Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-13
Government Ownershtp and Regulution


M UGH attention has been attracted by the
1fl speech delivered in New York the
other night by Oscar Underwood, Senator
eject from Alabama, and Democratic leader
III the House of Representatives until Con-
gress adjourned March a. Mr. Under
wood predicted that if the people of this
country should become convinced that public
regulation of railroads was failure they
would turn to government ownership rather
IMAM revert TO the unregulated private owner
ship OF twenty years ago
To those who have watched and studied
the growth of sentiment on this subject
throughout the country, Mr. Underwood's
words will carry conviction. 1t is inconceiv-
able that the United States will ever again
he induced to tolerate the abuses that sprung
up under the old regime, and from which
luohc regulation through national and State
commissions. has brought relative freedom.
Most OF us are able to remember a time
Nhen the railroads played a conspicuous part
IN the politics Of every State in the Union
"hen at the gathering OF every Legislature
there were present nearly as many railroad
lawyers and lobbyists as there were repre-
sentaivcs of the people. OF course, this sit
uation was as the breath Of life to the crooked
politician. 1t was always possible by intro
ducing hostile legislation to shake down
the railroads and other big corporations
Equally. of course, the railroads retaliated in
KIND. The public interest was lost sight of
completely
Whatever else may be said of regulation
and, doubtless, it has many sins to answer
Tort has made an end Of this evil condi-
lon Legislative scandals of the old corpora
ton type are almost unknown Railroads as
Il whole are managed with an honesty and
integrity, as respects both operation and
finance that once were sufficiently rare to
excite praise and admiration, but now are ac-
copied as Il commonplace. There are no
IN iti,N,,c
nigh finance that made New Haven and Rock
Island infamous
immunity from such conditions is the great
blessing regulation has conferred There
have been incidental abuses. Railroads offer
TO the demagogue the same temptation that
aSSails him when he views any aggregation
OF wealth. whether individual or corporate
lie was quite ready to make his appeals to
envy, malice and uncharitabeness and rail
ROAD history, unhappily, had provided him
with glaring texts for almost every attack
IN the effort TO punish the railroads for past
sins. they have been loaded in many instances
with burdens they could not carry and serve
az the same time the public function for
which they We're creeted.
Railroad batting is no longer a popular
p&stlme. Votes in popular elections, deci-
SONS Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and the Supreme Court and views ex-
pressed by many distinguished men, from the
President and Mr. Underwood down. all
prophcsy new era OF better understanding
and fuller sympathy between public and cor
pOlation.
Confidence in regulation will increase as
this era dawns and continues. The public
is beginning 10 learn that it cannot destroy
the railroads earning power and expect
either efficiency or development. Regulation
by commission, at the same time, is losing
It's haphaHard chara ctcr and assuming a more
scientific aspect. There is no reason to APP
rrehend that through its failure this nation
will be driven 10 the regrettublo alternat i've
of government ownership.