The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-21
MONEY PLENTIFUL
ABROAD, SAYS LANE
Would Be Invested Here If
Government Backed
Railroads.

nat American railroads can get un-
limited financial support from Europe Il
Congress provides for Government con
troll OF capitalization IS the assertion
made today by Interstate Commerce
Commissioner Franklin X. Lane. who
bss just returned from abroad
&r. Lane was on his vacation trip
with his family. but he took the oppor-
tunity to look into the railroad systems
or England, France, Germany, switzer-
land, and other countries
-4e declares that hundreds of millions
OF dollars stand ready to be poured into
American railroad properties by Euro
pean investors 81 some kind or assur-
snce can be given TO them by the Gov
eminent OF the United States that the
properties are sound. and the securities
safe. But without such assurance, the
investors are chary Of buying American
railroad stocks.
American railroad stocks are not list
ed on the Paris Bourse with a few ex-
ceptions. said Mr.. Lane. 1.-THE people
over there. not only in France but In
other European countries. want some
sort Of assurance from the Government
OF this country that the securities are
all right With such assurance, they
would invest literally. American rail-
roads can set all the money they need
for extensions and improvements II we
have Government control Of capitalize
ton.
Government Control.
If l were railroad president. I
would go TO work at once for Govern
ment control Of capitalization and not
stop until legislation OF that kind had
been obtained. The opportunities for in
vestment In enterprises abroad are lin
tied They are anxious &c invest in
American railroad securities il they can
be Convinced these are safe. In France.
for instance, the people have no end of
money. The banks are filed. With
Government control Of capitalization,
much Of this money would find its way
10 the United States. In England, they
are anxious for American Investments
Mr.. Lane thinks the same Is true 10 a
less extent as TO corporations other
than railroad companies.
Mr.. Lane said he had looked with a
good deal Of care into the English sys-
tenn OF railroad regulation. On the
whole he did not think II offered many
suggestions for regulation I'm this cOun-
Try. he said, however, that parliament
had provided for uniform classification
OF freights. He is convinced that this
is practicable for the United states.
Likes Swiss System.
The Swiss system OF doing things i'm
pressed Mr.. Lane. He found there that
the trains on the government-owned
roads ran on time. He asked a native
Swiss about Il.
'WeH.' said the Swiss, as quoted o.
Mr.. Lane, you know We run the gov
eminent over here and the government
runs the roads. II the roads were not
run right we would throw out this gov
eminent and get one that would run
them to our satisfaction"
Mr. Lane remarked that this was
refreshing sort OF doctrine. He said
he found that in Switzerland every man
seemed to take a personal interest In
the way the government was being run
and he looked on every railroad employe
as a sort OF employe OF his own.
According 10 Mr. Lane, the people OF
Europe are deeply interested in the
forthcoming visit OF former President
Roosevelt and are preparing 20 pay him
a great tribute. He said moving pictures
of Roosevelt hunting lions in Africa
we're drawing great crowds in the
Strand and in Paris.