The Washington herald., 1914-03-06

to know the true facts and the situation
with which we are confronted
Unable to- Handle Crop.
In the year 1912 the state Of Texas made
what might be called a fairly good cot
ton crop. The railroads found II i'm
possible to handle the crop without de-
lay. because Of inadequate equipment and
track and terminal facilities. The cot
ton carrying roads OF this State are now
being sued for hundreds Of thousands OF
dollars for delay in transportation of cot
ton crops, and this will be repeated when
ever a normal crop IL made. because II Is
impossible to give the required service
under existing conditions. improvements
cannot be made without credit, and credit
cannot be had without a better showing
as TO earnings. So far as ] know the
railroad business is the only business in
the world in which its owners have prac-
tically no right which goes to the founda-
tion OF its financial status, except the one
providing the funds necessary to meet its
obligations. State and national commits
sions, together with labor organizat tions
completely control the policies and details
OF management. and IL would seem
that with regulation so complete there
should also go the responsibility of financ-
ing the properties. The commissions
seem lacking IN the necessary compre-
hension or courage. The last hope for
railroads is in the creation of an enIight-
ened public opinion. The responsibility
OF such public opinion rests largely, IL
not entirely on the newspapers of the
country. The fact that such influential
journals as your own are making a study
OF the question and are courageous
enough tO he "A
plead for the right. is the most hopeful
sign Of the times to the man who is
struggling closest to the railroad ques-
ton.
Fear of Political Control.
}. W. OEIesby, president the Short
Line Railroad Association:
The policy OF government control. which
can only result in government ownership,
seems TO be a fixture. The people who
think are beginning to suspicion that
political control of the railroads will per-
maps result in about as much success as
the Southern negro. who taught his horse
10 eat sawdust instead Of corn About
the time he learned to eat IL good he died.
SO II Is with the railroad interests OF this
country. They are beginning TO accept
the broken doses Of political control, but
they can't see the end. However. politi-
cal demagogues. backed UP BY the ignor-
ant masses. will push forward to gov
ernment ownership as a remedy The
end OF this We know not. but likely the
destruction OF the republic I must ad-
NIT these sentiments are rather pessi-
mistic. but We know the railroad situa-
tion and the labor situation and the
fact that the government Is behind both
and is the worst enemy Of the railroads
ana OF large business. justifies pessimistic
feelings on the part OF business men.
No Graver Question.
&. r. schsn. president Missouri, KAN
sss and Texas Lines:
l desire to tender grateful thanks for
the favorable attitude which YOU have
assumed toward railway interests and
expressed witt such forcefuI logic in your
illuminating editorials. They cannot fail
to do good. There is no graver public
question at the moment than a deter
mination of the policy which shall be
adopted with respect to railroads and
II Is pure patriotism to endeavor to Sc
cure the adoption Of the wise policy
as you are doing.
Commission Overworked.
Calvert TownIey, president Lacka-
wanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad
Company:
In general, we feel that Congress may
have imposed manifold duties on the In
terstate Commerce Commission without
perhaps full appreciation Of the magni-
tude of the work thereby required. the
inevitable result being an overworked
commission with consequent delays in
issuing rulings on matters which ought
to have prompt attention.