Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-10

roads have been somewhat persistent in
the public press ami the matter is re-
ferred to here. not with any idea of
combating this propaganda. but merely
that the Teoplc may briefly see both
sides OF the picture. So long as a lot *
men welcome tho wrecking OF the rail-
roads on the theory that the government
viii take them over and tina, sHch a
state Of affairs would be prefcraolc to
private ownership. It win be Impossible
to obtain from thcm a fair Judgment Cr
the latter system which nov prevails in
tie United states. It is impossibla 20 81
into this great question at any lcng;n at
this time out hero arc a Jew Thugs
worth thinking about Much has been
said in recent years about the "watcr''
contained in American railroad securities.
and, in this connection the valuation OF
the government owned railroads Of Eu-
state owned roads are valued at s1l41Sj
per mile. in Austria at Sl20691, in Hun
gary at S69,2lO. in Italy at sl26.SS}. in Bel
GUM at SCOOPS. in Switzerland ut S1O2 $50
in Roumania at S9O.l13, i'll Japan at sSS,iOi,
IN New South Wales at $7l,3s1-while
the privately owned lines of the United
States, regardless VI What water may
have been forced into them in rpecifl, ir-
stances. are valued at only $ss.JH per
mile. Whatever initiation may therefore
have been put into their properties in the
rast, the fact remains that tlcir prcsen-
valuation is much lower than that ~ the
government owned railroads Of Europe,
ard. what is still mare important, the
rates charged are the lowest and tho
service rendered admittedly tine best in
the world. II Is also pertinent 20 rcme,n-
Der that the charge Of watered stocks.
after all, can be made against but very
few American railroads. the lions share
OF them having been managed without a
breS tn OF scandal or cliticisnE
In this connection, a statement con-
tanned in the last annual report Of the
Deutsche Bank OF Berlin. which has a
pald-up capital ard reserve fund of S75,-
10000. is intercsting American rail-
roads need higher rates. The present
rates are the lowest In the world-Iep-
resentinng but fraction of the English
railway rates, for instance and this in
the face of the fact that wages in the
United states ON the average are fully
twice as high as in Europe" Certainly
this view of the privately owned lines OF
the United States, coming from Germany,
which has the most successful state
owned system of transportation IN the
world. is worthy of grave consideration.
In further confirmation of this state
ment we quote the following statistics:
It costs mills per mile on an average
to haul a ton Of freight in the United
States, while in England 1t costs an aver
age Of 23S cents, in France La cents,
and in Germany 142 cents. The average
daily wage paid TO American railroad
employees is $22s; in-England 1t is SlSs.
in France Ss cents. and in Germany 81
cents. Are American railroads. therefore,
entitled to the wholesale abuse and de-
nunciation which has been heaped upon
them from all sides in recent years?
Letting Wen Enough Alone.
In view of these facts the average citi-
zen may well ask himself whether it is
not best to let well enough alone rather
than invite other ills we know not Of
whether it is not wiser to cure such de-
fects as may cucumber the present sys-
tenn rather than run the danger of plung-
ing this mighty industry into the whirL-
pool of party politics for all time, with its
attendant opportunity for evil Of which
the past affords such rich variety of ex-
perienoe. The United States Is still
young country. and In many sections only
partially developed Many new lines and
extensions are needed here and there to
give wider opportunity to expanding
agriculture and commerce, and nothing
could be more unfortunate or disastrous
than that these favors could henceforth
be obtained only by leave OF the domi-
nant political factions which will reign at
the national capital in the years TO come.
Political parties are intensely human in
situations, and the average cautious citi-
zen will prefer TO leave the railroad ex-
pansion of the future to the economic law
of supply and demand OF the different
communities rather than to place such a
temptation for power in the hands OF
those who rise and fall in the field of
politics Furthermore, should the time
ever come when the government takes
over the railroads, 1t means that the pep-
pie win have TO forego the millions OF
taxes which they now pay and which
help to support the public schools public
highways and other public expenses-and
that henceforth these millions OF revenue
would have to come out OF the pockets
OF the people.
Many other things could be said upon
this phase OF the question, but space for
bids. For some time the government,
through tho Interstate Commerce com
mission. has been engaged in making
physical valuation of all our railroads as
a matter Of guidance for future rate ad-
justments. Again. We repeat. since the
people absolutely control and regulate the
railroads. is that not enough? win It
not be better TO let well enough alone
20 cling to that which is good and elm
mate that which is bad In the present
system, which, with all that has been said
against II. furnishes the best and cheap
est transportation service In the world?
Increased Cost of Operation.
We now wish to refer briefly TO another
phase OF the problem. For a number OF
years the cry OF the high cost OF living
has been everywhere abroad in the land.
Time was not so many years ago, when
the farmer sold his corn at Is cents per