads,
complaints would become virtually |
suits against the Government and a
mans estate is eaten up by lawyers, and
his grandson laid away in the grave be-
Tore anything tangible results from an
appeal TO justice.
TO realize more fully what are tho evils
resulting from having government con-
trol the railroads of country, due to the
inter absence OF competition, it will be
well TO look a little more closely
at the great abuses existing in the
European railways which are under
governmental control. In considering
these we must bear in mind that but for
fhe healthy competition, which, thanks TO
our independent system, our railroads
have always enjoyed, the same state OF
things would be in existence he.e. In the
hrsf place no one is safe in the small com
partments OF their railway tonveyances
hI|h "a tUonlH cell |