The Washington times., 1906-09-16
SHAW HITS BACK
AT BRYAN POLICY
RecountS Dangers Of Patron
age in Public Own
erShip.
WOULD DELAY PROGRESS
Secretary Declares Each Congressman
Would Insist on All Roads Being
Treated Alike in Equipment.

MEAiPHIs. Tenn, Sept. l5.-secre-
tary Shaw this evening delivered his
formal reply 10 and criticism of the
public ownership Of railroads program
advanced by William Jennings Bryan.
While in earlier speeches he has al
luded 10 the proposition, in this ad-
dress he took IL up and considered il
eNhausJively. He hrst, however, talked
OF currency. tarif. the trusts. and the
antitrust laws, replied to various argu-
ments il the Madison Square Garden
speech; and then taking up the ques-
tion OF public ownership said in part.
In his zeal to criticise recent legisla-
tlon Colonel Bryan points out d possible
danger applicable 10 the new order OF
things.
Asks About Increased Patronage.
II an appolntive board has the
power he says 10 fix rates and can
by the exercise OF that power increase
cr decrease by hundreds OF millions OF
dollars the annual revenues of the rail-
roads, Will not the railroads feel that
they have a large pecuniary interest IN
the election of a PRESIDENT friendly 10
the railroads. If he We're wholly frank.
he might have said. and with greater
force. If an appontive board, remov-
able by the Executive. can fix rates. and
by the exercise OF that power increase
or decrease by hundreds of millions Of
dollars the revenues of the railroads,
and can also increase or decrease. TO
the limit OF judicial forbearance. the
rates 10 be paid by each and every
community between the seas may not
some Executive who Is both ambitious
and unscruPulcus, by the exercise OF
that imperialisuc power perpeuate
himself IN office to the day Of his death
Unless Colonel BTyans fears that
some Chief Executive may abuse the
discretion lodged with him under the
tate bill are grouudless. then what
might we not fear should the nearly
le,090 officials and nearly 100000 opera
tives OF trunk lines OF road be made
either subject to Executive appointment
or placed under civil service subject
TO Executive removal for capuous
cause, or retention regardless of lnef-
feiency?
Work Would Be Indefinitely Delayed.
Nor is this the sole objection. Not
long ago the directors OF a trunk line
Of railroad held their annual meeting
II finished its business at a single ses-
sion. bat before il adjourned, it had
appropriated Sl0,60000 for extend
ing its lines, increasing It's roll
ing stock. and betteriug its track
and terminal facilities, How long would
fl take Congress TO appropriate $4,000 900
for a single road touching only six
States when every State from Maine
10 Oregon and from Montana to the
Gulf was asking equal appropriations
for the Improvement OF their facilities?
IF the trunk lines were once placed
under control of Congress. does any
one suppose that one line could be
double-tracked and rocl-ballasted until
facilities on every other line were made
equally good2 Would IL be possible To
have an hourly train service between
New York and Philadelphia and be-
tween Chicago and Milwaukee with
parlor cars and dining service. and have
only two trains a day between the
homes Of several times as many SEN
ators scattered between Seattle and St.
Paul? Would 1t be possible to have
through fast train pass any town with
out stopping. and especially the home
town OF a Congressman or Senator?
Would Wipe Out S54,ooo,OOo Taxes.
For the last ten years the railroads
of the United States have paid on the
average a fraction over 3 per cent in
interest and dividends on their capl-
talization, including their bonded in
debtedness. This would be about an
per cent on what It is estimated il
would cost TO rebuild the roads Gov
ernment bonds sufficient TO cover the
present puTchasable value OF the trunk
lines Of road or to construct new ones
could not be foated. free OF the burden
OF taxation even. for less than 4Ib per |
cent. and under Government manage |
ment the roads could not pay . per
cent on the cost at present freight and
passenger rates,
Last year the railroads Of the coun-
try paid $540OOO0O in State, county.
township, and municipal taxes. Since
Government property is not subject 10
taxation of any kind. / fancy Colonel
Bryan's scheme wiz develop some local
opposition before the States surrender
revenues averaging over 81. 200 900 for