The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-01

srArE W.. FEDERAL owNERsHIP.
rh.J more closely the question OF /
go yersus federal ownership OF rail-
roads IS studied the more untenaple
does the proposition for state owner
81 b become. The advocates OF state
: 7knership contend that state owner
in would be simpler and more rapid
IN accomplishment. Quite the con-
frarv. The injection of state owner
ahin into the question, it seems 70
THE Independent, has only complicated
natter. The only apparent reason IN
favor Of state ownership lies In the
claim that were railroads owned by
the nation as a whole it would con-
centrate still more the centralization
81 mower. If there is any ground LOT
fhis objection to federal ownership
a All that ground is swept away py
tha advocates of state ownership them
selves when they admit that with sta,e
ownership there would nave 70 pe
federal commission that Woulu nave
Anal control of roads, since the 1ed-
eral constitution places interstate COM
mere Elm charge of congress. VI course
Il is admitted that transcontinental,
interstate, railroads would involve IN
terstate commerce.
In the first place. the most direct
way Of doing everything in economies
as in every other walk of life, is al
wavs the best and cheapest way. II
it is admitted that state ownership ~,
wolves federal commissions to controi
interstate roads, and nearly all ROADS
are interstate lines, tlren 1t would
seem that the most direct and feasl-i
he plan is to place them under fed
eral ownership and control at once.
IL has alreaiy been pointed out that
state ownership would involve many
complicated questions. For instance:
One state may vote to take over the
roads within it's borders; the adjoining
state may refuse to do SO, and though
ali states agreed to the arrangement,
the regulation of tariff and passenger
rates would be an intricate problem
The auditing of accounts among Inc
various states and private pafsses
would involve an. endless system.
Freight and passengers travelling any
great distance would be governed by
the regulations Of a, dozen different
companies, Al little thought upon this
feature alone will prove to the most
formal capacity that the very object
of state ownership, that iE,. decen-
tralization of power, wolifdsbe defeated
for very short experience with such
complications would illustrate the ne
cessity of# Capitalization OF control,
and thereby force the very thing
sought to, be. .ayerted. 1t would have
q tendency to arouse animosltles be-
tween the states; nomplicationss;o "a ev-
cry possible nature over the handling
OF passengers and freight, that would
neeessitate an increase in the number
and powers OF " federal courts to
straighten out entanglements. This
would be another illustration of the
dangerous tendency soushtr to be
averted. Attempting to decentrallze
power and authority It would not only
centralize greater poweraand authority
bit would add many new and compii.
Gated powers to that centralized pow
er. 1t would therefore seem that since
the advocates of state ownership, ad
NIT the Necessity of an interstate com
mission to regulate and control these
StdtS IOduos eHSJ W0dt0 SSSSSi ~
placed in the immediate ownership ant
control of the federal government a
once. and save all unnecessary trouble
and expense at once. Directness il
everything lis not only the most hon
orable and expeditions plan, but thu
most economical.
III would be just as practicable an,
statesmaniike to advocate the stat
ownership and control of the posta
system. The argument is made tina
federal ownership would create an ar
my of federal employees who woul
dominate elections. II the civil serv
ice were applied to the system woul
such necessarily follow? is there nov
any complaint that employees OF tn
postal system dominate national cleo
tons? Besides, necessary reforr
that must always accompany publ
ownership Is the application OF the in
itiative and referendum, In order tina
the, people may at all times have thei
hands upon the public lever. This mer
power In the people. though seldoI
or never exercised, would prevent an
tnaerunulnug uxes Of the federal Gys