The Topeka state journal., 1913-12-01
e. p. Ripley Sees . Crisis in
Government Ownership.
Santa Te Head Believes That
Politicians Will Rule.
BOOST OPERATING EXPENSES
Examples Of Trouble In Other
Countries Proves 1t.
Ripley Opposes Bill In Con-
gress as q Citizen.

The voice Of President Ripley of
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail-
way, comes to Topeka today In pro-
test to the proposed bill in congress
ways. President Ripley says he does
not oppose the plan as an officer of
the Santa Fe but as a private citizen
Of the United States. The WORD from
Mr.. Ripley comes as the first objection
to the intentions OF Senators Cummins
and Kenyon Of Iowa to introduce a
bill for the purchase Of the railway
systems of the country.
President Ripley fires the opening
gun with these words:
II do not oppose this plan as rail-
way officer. 1 do oppose 1t. however,
as q citizen. 1 believe that under our
form of government and political con-
ditions it would be the greatest calam-
ity that possibly could befall the
American people"
This first real interview from Presi-
dent Ripley is of special interest to
the west owing to the recent state
ment Of Chairman Schumacher OF the
Rock Island executive board IN To-
peka a a few few days ago. Mr. schu-
"God save the country IL the rail-
ways are taken over under govern
ment ownership. 1t means higher
rates and poorer service"
President Ripley's Ideas.
As a railway official President Rip
ley expresses this view: 1.-The govern
ment could not acquire the railways
without paying just compensation for
them. The roads are now being SO
regulated that the security owners are
not receiving an adequate return, and
il they could get their money out. they
could invest it where it would earn a
larger return. Therefore, government
ownership might be a blessing to the
owners of railway securities:
When government ownership comes,
q great problem. in Mr.. Ripley S
of railway operation. Politics." he de-
clares, 'is not now kept out of the
management OF state railways in any
country, with the possible exceptions
Of Prussia and Japan. Furthermore.
politics is not now kept out of anything
done by our government. Since we can
not keep politics out Of our river and
harbor improvements, or out Of our
appropriations for public buildings, or
even out of our legislation regarding
the location and maintenance Of army
posts and naval stations, how can it be
nationally assumed that we could keep
ii out of state railway system en-
ploying 100000 citizens and voters?
And IL we did not keep politics ont.
operating expenses would increase by
hundreds Of millions annually"
Mr.. Ripley calls attention to the
quired by the government. In the four
years, 1900 and 1912, inclusive, the gross
earnings of the line under governme mt
ownership increased only 4 per cent.
while the operating expenses increased
over SO per cent, in consequence of
which the net earnings declined over
20 per cent.
Mr. Ripley refers to an estimate
made by Senator Cummins to the effect
that a valuation Of all the railroads Of
the United States would amount to
twenty billion dollars. IF the govern
ment should buy the railways at a cost
OF twenty billions says Mr.. Ripley,
land have to pay three and half per
cent. interest on the money. its total
interest would amount to $700,000.o00 a
year, which exceeds by $2S, ,091 ,159 the
total interest and dividends paid by the
railways during the fiscal year 1911. ac-
cording to the report of the interstate
cQmmerca cQmuniSaiQn -