Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-27
Senator Patterson Makes Strong
Speech on the Subject and
An Favor Of It.
PREDICTS THAT lT WILL COME.
Railroads increase in Power Aggrrs-
stveness and IN Utter ludlicr-
cncc TO Public Rights.

dsHluglpni req. EG--SQnALNr rat
terson Of Colorado addressing the sem
ate today, made q plea for government
ownership OF railroads, he predietet
such u condition would be brought
about within the lifetime of the present
members OF the senate, hut did not an
ticpato any speedy action In that direc-
ton.
The railroads. he declared, were
growing more arrogant each year, and
AS he saw little or no relief w the new
rate law, government control Of the
roads would supply the only remedy
To show he Nalpo Of his words Mr.,
patterson presented figures from 70
countries, showing the presence OF gov
efinent ownership in some form, and
he saw . steadily increasing sentiment
In that direction, So far as the United
states Is concerned, American roads he
valued at between Sill. 00O, 100000 and
N2,OOOOQo'OOo, They could be obtained
nS condemnation proceedings the IL
nanclal end being covered by a mort
gage backed by til governments guar
antee.
Mi, Patterson ridiculed the idea that
vast political machine would be built
up through federal operation Of rail-
roads, AS matter Of fact. railroad
politics would be abolished Among the
Dement'S TO be gained through the esSn-
ership, Mr., Patterson mentioned exteu-
sion pt the postal system n postal en-
press and equitable rates
Predicting that government owner
ship OF railroads will be an accom-
Pushed FACT within the liftime OF pre-
sent members Of the senate, Yet not am
ticipatng speedy action in that direC-
ton Senator Patterson of Colorado TO-
daS made an exhaustive presentation
OF the subject in advocacy OF govern
ment ownership. Mr., Pattersons we
marks were predicated on a bill recently
introduced by him providing for the ac-
QUESTION of the railroads OF the country
by the government
AGGREssIvENEss OF RAILROADS.
Regardless " the Efforts Of Congress
70 regulate the railroads, "the mower
and purposes OF the great railroad
combinations have not changed as~
serted Mr.. Patterson. They have in
creased IN power, aggressivepeSs. and
III utter indifference TO public rights
The railroad rate law ne regarded as
presenting little promise OF relief This
legislation he commended, Was forced on
the railroads by the pressure vi public
sentiment, and When IL became plain 10
| the people that no relief has resulted
the same pressure Will accomplish gov
eminent ownership.
Mr. Patterson quoted from the SUI
prefne court that "a railroad is public
highway. and none the less so because
constructed and maintained through the
agency of corporation. deriving it's
existence and power from the state
such corporation was created for pub
nc purposes, II performs 4 function
of the state
EXERCISES GOVERNMENT FCNC-
TON.
ON the fact that railroads exercise a
Function Of the government" he said.
depends the rights of the people With
regard to the ownership and operation
of the roads.
MI. Patterson presented a table show
ing the attitude OF 81 countries towards
railroads or these government owner
ship obtains to greater or less extent
In 80 and Is exclusive in CO. Private
ownership obtains in rs and is exclu-
stve in ilVe. This Mr. Patterson saiS
shows that the construction and owner-
ship OF railroads is really the business
OF governments. as three fourths Of thc
deInocracies and tYvo-thirds OF the mon
arches of the world own railroads.
ACQUISITION OF ROADS.
The United States government. MI
Patterson maintained, could acquire eS-
eeedings under the postroad clause
He supported this contention also by
supreme court decisions Not only the
roads, but their corporate franchises.
he said, could thus b. acquired by con-
domination.
As 10 compensation. Mr. Patterson
conteudcd that tho stock and bond
holders Of the roads ought 10 be paid
fun value for their holdings The full
value of all American roads no placed
at between $1,000 Oe0 900 and $4,000
100000 His suggestion for financing
the governments purchase of the rou6s
MAS 10y 4 mortgage backed by govern
ment guarantee which would work oul
by having stock and bond holders en-
change their holdings Tor government
bonds. He believed this exchange
would be SO attractive as 10 secure 10
the government, practically all private
railroad holdings.
SCOUTS MACHINE IDEA
The idea that government ownership
would result iIi a political machine by
the combination of employees Wsss scout
ed by Alr, Patterson Al the outset. lac
suggested, no radical change should be
made IN methods of mana cement. Rates
should he fixed by the Interstate COM
mercc commission and a division OF
transportation should be established Ia
conduct tho actual operation Of the
roads The reforms that would follow
would be- large economies 10 tho freight
shipped and reduction Of the passenger
rate one half.
II would permit OF extending tho
postal system ana establishing postal
express. il would guarantee the adop-
ton of all known safety appliances and
the best signal systems Service PEN
sions would be- paid employees and now
and needed lines could be built Rail-
way politics would be abolished ana
equilibrium Of power between the STATE.
the government and the people restored.
Reforms ~ rate-maklng By adopting
the zone system, and in freight ulassi-
hcation would result. Government
ownership need not, he said prevent
private construction Of roads
MANN nm mnnAW