Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-21
IRISH RAILWAYS
ARE UNDER A BAN
Lack of Cooperation for Benefit of
of the Country is
Charged.
GENERAL MERGER IS PROPOSED
Suggestion is Made by Inspection
Committee.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP ISSUE
One Point on Which Commission Dis
agrees.
)vERNMENT OWNERSHIP ISSUE
DISCUSSION OVER, HOME RULE
Indications seem go Point to SatisfRc-
tory Adjustment of Long MOOted
observation-disclosures Cam
paign In ireland.
BY THOMAS EMMETT.

BY THOMAS EMMETT.
DUBLIN, Aug. &.-(Special to The Bee.)
ireland has a most interesting railroad
situation on it's hands and its settlement
will have far reaching effect The Irish
roads are short and work Independently of
each other and complaint has been con-
slant that they not only have not aided in
the development of the country, but have
been really detriment A vice regal COM
mission was appointed some four years ago
to consider the entire Irish railroad situa-
ton and to make recommendations. 1t has
just made its report. The commission re-
ports in favor of amalgamation of all the
Irish railways into one concern for the sake
both OF the railways and of the country
At this point the commissioners disagree.
Four recommend state purchase and three
that the amalgamatjon remain a private
undertaking. but under government super
vision.
In Favor of state.
The four who recommended state pur-
chase of the Irish companies are Sir
Charles Scooter, chairman of the London
and Southwestern; Lord Pirrie. head Of
Harland and Wolff, Belfast, and Of ship
ping undertakings; Colonel Hutcheson- Poe,
an Irish landlord; and Mr.. Thomas Sex
ton, ex-member of Parliament Their
proposal is that the railways should be
managed by an elected authority, that the
interest on the capital be guaranteed by
the state, and that any ultimate deficiency
be made good by general rate struck by
the authority. Mere amalgamation, these
commissioners say, would mean better
dividends and not better facilities. They
mention Irish coal fields which walt de-
velopment because the private railway
companies WI not build CONNECTING lines.
They state That export rates must be re-
duced for the development Of Irish in
dustries, and the companies cannot be ex-
pected to do 1t. The purchase of all the
railways should be made by. the issue of
state guaranteed stock. Besides there
should be, they say, an annual grant Of at
least H,25O,oOo which would help to promote
trade and mitigate poverty. They propose
railway board OF twenty, twelve elected
by the ratepayers, three in each province.
chosen by delegates elected by the local
authorities.
For Private Ownership.
The minority against state purchase are
Sir Herbert Jekyil of the Board of Trade;
Mr.. j. A. F. Aspinall, general manager of
the Lancashire & Yorkshire railway; and
Mr.. W. NJ. Acworth They say that the
| existing companies do not make excessive
profits. and they recommend that they
should have power of matchmaking with
out going to Parliament and be induced to
amalgamate by promise of better terms for
loans and concessions. Compulsory amalga-
nation is suggested after three years.
They believe that RAILWAYS are mora ac,on
omically managed privately than by state,
but recommend supervision to prevent the
danger of monopoly.
Irish Parliamentary Affairs.
The impression is growing that the con-
ference over the lords veto will result in
an agreement granting home rule to Ire
land. While the members maintain the
strictest silence as to all matters pertain
ing to the conference understand that
Irish leaders have been assured If an
agreement is reached IL will prove salts
factory to the Irish members Of Parlia-
ment. This is taken to mean but one thing
an agreement as to home rule.
There is now nearly $4,000 In the Irish
parliamentary fund as against $4,000 a
year ago
Temperance Work.
Speaking at Newcastle, County Down
Rev. p. J. Patterson made a statement as
to the plans which have been adopted In
connection with the temperance campaign
which Is known as 'Catch-my-PaT', move.
ment. 1t is intended, said Mr.. Patterson
I In about eighteen months to hold a tenn.
perance meeting in Belfast, when repre-
sentatives would be gathered from ever,
part OF the British domain from the United