New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-06

is under the Craftsmanship Of Sir Harry
Drayton, chairman OF the Dominion
Board of Railway Commissioners, and
has as its other members A. II. Smith,
president of the New York Central
Railway system, and W. d. Ackworth,
a British railway expert. 1t was ex-
pected that Sir George Paish would be
able TO serve on the commission and
advise particularly on the financial as
poets of the question, but on account OF
i'll health he found 1t impossible to do
so, and Mr. Ackworth was appointed in
Sir Georges place. Sir Harry Drayton
and Mr.. Smith have already made a pre-
liminsry physical examination of the
Canadian transcontinental lines. Mr..
Ackworth will not reach Canada until
December, but will be in time TO advise
the other members Of the commission
in the preparation Of their report.
Further Handouts" Opposed
1t is no secret that the government Is
favorable TO naturalization Of at least
the Grand Trunk Pacific and Canadian
Northern railways. The general ex-
pectation is that the commission will
recommend only such partial natiOnali-
zation of Canadian lines. although
there is some agitation for complete
naturalization, including the Canadian
Pacific and Grand Trunk railways.
Ottawa advices indicate that the com
missions report will be in the hands Of
the government when Parliament is
summoned in January, and legislation
is promised at the coming session.
freely discussed. The warnings of S. o.
Dunn, editor of "The Railway Age Ga
, zette." are given scant heed. Public
sentiment in Canada to-day is sppar-
emily overwhelmingly in favor Of public
ownership Of public utilities. Indeed,
little more outspoken opposition would
do much good by insuring frank dis
cussion before the people Of this coun-
try take step of such tremendous i'm
portance, involving as it does such
great financial obligations. There are
many difficulties to be overcome and
conflicting interests 70 be reconciled.
The provinces, as we'll as the Dominion.
have assumed heavy obligations and
guaranteed tens Of millions of dollars
in behalf of railway enterprises, and
their cooperation must be secured.
While naturalization, complete or
partial, of the Canadian railways in
wolves dangers and should be embarked
upon only with the utmost caution, il
at all, there do appear to be special
circumstances in the present relation
of the Dominion and provincial govern
ments to the Canadian Northern and
Grand Trunk Pacific railways which not
only make it desirable that these roads
be taken over by the public, but leave
no alternative for the government save
the impossible alternative of continuing
to carry the guaranteed securities of
non-paying railroad properties. The
Canadian people are opposed to fur
Their handouts" to private railway in
terests, and politically, as we'll Is imam
cially, partial naturalization at least
seems to be inevitable. Neither politi-
cal party in the Dominion is likely to
oppose, openly at any rate, nationalist
ton of the Grand Trunk Pacific and
Canadian Northern lines. The parties
more probably will divide on the extent
Of such naturalization, one favoring
only the taking over of the two rail-
ways which are in financial difficulties,
ana the other urging public ownership
of all the steam railways of the Do
minion.