The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-28

tnke stSt w Hh'
| Nut all a., distractions of wGr arc
r1iuc 20 De WL-teful. Certain wjlsteful
T tendencies ~ politics axe going to 10 de-
-truyrd and IN the p,riod Of reconstruc-
tipii which must ousuH upon tho close Of
tp" witr tunto VIII Doe no room Cor any
Kind OF politics which does not match tho
constructive needs o. tho times. Even
now tho disclosures OF tho war are Forcing
constructive political tendencies which arc
D, encouraging auguiy. Our American
democracy has had instantly 10 corcen-
trHts itEelf on certain imperative ques-
lions and IN doing 60 IL making dscov-
cries which AFRO far uoie conducive TO
eventual prosperity than the surmises,
suppositions and prejudces that only re-
Gently governed political action
Among other things II has been dieoov-
cred that there are political obstacles IN
! tn. way OF taking advantage OF the oppor-
tuu!tles which the war has thrown TO "
| hy restoring the American merchant
/ ulrr" Tho stamped 90 enact a va.iet-
1 ~ shipping bills intended 70 seize this all
+ NautaE. has been checked Ivy tho r"aiizJ e
ton thdt under the existing statutes. vhl ch
make -h!i building costly ard sh,p opera
/ t!ou expensive private capital CAR hardly
/ Do, persuaded 10 venture into the eh.pp'!,s
! industry Tor longer period than tho du-i.-
/ tion of tho war because Of tho assured
INABILITY to meet foreign shipping ccmpt-
/ t.ti"u on edual terms.
Tits has b.ouSht Washington face 20
ft.. With m" choice between ..u int. IL
/ Gent modification Of 'lc shippins laws TO
permit pr vat" capital 20 engage In the
b shipping trade with some hou. of profit. or
? The c-iapi.sN'4.at of "a Gu,c"rM,It nor
b chant MARTINS a. tu ALTERNATIVE. - heavy
fp"c"0ncut suh@!iie- 20 Offset ia" cNc,a-
-.rr costs 90 "p' ration which Our pas.
. Co.. islt'!1u imposes. dilemma has !e-
suited IN wu..u Congress Is fourdcrinE
con
~ t merchant fleet need not concern Itself
'..l comp tit'v- conditions which T. an
ofcr'om" Nr resort 10 the taxing pow or,
'u' 60. '"o' 'mi' education which tie
cH'iutr' is getting iH the wa cmerHcu' y
prevents auv viossirg over ~ tho truth
q. tive hu.ic' e.. uuurces- AIRY costs would
contiruD 90 =. borne 10y The Country should
'hr Government engage In the shrp!ue
'ruic.
what answer viii b. found for the ship
, ping problem - doubtful. hut the case OF
, a., railroads turn'srrs batt"r ilustra-
t'uu Of Tho chang ~ political attitudes
which the war must compel ~ The mo-
: meat incentives :or the Investment OF prl-
v1to Capitsl IN building up a merchant
marin" sr' not Only i5ckiuG. but past TO-
htra action afor'g ppsl,iy" ji-c9ura pc-
. mort 80 such investment. The railroad
situation - different In this respect ouly
tau' tGr country has a I11gn!Nceu; rail-
. WY Transportation system wai'h private
capital has supplied. Bat does ANYBODY
h.l"., trlt private cnpitsl would hc
forthcoming to-day To build up this rail-
r''d system under tho conditions % COM
mission Ro''rnment a- q has been OK
c'np. nrd
ON premises accepted before tho wal
politics went ahead to oxterd the field o.
commission government by bringing in.
du,'0'ai and commercial end 'avor under
roEua;ive enactment. but while we lament
,uu mad waste Of the war abroad ".
Hould not b" uh.iEiuus Of the obstructive
foll,es of peace which "" have been com.
n'''''"" and IN tA.s category government
by commission must no included. This
has been coming 70 mean the limitation
" business hv official mediocri,i,s actins
under uutocrat!c pows ~ derived from law,
passed In moods or covarliy and dis
, honest appeal Tor the votes ~ tho ignorant
ard untatnaius Tho whole theory nj
commission government IS today hoiul
, subjected {" u critical test In the case 81
the railroads and the extent Ia whicl
!, politics mas been learning the lessons Z"
tine war is going 70 be ruanif, stpd IN tn,
Treatment which t. ut this juncture nc
corded 90 Tho railroad Industry by IN,
official Trguator@
'cha war mas brought ioine 70 Govern
: melt .ts economic re~pous ibll'tv for rrgll
l1tiy" measure, responsibility Whicl
LA. never been felt hitherto, and ~ tn
: '.i4iil'' now ~ tN'Nl'Hl 70 tAt llttr2tAi
: Commerce Commission Ia deal with tn
: railways on q business basis instead of or
. 70 political ba Sis is ,railcl OF We can 10
: sure that nov constructive period In
! been entered upon In tho United States eyel
while tho European war ia rugink. Tier
has 'n the last foW weeks been no dome
! tie event Of greater Importance for tn
: American people than tho reopen;ng y
the Eastern railroad rate case. and IL Il
THIS case tito Interstate Commerce Com
/ mission adopts tho new line OF puoli
policy imperntiveiy indicated by tho exi
70 gcncips Of the war. anxiety for the Who'll
structure az American values will ~ di
mnished.
= Help In solving tho Main Pr"bIem
, quite apart from the broader and NOR
/ remotely favorable aspects OF n poIltca
change denoted Icy u pronounced iessen
, Ing or tho goverity az railroad regulation
. governmental indulgence for measure
= Of railroad relief must be- dstluctlY an
Immediately coutI!bu'ory 20 the polutio