Evening journal., 1905-05-26
OWNING OF RAILROADS
Bryan Tells How the Govern
ment May Acquire Them.
TWO METHODS ARE SUGGESTED

Let the Federal Government own
the Trunk Lines, Says the NehrRs-
kan, and the States own the Local
Brancbes-DuaI system, He Claims,
Oners several Advantases-Can BE
InRuEurated More Quickly.
Public ownership of railways is thus
treated by William ]. BRyan in the
Success Magazine for June:
The consolidation OF railroads. the
obstruction Of rate legislation and the
constant discrimination practiced by
the railroads against persons and COM
munities-all Of these are tending to
increase the number of those who ad-
vocate the public ownership Of rail
roads. Usually those who favor the
public ownership Of railroads advocate
ownership by the national government
lin fact, this is the only form OF such
ownership that has received attention.
The arguments In favor OF it have
been much the same as those made in
favor Of municipal ownership Of street
car lines and other municipal works or
plants, and the objections to it have
been the same urged against those,
with the addition that the federal own
ership Of railroads involves a centrali-
zation of power at Washington, which
might In the end result in the oblitera-
tion Of state lines.
Those who insist upon the preserva-
tlon Of state lines are not attempting to
revive the discussion that once ragged
over state sovereignty versus national
supremacy, but they are actuated by
the belief that local self government is
the safety Of the republic. Believing
that the people can govern best where
they are best acquainted with the con-
ditions 10 be met and the things to be
done. those who defend state govern
ment and state action believe that the
republic is strengthened by the prese
vation OF state lines, each state dealing
with matters Of state Importance
The ownership OF all the railroads
Of the United States by the national
government would throw upon it the
employment Of an immense body Of
men. and these men could not be en-
ployed from Washington without large
ly increasing the relative importance
of the federal government as com
pared with the state government. and
the removal OF so large a part OF gov
ernment work from the states TO the
nation would weaken the states power
OF resistance TO federal encroachment.
A system OF state ownership for the
local network OF railroads, coupled
with the federal ownership Of the
trunk lines. would give all the advan
tages that could come from the federal
ownership OF all the railroad lines and
at the same time avoid the centralizine
tendency OF undivided federal owner
ship. The trunk lines, when once own
ed by the federal government. would
not have TO be expanded or extended
while the local mileage is being con
stantly increa-ed. A system Of TRUNK
lines established today would answer
the purpose OF interstate commerce fif
ty years hence. while the local mileag'
will probably be doubled, trebled Ol
quadrupled during the next half cen
tuIy.
This dual system Of public ownership
offers several advantages, among
which may be enumerated:
First.-It can be inaugurated NOR
quickly. Before all the railroads coul,
be taken over by the federal govern
ment it would be necessary to secure I
president, a senate and a house Of rep
resentatives favorable 10 the plan
whereas state ownership can be at
tempted whenever any state is read.
10 make the experiment. For instance
Kansas, having decided 10 establish al
oil refinery, may find it necessary L
establish q railroad to carry the oi
from the wells TO the refinery and fron
the refinery to the distributing centers
ANY state which finds It difficult t
regulate railroad rates by Legislation
can try the efficacy Of regulating b,
the building or the buying OF a stat
railroad.
Second.-A system Of federal owner
ship could not be undertaken unit
those favoring public ownership coul'
agree upon a basis Of purchase or con
demnation, whereas state ownership
enables each state to deal with tn
question according to the conditions .
be met in the state and according Z
the opinion Of the people of the state.
Third.-State ownership enables tn
movement to avail itself Of experi
ence. As each experiment In munici
pal ownership has strengthened thos
who have been advocating it in othe
cities, so the success Of one state raj
road would encourage the adoption O
public ownership in other states.