The Washington herald., 1916-01-25
Tangling the Presidents Railway Plan.

speaking yesterday IN opposition to Senator
Borah's proposed amendment to the resolution
providing for Investigation by joint Congress
sional committee of questions relating to interstate
and foreign transportation, Senator Newlands un-
doubtcdly reflected the views of President Wilson.
The purpose of Senator Borah's resolution to
have the scope of the investigation extended SO
that it would include government ownership of
railroads, to which Senator Newlands objected
upon the ground that it would be most unwise to
plunge the roads into new period of uncertainty
at critical period when in many cases new
financing must be undertaken il the extensions and
improvements necessary to meet the country S
growing requirements are to be provided.
When President Wilson, in his address at the
opening of the Sixty-fourth Congress, recon-
mended commission to inquire into the railroad
situation the thought of harassing the roads with
anything resembling threat of government own
ership was apparently far enough from 10 mind.
His words indicated rather desire to cooperate
with the railroads that greater and more efficient
service might be secured The railroad interests
had reason to feel encouraged by the Presidents
remarks, the significance of which merit more con-
sideration than has been accorded them by states
men who are interesting themselves in transporta-
ton legislation The President said
/ suggest that it would be wise to provide for
a commission of inquiry to ascertain by thorough
canvass of the whole question whether our laws as
at present framed and administered are as service
able as they might be in the solution of the prob
lem. 1t is obviously problem that lies at the
very foundation of our efficiency as people. Such
an INQUIRY ought to draw out every, circumstance
and opinion worth considering and need to
know all sides of the matter if we to do any
thing in the field of Federal legislation.
|, No one, | am sure, would wish to take any
backward step. The regulation of the railways of
the country by Federal commission has had admir-
able results and has fully justified the hopes and
expectations OF those by whom the policy of regu-
laton was originally proposed. The question is
not what should undo? 1t is whether there is
anything else we can do that would supply us with
effective means, in the very process of regulation,
for betering the conditions under which the rail-
roads are operated and for making them use
full servants of the country as whole. 1t seems
to me that it might be the part of wisdom, there
fore before further legislation in this field is at
tempted, to look at the whole problem of co-ordi-
nation and efficiency in the full light of fresh
sessment of circumstance and opinion, as guide
to dealing with the several parts of it.
This is plainly warning to overenthusiastic
regulators of possible danger in legislation under
taken without full knowledge and consideration of
changed and changing conditions. Senator Borah
is under obligation to heed President Wilson's
wishes. So far as he is individually concerned he
is at liberty to do his utmost to retard develop
ment and progress by the railroads, which would
appear to be the purpose of his government-own-
ership amendment. Its further effect, however,
would necessarily be to retard the countrys indus
trial and commercial progress, and his right to do
this may well be questioned by the people.
Until the war began the country was stagnant
and the railroads were barely meeting expenses.
Now, when long-neglected improvements must be
undertaken, if the increasing business is to be
handled, and the roads confronted by insistent
demands from their employees for still higher
wages, Mr. Borah renews the threat of govern
ment ownership to discourage progress and stifle
enterprise.
Such a commission as the President recon-
mended should have nothing to do with govern
ment ownership; to saddle that project upon it
would be to render its entire work useless. 1t is
by no means certain that it will accomplish any
thing useful in any event, and it may be asked
whether better results would not have been
promised if the President had contented himself
with earnestly urging Congress to leave transpor-
tation legislation alone. At any rate, during the
time consumed by the commissions Investigations
the roads will have an opportunity to begin the
working out of their own salvation-which seems to
be their strongest hope-if they not discouraged
by the threat that the government will take
away the task before it is half finished. But if the
proposed commission is to conduct invcstiga-
ton with view to their ownership and operation
by the government, why should it also be bur-
dened with the duty of ascertainng how they may
be operated more efficiently by private enterprise?