Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-22
Willamette Wins Debate
On Government Ownership
(CORtinued from Page One.1


Govt. ownership We. private. Showing
that freight and passenger rates are
lower here than there And that fatal
tiles and accidents are becoming less
each year here by the large eXpendi-
turs being made by the railroads at
the present time.
2-Secret rebates are no longer
granted; and that parallel lines devel.
op the country adjacent to them, that
the terminals of competing lines may
be combined. Civil service is extrava-
giant and expensive and tends to pro-
duce a political machine Pooling
should be allowed for railroads to COM
bine and come to an agreement. Rates
are necessary to terminal points in
order that these points may be whole
sale districts.
Adolph Spiess, the second affirma-
tive speaker, proceeded to show
There is difference in the length
of nauls between points here as to
those of Germany. Also that right of
way in Germany cost more, consequent
ly ratees should be higher there than
here.
2-Regulltion is futile ami harmful
Causing small amount of railroad build
ing. If regulation is to work it must
be more of a dictatorial nature rather
than suggestive power.
3-RailrOads are monOpolies and
pooling always tends to a raise in rates
rather than a decrease. Lastly that
civil service does not drag public en-
terprise into politics.
Lester Jones, the second negative
speaker, brought out two points tnat
Govt. ownership is impracticable and
has not been a success where tried.
1.-The increase in number of Govt
employees to operate railroads would
through the civil service bring into
existence a spoils system that would
be an unconquerable political machine
In order to purchase the railroads the
Govt. would need to tax the people
more heavily and this would prove un
popular, since increase in national
debt decreases national credit.
2-Germon Govt. is a militaristiC
kind and hence in order for Govt
ownership of railroads to be success
full it would necessitate militarsm OF
gross nature in the United States,
Foreign governments charge higher
rates and yet they have an annual de-
ficit in their railroad budget.
Taylor then began rebuttal for the
negative and confined his time to try
ing to show that a man big enough fol-
the job of handling the combined rail
road systems could not be found. In
the ten minutes allowed the affirma
tive for rebuttal Eakin proceeded tC
firmly establish MS ease and complete
| ly knock the foundations out of the
negative arguments, and his success il
doing so was shown by the decision.
Previous to this from the audience
view point the decision was question
but Eakins whirlwind rebuttal swept
away any doubts as to what the re
suits should be.
The judges for the occasion were
Prof Joseph Schafer of Oregon Uni
versity; Prof. r. G.. franklin of Al
bany College; Prof. Geo w. Hugo city
superintendent McMinnville schools.
Judge j. c. Mooreland was chairman
of the debate. Miss Faye Bolin pre-
faced the debate with a piano solo
'Polka De Concert" by Homer N
Bartlett Miss Leila Belle McCaddan
sang "When the Kye Come Haem
by G. Vevin and "From the Land OF
the Skv Blue Waters" by Cadman.
The Willamette negative team, Har
ry Savage and Walter Geiser also wor
from the Pacific affirmative team last
night by 2-l decision. The judges
Of the debate there were; Rex Par
sons, Orenco; A. NJ. Crawford, Port
land. and r. Q. Holman. Portlanl.