The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-04-27
BRYAN ON RAIL
ROAD CONTROL.
BELIEVES IT PREFERABLE TO GOV.
ERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
Wants Control Given d Fair and Honest
Test By Its Advocates.

An authorized exposition Of his
views of government ownership
and rate-lnaking was given to a
Publishers Press representative
| in Washington by William j.
Bryan. It's substance it is as fol-
lows:
Government control should be
tried under the most favorable
conditions; it should be attempt
ed eonscientiously and should ex-
haust every possibility. 1t should
mot be invoked by any one who
makes the wish the father of the
thought that control will fail and
that ownership eventually must
come to pass. Whoever is in
trusted the task of executing laws
for such control owes it to his
nation to throw himself vigorous
| ly, and with honest endeavor into
the movement. Control is much
more desirable than ownership,
and if it will accomplish needed
reforms it is the ultimate most
to be desired.
Rates should be based on the
value of the properties of the
common carriers. This yalUa-
ton should be not the market
value of the shares and bonds on
the stock exchange, because these
are sold in view of the possibility
of producing revenue, rather than
of the actual Investment which
has been laid in building the sys-
TENS. Appraisal should not legit-
imlze at par valuation existing
flotations which contain a certain
proportion of water, but existing
stocks and bonds should be dealt
with exactly according to their
real intrinsic value, and the water
should be squeezed therefrom.
The law should then prevent fur
ther watering of stocks, SO that
rates may be determined to permit
reasonable return on actual in
vestment.
Mr.. Bryan further elucidates
his views by saying that he doubts
that government control will prove
to be adequate. He believes that
it will be necessary to give the
people an honest attempt to solve
the transportation problems
through government control, be-
cause they are disposed to believe
that control will eventually prove
to be adequate. To put into
effect a system of government
ownership before control had been
honestly tried, would be to invest
the government with distrust in
the minds of the people, and any
administration which was to do
this would fail. Honestly tried,
thoroughly administered, intelli-
gently wrought out government
control, therefore is Mr.. Bryan's
present program.
| When, however, as Mr.. Bryan
believes will prove true, control
has been demonstrated to be in
effectual, then it will be necessary
to go to Federal government own
ership of trunk lines.
| Mr.. Bryan has never To this
day declared for the present in
auguration of government own
ership, but insists, and has insist
| ed every time he has spoken, that
control should be honestly tried,
and IN no half f-hearted manner.
In proclaiming this doctrine of
government relationship to rail
roads Mr.. Bryan realizes that be
| is running counter to millions of
men in this country, and that
many of the Democrats are dis
posed to take issue with him.
His wish, however, is not to pop
lularize himself with The people, |
but to reach the ultimate solution
| of the problems which yex the ma
lion now; first, to cure evils flow
| ing from over capitalization; sec
lond, TO compel rates to be lower |
led to level justified by the condi-
Itions and demanded by the rights
lof the producers and consumers
| the nation, in short, which gives
Ito the railroad its franchise and
| grants it the right of eminent
domain, as well as other vital
privileges not given to other in
stitutions or corporations.
The Newton Record complains