The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-07
PITFALLS IN sRYAN's NEW PET
J. J. Hill Finds Three Serious objee.
tons to Government Ownership.

|
disapproyal of Mr.. Bryans plan of
government and state ownership of
railroads.
James j, Hill, president of the
| Great Northern, went into the subject
in some detail, declaring that govern
ment ownership would introduce "un.
paralleled corruption" into railroad
operation and politics The same view
in another way was expressed by
President Mellen of the New York,
| New Haven & Hartford railroad. He
expressed the opinion that private
corporation could be induced to man.
age our postofIice department and
| run it at less expense and with greater
satisfaction to the public than it is
run at present.
Three Objections.
Following are the messages received
| today:
James j. Hill-Three main objec-
tions to Mr.. Bryans plans for govern
ment ownership of railroads suggest
themselves at once. One economic,
one moral, one political. Nowhere In
the world is any enterprise conducted
as cheaply under public as under priv
ate control. Government ownership
means decreased efficiency with IN
creased cost This perpetual burden
must be borne by the people. The
actions brought against federal depart
ment officials, and the investigation
| found necessary within the last few
| years discloses a state of morals in
| public life that no actual railroad
management would tolerate in its en-
! plOy. The railway standard with
| government ownership for its oppor-
! tunity would introduce unparalleled
| corruption into railroad operation and
politics. Control by any political party
of the ways, hours and opportunities
of the army of railroad employees
would insure to it an indefinite lease
of power. Elections would become
farce and the transfer of power forci.
BILE by revolution. These are only the
leading objections to a proposal that
has nothing to recommend it.
Objectionable to All.
Charles S. Mellen-From the stand
point of a security holder there would
seem to be little object. The prices
paid would in all probability be ample
compensation From the standpoint
of a shipper and traveller, considering
government service to be of the char
acter furnished by our postofIiCe de.
partment, it would be less satisfactory,
and a source of endless complaint.
But for the monopoly granted to the
government in the transportation of
the mails there would be corporations
formed that would undertake the ser
vice and handle the same in COmpe-
tition much more efficiently, eCOnomi-
cally and to the better satisfaction Of
the public served. A corporation could
be quickly formed that would contract
to handle the business of III" postOflice
department at profit to the govern
ment and at a satisfactory return also
to it's stockholders. From the stand
point of a citizen, believing in the
present form of government and hop
ing the same may endure, it would
seem most deplorable, in that it would
put sn army of officials and employees
into 1T scales of patronage aal set
standard of pull in place of one of
efficiency. With such an army well
drilled, as it would become in time,
any administration so disposed could
prepetuate itself and elections be more
of farce than they now are in some
sections of or. country. This republic
will endure longer on the theory of
efficient regulation of public utilities
than on that of ownership, with the
attendant jobbery of perhaps consoli-
datiOn and the strife of localities for
ascendancy in trade, with the mOnopo-
lization and graft necessary TO go in
partnership with the same. Much as
there is to deplore in corporate man
agement at the present there is a
! power to which appeal can be made
for redress, but with government
, ownership the mess would be infinitely
worse, would be all our own and we
be deprived even of the poor satisfac.
ton at which to rail, for those who
} rail at what they themselves have set
upon pedestal, write themselves
| fools indeed.
Others Against 1t.
Governor A. II. Medu Ol WdSnluS JOll
i am not in harmony with Mr., Bry-
ans ideas on government ownership
r of railroads.
Senator II. c. LODGE am opposed
to the government ownership of rail
5 roads and have expressed my opposi'
r ton strongly, both in the senate and
t in speeches elsewhere. | believe that
r this policy, if carried into effect
I would be productive of great disaster
e and would revolutionize our system
Y of free popular government, which has
y been built up and maintained with
such great ability and by so many
S sacrifices.
: Senator Morgan. c. Bulkeney-l
have not even read Mr.. Bryan's
y speech.
y Senator A. ]. McLaurin-I favor ant