The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-09
FEDERAL. CHARTERS FOR
RAILROADS.
Would These Cure the Evils That
Have Heretofore Existed?

now AAGEOtVtOHO LAISVcu
To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-sr. I
am somewhat bewildered by the par
abolic curves in economics and law Of
your belligerent correspondent "Civi-
tas." Is 1t true that Congress has
power TO incorporate q railroad COM
pany. and to exclude the different
States and State commissions from
regulating the intrastate rates Of such
a railroad? II so, I presume the same
would apply to the full crew laws and
other State laws.
The people do not know how to CON-
bat such things as the Thompson COM
mittee has uncovered. They do not
know how much Of II Ia right or how
much Is wrong. but they feel that
there Is something wrong. and they
look to the governing powers to pro-
tect them, and so Government owner
ship appeals TO them.
IL Government ownership Ia to be
prevented sone plan must be devised
70 enable the people to own the rail-
roads for the nation instead Of the
government owning The railroads for
the people. II the people own the rail-
roads the people will not quarrel much
about their own conduct OF the rail-
roads; and II this condition can be
brought about ii will Gear up the
entire railroad question. suppress dis
content. eliminate waste In competing
services, and provide amply FOR the
development Of the railroad system of
the country for the national benefit.
The European war in it's effect on
the economics Of the United States
has given relief. The earnings OF the
railroads have increased and the peo-
pie are thinking OF other things. II
this condition lasts indefinitely we
may not hear anything more about
Government ownership and the New
York Central may W again have to
issue 6 per cent. bonds.
But for the war we should have
been much further on the road to q
change in the status of the railroads.
A step beyond regulation vac incvi-
table. and that mean Government
ownership.
Our people Will not always he think
ing Of other things and the railroads
''''F NV f"tN Nv " 'llf
We may not always lie on the crest
of the wave. Apparently the railroads
ran make money in highly prosperous
times. hut II lean times should come
they will again he face 10 face with
diminishing revenue and the con-
stantly increasing expense of higher
wages. higher cost of equipment and
supplies.
Revertlng 10 the conditions before
the European war. the credit 81 the
railroads was impaired where 1t was
not destroyed They could only raise
money al ruinous rates. They had
forfeited the sympathy OF the country
long Z and they had los, the conf
denCe Of investors.
Government regulation was regliitt-
ing them into bankruptcy. Prosperous
times have halted the process. All de-
pends on whether or not the European
war IL to be a lasting benefit to this
country. tpCsons on that subject con-
filct. This country may or MAY not
be sufficient unto itself and he rich
when the whole NJ Europe and the
British Empire are practically bank
rupted.
II has to be admitted that the peo.
pie will not tolerate n return 10 ante.
regulation days. Those days are gone
The railroads were ruthless when they
Were free. They cannot be free again
under the old conditions. Il Is highly
des.rahl" that they should be- free "a
develop along sane lines and n ac-
cord with American ideas. hu' to d,
this rev conditions must II" found
II the Incorporation by Congress %;
Federal railroad companies Is tt rem-
edN for these troubles ! am " favor If
such Incorporation. E'SiNF.S
\FW NpVt March