The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-05-03

4
As to the acquiring of lines, sup
pose that all would agree that the sys
! tenn should be inaugurated gradually,
SO that the government could profit
| by experience. 1t is probable tnat
| a commencement would be made vita
one transcontilental line, with a pos
| sible cross line. A line from the A.
lantic to the Pacific crossed by line
| from the Lakes to the Gulf would
| do more to demonstrate the wisdom
| or folly of government ownership
than all the arguments that could be
made for or against the system. If
the government is incompetent to at
| tend to such matters and too eXtrava-
giant in public work, the private roads
need not be afraid of competition.
In fact, they ought to welcome the
experiment. If on the other hand,
| the government shows that it can re-
duce rates, improve the service, ac-
lcord better treatment to employees
and still earn a fair profit on the in
vestment, VINO can justly complain if
the government road squeezes water
out of stocks, reduces private manage
ment to an honest basis and compels
the roads to give better rates to pa
irons and better terms to employees?
GOVERNMENT CAN BUY OR BUILD
These experimental lines can be
bought or built, whichever the govern
ment officials think best. l have net
entered upon the details of the plan
or attempted to decide upon what ba-
sis the government should buy. If it
announced it's purpose to buy line
there would probably be a number Of
fered and it could have it's choice.
The government might buy a control
ling interest in a line-that is the
way the railroad magnates do If it
built a new line, the success of the
new line would largely determine the
value of other lines offered for sale
to the nation or to the various states.
Our commerce is increasing SO rapid
ly that a new line would not mater
tally lessen the business of the old
lines; there is even now need for
more transcontinental lines and the
Chicago Milwaukee & st. Paul is
building through to the coast to meet
tlis demand. The transconti1ental
roads have not been able to carry the
freight offered to them and the Union
Pacific is earning an income on con
siderably more than the value of the
road.
If it was thought best the govern
ment could do as France did; an
thorize lines, guaranteeing fair divi- |
utluS dlu llpullOAIS " d
fund which at the end of term of
years would give the government the
title to the roads.
If any one doubts the financial sue
cess of government trunk line, he |
must overlook the fact that the mails |
at the present rates would at once
furnish quite an item of business.
1t is not fair to compare govern
ment roads in other countries with |
private roads in this country. The |
public roads of Europe are equal to
the private roads of Europe-that
is the only fair comparison. Our
plants in this country are
as good as the private plants and
furnish service at lower rate, which
is evidence that the public ownership
Of roads is feasible.
WHAT THE STATES COULD DO.
Being assured of an outlet for the
-raffic of their roads, the states could
proceed to acquire local roads slow
" Or rapidly as they wished. If the
people of any state preferred to leave
he local lines in private hands they
could do so; if they desired to build
new roads, they could build them;
f they desired to buy existing roads
upon such terms as seemed best,
hey could do that.
The dural plan suits itself to the
views of the people in each state and
% conditions to be met in the sever
IL localities. If trunk lines were SO
operated as to permit private roads
% use them upon equitable terms,
t would be of still greater advantage
At present the small lines are forced
nto nsolidation in order to secure
III outlet for their traffic; as soon
Is these private lines tapped govern
nent line they would be Independent.
Objection has been made to the
government ownership on the ground
hat it will prevent the states from
exercising police power over the OPP
ration of the roads. This objection
night be made against the federal
ownership of all the roads but it does
lot lie against the dual plan. For,
irst, if the states did not choose to
,wn the local lines they could exer-
Use the same control over them that
hey do today. Second, if they desir-
d to own the local lines, their. con
rol would be even more complete
han it is today. Third, an act of
congress could provide for the opera
ion of trunk lines in harmony with
he police laws of the various states,
md fourth, the states could be per
nitted to run local trains over the !
L 4
20 SUDDEN CHANGE :
IS CONTEMPLATED. !
You will see that from the above !
hat no sudden change is contemplat-
d. On the contrary, the change, &
t adopted, must necessarily be slow. s
t ought not to be treason ii a coun- r
ry like ours to suggest that the peo- &
lie themselves are the ones to deter. r
nine what should be done, and the I
Ian which l have proposed provides !
or the Inauguration of the change
With the least possible disturbance. I
1t is needless to say that 40 confis-
.ation is proposed. There is no i
disposition under either strict regula- I
ion or government ownership to do :
ajustice to investors in railroad secu- J
tiles. and the courts, would prevent ,
INJUSTICE even if it were attempted. /
IS a matter of fact, the people have :
'een more ready to do justice to the ,
ailroads than the railroad managers G
ave been to do justice to the people.
If the railroad managers had re- {
pected the rights of the public, there t
would have been no talk of govern {
nelt ownership, but instead of that {
hey have used the power given them
through their ownership of lines to !
uggle the price OF stock. to discri- /
o0osncf cHipnors aud pffioc and !