The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-07
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF
RAILROADS.

When Mr.. Bryan puts the branch
lines in the hands of the states We won
der who will have charge Of the mullet
road? Won't free passes be in demand
when that time rolls around? Every
body will be wanting TO get in" with
the administration IN order to secure
free passes.
There is one point right here We
would like TO have settled: Who IS
going to decide which are trunk lines
and which are branch roads? The fed
eral government is to own the one and
the states the other class Of roads.
Suppose a dispute should arise between
the federal government and a state as
TO whether a certain railroad is q trunk
line or a branch road, the title TO the
same depending On which it is, who IS
to determine the character of that
road? The state would not be willing
for the federal court to pass on that
question; nor would the federal govern
ment be likely to consent TO a state
court deciding the momentous propC-
sitiOn. How, then, will this question
be decided when it is raised as to the
class in which certain roads should be
put? This will be a grave and a dis
turbing question when it comes to di-
viding out the railroad property OF the
country between the federal govern
ment and the states. There will b.
many a valuable piece Of railroad pro-
perty which each will Nant and neither
will be willing to concede it to the
other.
Mr.. Bryan should tell us how he will
settle such disputes. The settlement OF
all such questions as this should be
provided for beforehand s. that the
people can vote ~intelligently on the
proposition. There might be som
fear that the federal government would
choust the states out Of their just
rights in the ownership Of some OF the
roads that they considered should fall
to their share in the division of spoils.
We do not suppose Mr.. Bryan a
overlooked his important point IN MS
scheme of cOnfiscatiOn of this branch
of property, but he has failed to let
the people know how ne is going TO
handle this branch Of the proposition.
BY way of Illustration: II the Atlantic
Coast Line, reaching with its main line
from Richmond to Florida, passes into
the hands of the federal government as
a trunk line will all its branch lines
and feeders in this state go along with
it or will tkey become separate roads
and fall to the share Of the state n
have to be operated by 1t as indepen-
dent lines?
We would like to have Mr.. Bryan
give the people definite information OF
these and many other similar points of
detail which are likely TO arise When
the time m to carry out his general
proposition for a "divy' between the
federal government and the states Of
the railroad property Of the country.
Of course the question as to how the
federal government is going to pay for
the trunk lines or the states for branch
roads does not bother Mr.. Bryan at all.
That is a minor question and Of 10
significance whatever. We suppose
the federal government will issue a few
hundred tons of fiat paper money,
which the holders of railway stocks
will be expected to accept in exchange
for their dividend paying shares Of
stock. But the states cannot issue
money; so how are they 70 pay for the
branch lines? Mr.. Bryan nay be able
t explain this. We are anxious to
know how he will do it.