The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-11-23
BRYAN CRASHING
At LAST STRAW
He Quotes From Chairman
Knapp on Government
Ownership Of Railroads.
PAPER OF FOUR YEARS AGO
Nebraskan Preparing, it Is Said, -
Give 1t Wide Circu-
lariOn.

Report has reached Washington that
the Hon. William Jennings Bryan is
preparing 10 introduce some expert tes-
timony in favor OF his proposition Of
government ownership Of railroads.
In fact, the story, and IL comes in
very circumstantial form. is that Mr.
Bryan is about 10 publish an immense
edition Of little paper on this subject.
read by no less a person than Martin
4 Knapp, chairman Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, four years ago.
before the Washington Economic Asso-
citation. and afteFward printed in the
annals OF the American Academy OF
Political and Social Science. It never
received a general circulation so far as
known. Mr.. Bryan, according To the
story. had his attention called TO Il,
and found Mr.. Knapp's presentation
Of the case for public ownership so
strong that he concluded 10 give it the
circulation which he considered il de
serves.
Chairman Knapp. when asked about
the matter, said he had not written a
paper In favor OF government owner
ship. He had simply tried 10 summarize,
briefly and succinctly, the arguments on
both sides Of the case. He didn't know
whetheA Mr.. Bryan was going TO use the
article. though a friend had told him
that Mr.. Bryan so designed.
No Argument Either Way.
At sny rate the article itself. Of which
| a copy was located, IS an interesting
contribution 10 the question which Mr.
Bryan has brought 10 the front. II
presents no brief for either side. but its
| last sentence says:
If regulation fails. public ownership
viii be the next and early resort"
IL is difficult 70 read into the article.
however. anything less than an argu-
ment for Mr.. Bryan's side OF the case.
Chairman Knapp presents the objec-
| ton that the vOtiaS strength Of 10000
railway employees would be a menace,
adding that such strict civil service reg
ulations would be applied. and public
| sentiment would so coaIsmn effort 70
use them for political purposes that the
danger would be small.
Written Four Yeats Ago.
Public ownership, Mr.. Knapp suggests
next. would do away with discrimina-
ton. and almost any price may be
prohtably paid TO secure immunity from
practices which now prevail" This, II
I must nc 2ApAtLs Ne~7 written ADAA y cal =
or more ago; perhaps Mr.. KnapD's
view would be different since the en-
| fOrcement OF the Elkins and other laws
has been seriously undertaken When
he wrote, however, he illustrated by OBJ
/ serving that under Government owner
! ship transportation charges would be
-'as certain and unquestiO1ed as the
/ Lrice OF postage stamps.
/ The security OF Government stocks as
an investment IS presented as a strong
point in favor of public ownership.
/ Whether rates would be lower under
/ government ownership Mr.. Knapp thinks
| uncertain. That the same energy and
J economy OF administration could be
! secured under public ownership he
! doubts.
/ There is opposition 10 government
| ownership on the ground that 10 re-
| move the mighty business OF transpOrta-
/ ton from the realm OF private enter
| prise would restrict the field OF OppOr-
/ tunity for men OF great capacity.
! II justice, fairness and right can be Sc
| cured through private ownership with
/ public regulation, Mr.. Knapp believes
/ that policy preferable But IF regula-
/ ton fails, public ownership Will be the
next and early resort"