The Cairo bulletin., 1907-07-13
PRESIDENT TAKES
BRYAN 5 PLAN
WOULD BUY UP STOCK OF BIG
CORPORATIONS TO GAIN
CONTROL.
AND GET THEIR SECRETS
Would Be First Step Toward Com.
plete Government Ownership
Wants Government or ri.
rectorate Of Big Lines.


+ washing on, ID. G., Jly l2--Presl
fdent Roosevelt IS considering recon-
intending to congress form or modi
fled governmental ownership of rail
roads, The scheme he is now study
ing at Oyster Bay Is that adopted BIZ
| the German government IS a step 10
he complete ownership of all rail
way lines.
The plan which President Roosevelt
Is now considering recommending to
congress proposes to have The govern.
nent purchase stock In number Of
the chief railway systems of the coun.
try, so al to give 1t representation
On the boards of directors. These GOV.
eminent directors would be in posi-.
ton TO know the most closely guard.
I'd secrets 0 fine management Of the
respective roads, and there would be
10 further need Of the inquisitorial
methods which have come into use
'ince the active regulation of rail
roads by the federal power was under
aiken.
In fact ii Is claimed that there
would be no more railroad secrets
since at all the meetings of directors
there would be present the represen.
atiyes fthe government, whose chief
luty II would he to see that publicity
vas given all official acts of the re-
'pectiYe directors. This system In
iermany was the stepping stone to
absolute ownership by the govern
nent. Having gotten this foothold
he government proceeded to purchase
\ trgnk line outright, cut down rates
md forced other roads to sell out.
II is not precisely clear how the
government would proceed Ia the mat.
ter Of compelling the roads in which
L owned stock to allow It's represen-
fation On the board OF directors. but
the power Of the United States gov
eminent has quite recently come to
pc a thing feared by the average rail-
way corporation. and the exercise OF
his power would probably produce
the result desired
President Roosevelt stands as tho
pre-eminent champion of government
u control of railways. He has thus
Tar left to Mr.. Bryan the advocacy of
governmental ownership under certain
Indeed It is asserted
NAT this Is about all he has left tho |
Nebraskan statesman, should the |
president take this much of The doe |
rine of governmental ownership |
which, 1t Is believed, would eventuate |
n the absolute ownership which Mr.. /
Bryan predicted first In his Madison
square Garden speech last fall was
'ound to cone, the latter would he
eft with little more than the doc.
rine of the initiative and referendum
s distinctive belief
The proposed scheme Of modified
wnership is in perfect accord with
ir. Bryans doctrine that the govern.
1ent shorld exercise full control over
ho road until the time arrives for
wnership by the government. and It
; practically certain that If the presi-
ent does not recommend modified
ovcrnment ownership certain Demo-
rats in congress will propose the
cheme.
II is known to few people that the
resident some months ago sought le-
al advice as TO the powers of the fed.
raj government to own and operate
He was advised, It is under
TODD, that the general government
nder the constitution, could buy or
onstruct and operate a railroad for
Sc in carrying mails and for military
nd other governmental purposes;
lat IL could carry freight and passen-
ers from a point in one state to
oint in another state. but that It
)uld not do an intrastate passenger /,
r freight business.
These was much speculation at the
me this advice was sought and given
) to the drift Of the presidents mind
hen he asked for information. Il
ems all clear now. but the question
! to the constitutional authority FOR
,vernmental ownership Of even a
nall block Of stock I'm a railroad do
e a general interstate and intrastate
eight and passenger business Is not .
.tled-