Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-28
Why Federal Control Should Succeed

/ United States under the supervision OF a
virtual dictate is an accomplished fact.
President Wilson has taken tho step which
it had long been predicted he would be COM
pellcd to take in view of the complete break
down Of the transportation system under its
burden OF war conditions. His choice for
director general is William Gibbs McAdoo,
Secretary of the Treasury, a keen executive.
, of far-secing and practical vision in financial
matters, whose ability as an organizer has
been proved.
One thought stands out pre-emnently af-
ter a reading OF the Presidents proclamation
and his accompanying statement. 1t is this:
Had the railroads themselves been granted
the rights and powers for the regulation OF
their own business such as now through
presidential action. bestowed upon tho
director general, then Federal control might
not have been necessary. Clothed with au-
thority to handle the transportation system
as they know it should have been handled.
and they would have handled it but for
the tangle Of legal enactments which has
hedsed them about, the railroads would not
have broken down under the strain OF war,
and there would have been no grave trans
portation problem for the government 20
take over.
In other words. the whole legislative re-
strctiye system which has bound the rail-
roads. robbed them OF their initiative and
checked their progress has collapsed, carry
ing with il the railroads. through no fault of
their own. Now the government must re-
pair the damage it has legally inflicted, in
order that its ends may be met.
Fortunately for the government, it will not
be compelled to work under the restrictive
conditions it has imposed upon the proper
ties it finally has taken on. We're that
necessary, only failure could result-just as
it did to the private owners. Those condi-
Mt pra nv tiol r0rl
and the government is free to go forward
untrammeled along modern business lines.
lrkSome rulings by the Interstate Commerce
Commission no longer may Ear the road TO
railroad efficiency. Its often unnecessary in
reference with the various transportation
lines longer need be tolerated.; in fact
will be impossible. There will be no more
obseQuious pleas for rate increases necessary
to meet mounting costs OF labor, upkeep and
equipment with months OF delay and heavy
losses. There will be no problem of capital
and labor, no strikes to tie up vital arteries
of tradic, destroy property and seud costs
high into additional millions There will be
no such thing as forty-eisht little commits
sions in as many States promulgating divers
kinds OF rules for alleged regulation, which
have only added their naggng and expensive
straNs TO the burdens already shouldered
upon the railroads By the central govern
ment All these things are ended for so
long time Washington retains control,
and under these conditions il should be sue
cessfu That it should be so is the impera-
tive necessity OF to-day. 1t is too late for
reflection that perhaps the railroads given
the same chance, might have done equally
as we'll.
III brief. Federal control as at present
Planned. seems TO have been undertaken
primarily means OF eyading those mani
iold laws forbiddins the railroads to do GER
tain things. which he government now finds
il must do if it hope. to bring order and eff
fciency from the railroad chaos This is the
one great end accomplished. Other proposed
changes are largely OF an executive nature
me director general will be supreme in his
authority, and his labors of coordination Will
prove valuable. but the railroad war board
which has given valiant and loyal service
| Will be left undisturbed, and actual manage
| mont Of the unified lines will remain in prac-
! teal and experienced baDd1.
Investors in railroad securities have no
cause for alarm. Their dividends are as
sured, and the value OF their physical proD-
| ertes Is guaranteed against deterioration
! ne government stands back OF that. Fed
[ eral control means rising prices for stocks.
and the belief OF the nation that this is so is
| rehcc'ed IN the buoyant optimism Of Wall
| street Financial collapse, as we'll as that
| OF transportation has been ayerted
| What OF the future? On every side il has
| ocen predicted that once the government
! took over the railroads, it never would re
tease lhcin. 10 many, Federal control IS
! the last great step before Federal ownership.
| Much depends, OF course, upon the outcome
o' the present experiment. If supervision
[ succeeds there is certain to be an increased
| demand that the next and final step be taken.
| sober thought. however may bring the con-
! 'iuslon that If the government can trans
! !or'h me disordered transportation system
| INTO weil-ordered, efficient unit after re-
| moving demonstrating restrictions. then
private control should be given chance to
| prove It's ability TO do we'll under similar
| conditions Let that be granted and row
| crnment ownership of railroads in the limited
! states VIII not be necessary. But whatever
'ne future brings, Federal or private owner
| snip inc iact remains that the policy OF
| hechhhs the railroads has been found far
LOO costly and dangerous, even were il inst
| 10 th'S industry, upon which many billions
oi ao''ars nave been expended and upon which
| inc common welfare depends. That day has
| gone forever, and il is we'll