New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-20
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP QOEoIioN'
WHAT TIE PRESIDENT OF THE ATcHisoN SAYS
ABOUT 1T.

GOVERNMENT OWNEtSfilt QOL''' '-''
WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE ATcHIsoN SAYS
ABOUT 1T.
Chicago JAN 1s-President Ripley of the Atchi-
son. Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, has written a
letter to the editor OF n Kansas Populist paper,
replying to "A communication published IN the paper
citing tho number of people killed by the railroads
of the United States a reason why the railroads
should be put under Government control MI
Ripley points out that the railways carry 'he
whole population OF the State OF Kansas TWO ana
a half times over before one passenger Is Killed.
that last year the trains on the railways IN Kansas
ran over 10000 miles and yet only one empioye ;
life was sacrificed for every $1,000 miles Or 4fOo
others killed in the United States in 1896 the re-
ports show that 3sl1 were trespassers-that is TO
say out OF every % persons killed. 10 were Killed
because they were breaking the law.
Next comes the question whether or not the
owners Of railroads are opposed to Government
ownership, and Mr. Ripley points out that the
strongest plea made in behalf of Government
ownership Is that OF r. b. Blackstone. president OF
the Chicago and Alton. who urges 1t as matter
OF justice to tho railway investors There Is no
holder OF railway securities, he says. VINO does not
believe that those securities would be advanced IN
value II there any prospect OF the Govern
ment buying them.
Mr.. Ripley says that II he Is opposed to Gov
eminent ownership 1t is not n railway man. but
as a citizen II is easy 10 talk. he says, OF the
Government giving better service. employing more
men. lowering rates and still making money AS
a matter OF fact" he says. Government manage
mont of anything never was never can be as econom-
ical as private management and 10 earn the interest
on it's investment 5000 10000 to $l5,'rDpoD.pH.
the Government would have to increase the rates
for service. has been done on the Government
owned lines of Australia; cheaper the service,
employ fewer and let things generally gel INTO
disrepair, as done tho aforementioned lines
OF Italy. or face an annual deficit, ana rely on
taxation to make up the deficit. as done on the
Government owned lines in India"
The most serious considerations are however;
Mr.. Ripley saws. political ones. There are 5000
railway employees in the United States. Under
Government ownership. each Of these would be a
political appointee This. he adds. would not only
lower the character of the service. but would
be appalling in the tremendous political supremacy
which those $1,000 employees would give to the
party In power Worse still would 10 the political
results Of the contracts for the construction OF
now lines etc The scandals and jobbery OF the
river and harbor appropriations or OF me taTlil
bill would he nothing compared 10 the field which
would 10 open TO the sposmcn by tho railways.
Tho building of new lines would depend entlIcly
on political pull Districts or states or a poHtl-
cal complexion opposed to that Of the party IN
power would have to wait till tho crack OF doom
for any new lines. AMI in districts where the
friends OF the Administration came from there
would be lines as thick rs stripes on cats oack-