The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1917-11-22
IMpEAcHED, TRIED AND CONVICTED.

IMPEAcHED, TRIED AND CONVICTED.
San Francisco paper of Oct 3d. quotes Senator Cum
minis of Iowa saying:
The has done to stimulate the movement Oh
control of railroads than twenty-five years OF
propaganda during peace could have accomplished People
everywhere asking why the government should conro
the railroads in time Of peace if it does in time OF war
emergency Ostensiby the roads taken in war time to
add their efficiency and if this attained in war the same
should hold true in normal time
The attributed Senator Cummns is calculated
to islead in that conveys the impression that the rail
roads being operated by the and that
increased efficiency due to this which is quite untrue
Instead of assuming control and operation what the Gov
eminent actually did keep hands off, roll aside egis
ave obstacles and restrictions which nerfered with efficient
operation and give the railroads and shippers free hand
Ito deal with the situation unhampered by federal or state
interference.
Contrast what Senator Cummns reported have said
with the statement Of Chairman Hall Of the Interstate Com
Commission to the National Association OF Railway
Commissioners in Washington last month Chairman Hall
said:
1.-THE power commander the carriers by rail has not
been exercised So tremendously have all who have to do
with the problem Of transportation by rail put their abors
together that the President has the need of
ing that great power that placed in him. If there had
been reluctant compliance with the orders of authority there
would have been produced such result has been
produced by the cheerful hearty and willing acting together
of shippers and carriers of the country
From among the ablest railroad talent in the world the
railroads created governing and directing councof such
minds Of Julius Krutschnitt Robert s. Love Daniel
Willard, Howard Elliott and Fairfax Harrison-and
management
ing the war.
Among the first acts Of this organization consolidation
of all the lines into single unit The next arrange
for complete coordination and cooperation among the
roads; and the arrange for the fullest possible
Incorporation between the carriers and shippers
There has been waste of efficiency because of delays
in loading and unloading and understanding of With
admirably alacriy the shippers responded entered
campaign for greater efficiency and cooperation with the
result that increase in efficiency of approximately % per
cent accomplished This achievement effected
entirely by the railroads and shippers The part played by
the to legislative
which in the first place should have existed.
appears therefore that instead of Government ownership
being encouraged by transporting events imputed by the
language attributed to Senator Cumns it has been very
effectively discredited.
Moreover there anything in political history which ust
es the safe assumption that under government ownership
operation of the railroads would be continued in the hands
of men of the type of Kruttschn Lovett Willard Elliott
and Harrison? If not and if entrusted the average poll
tican probably would be what would happen to the
service is painful to contemplated Furthermore in coun-
tries where the railroads owned operated
has anything of economic value developed that would Justify
ownership in the United States? Many countries
and operate their railroads but the vital economic fact
remains that in of them railway wages high and
cost of transportation low in the United States By
this fact alone government ownership mpeached tried and
convicted.