Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1917-05-19
british EXPERT
lAUDS RAILROADS
OF UNITED STATES
oils Congress Committee Thai
They Lead World.
0 GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP

s""seN OUU6ulOUBU
Would Mean Political Control and
Loss of Efficieney-DscIarss That
Crisis confronts Country on Account
nS transportation situation--Lows.t
Freight Rates to Be Found In United
States.
washington, May 14.-That the Unit.
states Is face to face with q serious
Psis In Its commercial affairs, due to
conditions by which its transporta.
III system is confronted, was the opin.
expressed by w. NJ. Acworth, Eng.
nds leading authority on railways.
Tore the Newlands joint committee
interstate commerce at a special
sslon held here to enable the com.
ttee to hear his views before his de.
rture FOR London this week. Two
Fps are necessary. according to Mr..
worth, to avert this crisis and to
I'VE the threatening railroad problem
hfronting the country.
fhe first is to allow the railroads m
arge freight rates sufficient to meet
great advance in operating ex-
nses which is taking place and to
able them to command the credit
cessary to provide the extensions
improvements needed to meet the
owing demands Of business. The sec.
is to 90 away with the multfple
conflicting systems Of regulation
PC now hamper railway operation
to provide one centralized regula-
y agency with such local subdiyi-
rs as may be necessary.
Higher Rates Public Necessity.
lr Acworth's views on the transpor
ION situation In the United States
re reexpressed In answer to questions
members OF the committee, who
led him to apply his knowledge of
lWay conditions throughout the
rid and of the experience Of other
ntries with government ownership
The present problem before the Unit.
States
The fundamental factor In the stu.
pm Is very simple" said Mr.. Ac-
Fth. 1T lies In the fact that you
not get three-quarters of q cents
rth of work done for less than three
lrters Of cent, no matter whether
agency performing it is govern.
nu or private enterprise. Freight
es must advance when the cost of
forming the service advances as
doing at present, just as the price
bread or meat or any other com.
dity increases with increased cost
production"
p answer to question Mr.. Ac.
rth said that he thought American
ght rates had been at much too low
Fvel for several years past, that they
reached this low point during the
iod Of cutthroat competition among
roads and had since been held
re by regulating bodies. Unless re.
were afforded to the carriers very
mptly, he said, the result would
Tremendous loss to the people of
whole country through INSULT Glen.
Of transportation facilities.
sakness Of Government cwnsrshIp.
the subject Of government owner
Of railways Mr.. Acworth said:
1t is impossible to obtain satisfac-
results on government railways
democratic state unless the man
faeht is cut loose from direct polit-
control. Neither Australia nor
other country with a democrat
constitution--perhabs an exception
ut to be made Of Switzerland-has
ceeded in maintaining a permanent
erance. In France, in Belgium, In
Y, parliamentary interference never
been abandoned for moment.
facts show that government in
erence has meant running the rail.
Us not for the benefit Of the people
arge, but to satisfy local and section.
md even personal interests.
russia, Mr.. Acworth said, was the
Example Of .aR. eolcis1t xoEefne