The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1907-04-19
Government Ownership.


replied stating his well known upon the subject To l
letter the Journal makes the following comment
Mr. Bryan in his clear frank and courageous letter to h
Wall Street Journal government ownership of railroads pull
sed in another column says THAT If the railroad a
respected the rights of the public there would have been tai
OF government ownership"
The fact therefore, that the leader of the Democratic party
many of whose views regard government control Of the
raons have been adopted by the present Republican administration
advocates ownership due the misconduct Of tn
railroads themselves they had been administered fairly tei
rates had been just and equal between shipper and another
# they had been frank in their dealings with the public
more honest in their dealings with investors if there had been
corruption o legislatures and concentration of financial powe
so enormous to threaten the independence of the fedora
government itself there would have been motive for changing
the relations of the government the railroads In justice should
be said that the railroad have been less responsible aoug
no means bameess) for railroad maadmnstraon than the
don OF railroad competition and the long prevailing ndntne
OF principle in the conduct of business generally They av
facing situation while they themselves created They have com
peed the people to government regulation and that
as the next step may be ownership, Mr. Bryan
proposes.
But the railroads have mot respected the rights Of the pub
nc that 30 reason why the public should not respect the rights
of the railroads. Two wrongs never made one right and the rail
road problem will be solved spirit of anger
The public bound to protect itself and doing if pro
eees to measures that involve any degree of onscaon there will
certainly be reaction that will the loss all that has been
gained Tor tairer competition On the other hand the way
which the railroad managers accept the government reeua
ton will determine whether the step toward government ownership
taken II they want to prevent ownership they
only to cooperate frankly and fairly in applying the system
uaon obeying the law in spirit and letter. establishing publicity
in all their affairs cuvan the good will of their patrons every
point OF conduct and endeavong maintain their rates on inst
and equal level avoiding all tricks of speculative finance If they
want government ownership all they need do return to the
cid policy of disregardng the rights the people and the man
oates OF pubic opinion which many of them followed
The issue with them rather than with Mr. BRYAN Mr. BRYAN
has not the and will have put in force his policy
OF government ownership unless he has support of public op
o and he cannot gain the support of public opinion any such
program unless the railroads themselves create that public opinion m
Their antagonlsm to reasonable regulation their affairs in the
interest of a square deal
Mr. Bryan himself discusses government ownership not as an
immediate issue but ultimate solution of the controversy He
admits that he himself brought reluctantly the belief that
government ownership would furnish the only satisfactory remedy
lie recognizes that majority of the people seem to have faith
regulation and he pledges his assistance practical test of
on under the most favorable circumstances that can be created
1t IS his opinion that regulation will be found ineffective If it isl
ineffective will be because the railroads not cooperate in
ing effective remedy for railroad 1t rests therefore
with the railroads and not with Mr. Bryan make government
ownership possibility
The two chief objections government ownership of the rail
roads First that it would an overwhelming cena
on OF power IN the federal government and second that it is i'm
possible for the to administer the railroads as
aly and efficiently possible private ownership To
he first of these objections Mr. Bryan brings forward his m
for dual ownershphe trunk lines to be owned b
he federal government and the local lines by the government
He argues that this would be in strict accord with the political sv
OF the country and instead of increasing the Capitalization of the
edera power would end strengthen the power of te
aes As will be from his letter. he not propose that
system should be naugurated its entirety at once Il should
in his opinion evolution The federal government might he
i'm with transconnenta line and line running from the
kes to the Cult It is possible that will be necessary for the
edera government only acquire few lines He admits that b
entered upon any details attempted to decide upon what
as the government should buy The great point his declaration
hat the government should buy There proposition for con
caton in Mr. Bryans program although the adoption Of the m
could scarcely fail to result in degree indirect consca
ion
In regard the second objection that the government is n
apabe OF administering the railroads economically and efficiently
private ownership Mr. Bryan argues that if such is the c