Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-09-14
WASHINGTON LETTER

lSCb ny tne OllBlndl lhtClotito SOii
merce law, the Elkns law, and the
Hepburn law, Mr.. Bryan proposes to
replace these laws which have al
ready put stop to all forms of re-
bates and discrimination by policy
of government ownership and opera
ton of railroads. He belieyes that
the Democratic party, which has
twice followed him to overwhelming
defeat, is still faithful, and that it
will take up his proposal to give to
the President of the United States a
political machine and an autocratic
power over the commerce and indus
tries of the country that would make
of him Gar and enable him to per-
petuate himself and his party in
power. That Mr.. Bryan has ground
for believing that his party would
follow him to any extreme of either
socialism or imperialism is shown by
the fact that although many Southern
Democrats are criticising his views
on government ownership, the Demo
cratic State Convention of Georgia,
held since the Madison Square Gar
den speech, has endorsed him for the
Presidential nomination.
Thus far most of the discussion of
Mr.. Bryan's proposition has been di-
rected to its socialistic and imperial
istic tendencies. 1t is criticised by
Southern Democrats chiefly because
it would concentrate practically un-
limited power in the hands of the
President and enable him to control
national, State, and even local cleo
tions. There are, however, many
practical objections to the plan, such
as the enormous increase in the Ma
tional debt that would be involved in
the purchase of the reads, the in
evitable increase in the cost of opera
tion without increased efficiency, and
the necessity that the government
would be under of making rates on
mileage basis which would favor
the seaboard States at the expense OF
the interior of the country.
Still another practical objection
and one of the most serious ones
grows out of the fact that it would be
almost absolutely impossible for any
one who had suffered damage to per
son or property through the operation
of government load to recover dam
ages. A privately owned railroad
can be sued in court just the same az
any other corporation or individual
and every lawyer Of experience knows
that if the claimant has any kind of {
case jury will always award him the
full measure of damages claimed
The railroads complain, and there ii
much ground for the complaint, tina
in som localities the awards of juriel
in damage cases are excessive and be
yond all reason.
Under government ownership al
this would be changed. The Uniteo
States Government can not be sueC
in any court of the land. A CLAIM
against the United States must b.
presented to Congress. Then, if {
Senator or Representative of infuenc
and industry can be induced to tax
an interest in it, he can secure it
consideration by the claims commit
tees of the two houses. If 1t is passe'
upon favorably bill is reported re
ferring it either separately or togethe
with other claims to the Court @
Claims for finding as to whether
is just claim and, if SO, how muc
should be paid to the claimant
This finding is reported to Congress
and then an appropriation for it's pay
ment must be made before the claim
ant can get his money. Under thi
system, a claimant finds his wa
j blocked at every step by the flu
+ power of the United States govern
= ment The Congressional Commit
4 tees scrutinize every claim with grea
o care and require convincing proof bt
fore it is sent to the Court of Claim
Before this court the interests {
s the government are defended by abb
Y lawyers and the finding is not mad
:. by jury more or less in sympath
). with the claimant, but by judges di
u posed by training and by the trad
o tion of their court to cut these aware
y to a minimum. Under the most fa'
e orable circumstances years mus
elapse before payment can be secu
> ed, and the history of the govern
: ment is replete with instances ]
Q which men and women with perfect
= just claims have haunted the corr
dors of the capitol until their n
sources and even their lives hay