The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-04

A number of prominent railway
executives and a congressman discuss
the railway rate question, the prob
ability OF government ownership OF
railways. and legislation that should
be adopted to improve the railway
labor situation. in statements which
they have given to the Railway Age
Gazette. Most of tho writer's refer to
the question Of government ownership
in one way rr another.
Under the head. rs Government
Ownership In Sisht?" John J.. Esch
representative in congress from Wis
consfn. says that zone OF the most
significant trends of the public
thought of today is the growing de-
mand for such ownership" Per
sonally," he says. II have never been
in favor OF government ownership of
railroads within the United States, and
have always sought to remedy the
evils connected with their ownership
and operation through regulation.
Notwithstanding the regulatory stat
utea already enacted. evils, especially
those arising out Of their present and
past financial control. continue to exist
and hasten the trend toward govern
ment ownership. Such trend can be
materially checked by giving to the
kindred body, full power over stock
and bond issues"
r. A. Delano. president Of the Chi
cago, Indianapolis and Louisville. says:
THE broad question which concerns
the country as whole Is whether
government regulation Of privately
owned and operated railroads can be
made successful" 1T Is all very
WELL" he says, FOR people to suggest
that government ownership OF rail-
ways Is coming. Perhaps 1t is, but
the question will occur to many a
thinking man that II the instrument
talities Of the government cannot
make q success OF regulating railways
how can they be entrusted with the
responsibility Of full operat!on?"
w. L Park, vice-president OF the
Illinois Central refers to the Ques-
ton OF government ownership In dis
cussing tho lack OF discipline on
American roads. owing largely to the
cations. "Government-owned rail-
roads are better disciplined than those
of private ownership" he says. "for
the reason that they follow army
methods more closely"
Freight Rates.
The application of the railways for
an advance in freight rates now on
hearing before the interstate com
merce commission is discussed by Mr.
Delano. He points out that the rail-
ways in oficlal classification territory.
profiting by their experience IN the
|1910 case and accepting the dictum
/ Of the inter estate commerce commits
sion, have. instead of asking for an
advance Of certain specific lates. ask
ed for authority for small advance
I'm all rates. ut was thought that
In this way, and In this way only, y
he says, could we avoid the accuse
ton of discrimination All the evil
cence we have submitted and the
arguments We have made are directed
to prove that our revenues are in
adequate, and that the only way to
help them Is to increase rates After
the general level has bean raised II
will be within the province OF any
shipper. ~ t was before, to point out
that his rates are excessive. and a
read1ustment Of any single rate. OF
group OF rates. can be made as prop
erly from one level as another. II
appears to me that q grievance which
any shipper. or group OF shippers
may have about any particular rate
or group OF rates, IL not only nappro-
pirate at this time, but has NO stand.
ling in this case.
THE dificult situation that many