The Washington herald., 1914-02-12

after 1t was opened for operation. Hood
came and carried out portion Of tn
line, Mr.. Prouty said. 1t was at ono
reconstructed upon a new location. bu
there was a recurrence OF the disaster
and finally It was built upon third AMI
positively safe location.
Rebuilding Was Costly.
''It has cost large sum more to re-
build this road" said Mr.. Prputy. Than
it would originally have cost to construct
it where 1t is today. Now, In determining
the value of this property. what. II any,
allowance is to be made for this expert
mental outlay II Vast sums OF money are
involved in the ANSWER to that very SIM
pie question.
ION the other hand" Mr.. Prouty said,
for example, "the Northern Pacific
claimed that the cost of acquiring its
right of way through the heart of the
city of Spokane at the time OF the hear
ing would be at least s5,ooo.ooo. The oriEi-
nal cost to the railroad was nothing, the
right of way having been entirely donated
either by the government or by private
benefaction. Now TO whom belongs this
N,ooo 600? Has the Northern Pacific the
right to tax the public for return upon
that amountr'
Mr.. Prouty added that the question of
me unedLuSQ iuCICfIChl PfcoCntb = aAa-
cult problem. He contented that the task
In its final analysis was not an engineer
ing problem but political problem"
TT is for the commission" said he,
first OF all to ascertain all these facts,
and from them to deduce what Is the
fair value of these properties. That con-
clusion undoubtedly may be modified by
the courts In the final analysis, It will
be for the people to say what measure
-L-N ~ Agv
While courts and commissions may in
nuence and even temporarily determine
questions of this kind, the viii of the
masses finally prevails. and it is there
fore of first importance that the people
should have accurate information"
Problem VIII be Acute.
In concluding, Mr.. Prouty said:
THE question Of government ownership
is likely soon to become acute. and II
cannot be decided until this valuation Ia
complete. That alone makes it essential
that this work be prosecuted as rapidly
and efficiently as possible"
Secretary Wilson said that IL was the
lack of personal touch between employer
and employe that had made the labor
acute all over the world. and
in this acute question the Department Of
Labor would show its relation to COM
ana luuuStTy-uTStr py attempting
to settle Industrial troubles by discussion
to determine their causes; second, by Of
fering mediation, and, third. by proposing
when and where the situation
called for ii.
Mr.. Wilson made it plain, however, that
he is utterly opposed to compulsory arbi-
tration. Such a measure, he said, would
work injustice in both directions. He
dwelt on Labor's greater need for pro-
lection from the government than capi-
tails, because. he said, in dealing with
an employer 1t Is possible to show a clear
cut line between profit and loss, whereas
IN relation to the laborer there could be
no way to define accurately the cost or
standard of living.
Meets Extrcmcs of Opinion.
Secretary Wilson. in defining capital |
and labor. said that in dealing with the |
problems with which his department has
to do extremes of thought and action
are met which retard The solution Of thei
problems. One element. he said, contends
hat capital. because II is fnanimate and
not performing any of the actual func-l
lions of production, is not entitled toi