The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-16
Regulation Before Ownerships:

The fact that Mr.. Bryan's plan OF
national and state ownership OF rail
roads is difficult of realization does not
alter the fact that there.is a consider
able sentiment for it, This sentiment
is enot actively, affirmative, but takes
the general line that it may be neces-
sary to take over the railroads whether
the; people wish the, burden, or not.
For the existence Of this sentiment
tt" men who have managed the rail-
roads in the pastare responsible. The
number who believe that tits :practi-
cable for the government to own and
operate the vast, system Of transporta-
ton in. this country must be small, but
that there are any such people at all
is owing not to the socialist determine
tion to- thrust the government into all
enterprises, but almost entirely to dis
satisfaction with the way in which the
private owners have abused the priv
ileges of their position =
The railroad is in a sense public
highway. It is unfortunate that
some 'have been lied to believe also
that the railroad man is. in a sense a
public highwayman. But that it is
true. is his own fault. The railroad
projectors: took every opportunity to
enrich themselves as they went along.
BY j drawing communities into the
meshes Of state, county and city bond
issues they built the. roads at public
expense. They made construction con:
tracts with themselves and saw to it
that at the end of the bond period
they had the proceeds Of the bonds in
contracts and still owned the roads.
When the prosperity came they auda-
ciously doubled and trebled their capt.
talization to cover the fact that they
were earning dividends which would
justify 1eWer rates. =. :. - !
While standing in the place of the
government in their relation to ship
pers and the general public they
claimed to be entirely exempt from
public or governmental interference
with "a private business They or
ganized to- control the politics of the
country and filled the official positions
from senator ) to-. coroner with their
creatures while their Hobbies actively
engaged in the work Of stopping any
small leaks an .the system Of espionage
of public affairs. More than that, the
railroad lobby III every state hired out
to other, 'sinterests" needing aid, and
from corrupting public officials on one
subject spread its system to corruptine
them on all subjects s,niz
The government Of the United States
has only recently seriously addressed
itself, to the task of regulating the
railroads. It's task is far from com
plete. But it must be quite evident
that the recent legislation should be
given fair trial before the peopl,
think of any other solution Of the rail
road problem. Whether the regulation
Of rates thru commission represent
ing congress is solution Of the problem
cannot be known until it is tried. The
wise physician does not treat his pa
tient with two kinds of antagonistit
medicines. at once. He gives one
fair trial before prescribing another
The people will not do otherwise with
the railroads, but they will hold u,
before the railroad managers constantly
the truth HAT shes power Of the peopl,
TO free thsnse1Ves from railroad abuse
is not &. 5ex kausted. It still depends 81
the railE ads themselves whether the,
Will make further action necaas.ry -