Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-11
HOW TO CONTROL
RAILROAD COMP N|ES
Probable Recommendation to
Congress by President.
GOVERNMENT TO BUY STOCK
And Become Shareholder in Some of
Larger Roads.
INFORMED AS TO INSIDE FACTS
And Be in Position to Force Such
Reforms as 1t Is Desired
to Make.
GOVERNMENT TO BUY STOCK
INFORMED AS TO INSIDE FACTS

President Roosevelt is considering the adj
Visibility of making to the next Congress
recommendation on the railroad question
that will excite universal comment and
attention. 1t is nothing more nor less than
that the government become n small stock
holder in some Of the large railroads of the
country with the view to having a repre-
sentative placed on each board of directors.
BY this process the government would be-
come thoroughly informed as TO the inside
facts of every railroad and be in position
to force such reforms as IL m It de- re tc
make.
Considered by the President
al that is known is that tho proposition
has been laid before the President and that
he is giving it most careful considerations
1t has been represented to him as "A ster
in the direction of accomplishing reforms in
the railroad business that could not be
secured in any other way. The most serl-
Gus objection TO it is-that il is really the
first step toward government ownership and
that II was the step taken by Germany be-
fore that country went into natona lization
OF railroad properties. After having got
ten this sort of a foothold in the railroads
Germany went step further, bought a
trunk line. reduced rates and dubbed all the
other roads into submitting. the ultimate
result being government ownership.
Probable Recommendation.
II made at all, the recommendation of tho
President will be that Congress provide an
appropriation for the purchase of a small
number of shares of stock in certain rail-
roads that may be selected. When these
shares have been acquired assuming that
Congress would fall in with the plan the
administration will know how to proceed
to force the roads into allowing the gov
eminent a director on each board II Ia
not thought there would be much difficulty
In obtaining director, as the government
would know how to use its great strength
to secure its desires Once a part of the
inside of the great railroad combina lions,
the governments Representatives would
nave no trouble IN becoming acquainted
with every detail and would be In position
to quickly report violations of the laws
OF the country by the carriers
Will Be Put Forward by Democrats.
II the President does not advocate tho
proposed plan, it is said to be certain that
1t will be put forward in Congress by
democratic leaders, acting under the adj
vice Of w. j. Bryan, who has for some
time been considering a similar scheme
and Is believed to be at work upon its de-
velopment. 1t is In line with Mr. Bryan's
ideas that the government will ultimately
be compelled to purchase and operate the
roads. 1t is likewise in line with his views
, that the government should exercise the
fullest sort of supervision over the roads
until the period comes when there will be
a popular demand for government owner
ship. In this respect. the proposition Is
likely to appeal to President Roosevelt,
who stands for government supervision
and control, but is not yet prepared for
ownership. By means of directors and the
interstate commerce commission the gov
eminent would have a pretty firm hold
on the affairs OF the railroads. That, at
least, Is the argument of the men who
| have laid the suggestion before the Presi-
dent and believe he will adopt it as his
own.