Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1915-01-24
Railroad Magnate Declares
Policy Would Destroy
Private Shipping.
DRAG us INTO WAR
Thinks Complications Would Arise Be.
cause of Conflicting Claims Of Neu-
trelity-Couldn't Operate as
Cheaply as Private Lines.


the Northwestern railroad magnate,
made an attack here yesterday on Pres
ident Wilson's bill for government
owned freight steamship line. He
said it would be an unwise and dis
astrcus experiment. His remarks
were made in a speech before the
delegates to the Second National
Trade convention.
Aside from the complications, al
most certain tie drag us sooner or
later into the European conflict, ow-
ing to the uncertain and conflicting
claims of national neutrality said Mr..
Hill. this policy would be followed by
the total destruction of the private
shipping interests.
Private enterprise cannot possibly
compete with government which
pays no interest on the cost Of IT'S
ships and thrcws aside considerations
of profit and loss. AS Lincoln said
that the nation could not continue to
exist .shalf slave and half free so
our merchant marine, if once this
precedent is set, must inevitably be-
come a government monopoly.
What is the prospect, in this case
of economical management, end CT
those lower rates which tne advo-
oates of the plan hold out as bait
for its adoption? Mr.. Hill asked. we
have an exact measure OF the fact IN
some comparative railroad statistics
The Panama railway is entirely owned
and operated by the government. Like
most affairs on the lsthmus 1t has
been handled by honest and competent
men in their several lines. We nave
its official report for the year ending
June 80. 1913, to be compared with
the statistics of all the railways OF
the United States for the same period.
The average length of haul was Al
S ton miles. There is, therefore, little
but through business. But the rate
on the Panama line was 2.4S cents per
ton miles, as against 1858 OF a cent
for all the railways OF the United
States. That is, the government rate
was almost five times the rate made
nv private enterprise over the entlre
country. The average expenses per
mile of road ware $44.696, as against
$500. or five times as great. Aside
from the higher cost OF coal. TINS Tine
nresents few, ifsany, greater diitlcult-
ies in operation than other manage
mcnts have to overcome, Mr.. Hill de-
Clared.
If the entire rate charged to Amerl-
can shippers were handed over to the
Panama management to cover the
cost Of handling their freight at ter
minals they would still receive al
most four times as much as the rail-
ways of the country get. II the Fan
ANA rate were established in the
United States it would wreck the
country. There is not enough money
in II to pay such enormous amounts
\ Jf the rate charged by the government
on the Panama railroad were applied
~ the entire railway ton mileage IN
the United States our shippers woula
have had to pay in 1913, more imam
eight billion dollars additional ! IN
freight charges. Yet, this is what the
country would have to do, either o'-
rcctly in rates or indirectly in taxes,
n meet the expense OF government
operation. ,,..,,... &c
One of the greatest difficulties OF
the railways is that of finding skilled
men. That is still greater for the gov
eminent because it does not under
stand the business and because polll-
cal measure cannot be avoided. lne
average congressman, however aple
and sincere has not the experience nor
the technical training required.
difference of one mill per ton per miie
saems almost a negligible quantlty
~ amounts to no more than a pailfs
cont for hauling one toll ten mics
yet that difference applied to the ton
mileage for 1913. would make dHer-
ance If $500 .55S,334 il the annuai re,
ca;nts Of the railways and the amoun'
nov paid. by the public. VINO Il
there who can there be in congress
~ IN nublic life, competent to GRASP
ard - master such economic trllles
& shat are in their ultimate effect, apie
- r,,in the country" said Mr.. Hill
.sAn ATTEMPT at public operation wouio
10 scarcely less disastrous financiaiiy
than war"
What is proved true OF railways
hn,ds good for government-oW owned aho
nparated ships. The purchase prlc'
!. rothine as compared to the cost o.
nnaration- increased by the necessary
,,,aaEnass Of political managemeh,
.5 loaded down at every session u
soresS nv new laws for the lower.
;,.g ~ rates. the raising OF wages ant
~, radmction Of hours OF labor lol
crsn,oves Either the people wouic
Insanity stagger under their new
h,,rdan ar our foreign trade woulo iai
paaath the weight of rates such a.
those imposed on rail traffic across
Tho Iathmus Of Panama. :,
~ This method Of relief ought e ,s,n 70 y
dismissed +hy every rieh' anaca
% a chlmers. and menace
,rssara remains, then, only the resohre'
ln0. 1, &c human experience and al
e oiu Of dependence on private .. at
; ntti Give it a chance, = ha'
seemed only because sr sd It na'
seer hound hand and foot py res'fio ;,
s nean and and regulations unworthy !"
Sis enlightened sss, The The o Ams tnins
merchant marine needs + 1 II Is a 70 resise
hrf that y npgt hsse sa ;, with til,
81 q .hippIns systems q the world