The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-26
RAILROADS SHOULD NOT BE
IN OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT
The Evil Effects That Would Result to the Systems and
the People from Such Course as Many Advocate
By B. BOISSEAU BOBBIT 7

would necessarily follow change
would be an increasing dinlilshment OF
the efficiency of our railway service. II
is impossible for any government, IN
which party service more than personal
fitness determine the appointment OF men
to offices of responsibility, to he conduct
ed on as strictly business-like principles
as is ax- important industrial enterprise
If our railroads were owned and operated
by the government, then all railroad en-
ploveS would be government appolntees-
While employees holding positions OF minor
importance would doubtless be appointed
through the Civil Service Commission for
individual merit, Vet all OF the higher OIL
1icers would hold their positions by virtue
of the success Of the political pa'ts' to
which they might happen 10 oelons, ana
for services rendered said part These
higher employees wouil, OF course. Wish
TO continue to hold their positions, ard
in order 10 do so, for them to mt n!datc
their subordinates in political affairs
would be the only result naturally 10 De
expected.
IL is not desirable for us to have gov
eminent officials whose tenure of office
largely depends on the action Of those
whom they are in a position to success
fully intimidate. Religious or business
matters ought not to be connected with
political affairs further than Is absolute
~ csse1:tisiI. InefflcieICN III politicians
is more often seen than in successful huSl-
ness men Under "a government owner
ship of railroad system, politicians instead
Of successful business men would con-
troll our railroads. Under such a system
competition and rivalry in railway circles
would be sadly lacking: all of which
things would inevitably conduce to a
lower standard Of efficiency than there IS
at present We do not need any system
that will have an irresistible tendency
TO make government officials tErants, ana
to make the positions of employees sine
cures however much negligence they
NANTES, in the performance OF their du-
ties, so long as they vote according 20
the dictation Of their superlors. For,
surely, we do not need anything that
will diminish the efficiency of the arteries
of trade upon which the prosperity OF
the nation is so largely dependent, or
ANYTHING that will tend to further corrupt
our government
WEAKEN ITS STABILITY.
The ownership, of railroads by the gov
eminent would have tendency to weak
en- the stability of our government. inc
existence of an innumeraoie army OF oliice-
holders would have this effect One Of the
most nmistakable signs Of decay III any
20. ernment is the rapid and continued
increase of its ofice-holdeI'S. with their
dependents When Athens Government
was about TO perish Cleithenes tried to IN
fuse new life into it by the creation OF
numerous reforms and new oHlces, out
his efforts were as unavailing as they
would have ceen if he had tried to sweep
back the sea with a broom. Then Pericles
tried to educate the degenerate and ef-
fenlnate Athenians. but he was also pre-
destined to fail. Officers multiplied ana
the ccmpensations fer said officers con-
tinEed 10 increase. until the emo came.
likewise it heralded Rones end when
he,. provincial officers multiplied indef!-
,itely an imperial anarchy was formed
among them. and finally Capitalization
perfected SO far as it was possible to at
that time perfect It.
The best way to Judge the future is