The Washington herald., 1917-08-13
SAYS GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP FAR OFF
Francis de Sales Ryan Considers
Plan Is Impractical.

Editor The Washington Herald
Government ownership of railroads
is coming. And the railroads
that wisely meet it half way, take
fair price for their railroads in
stead of waiting for the radicalism
that is going to follow the war, will
be glad that they took advice from
this MISUNDERSTANDING from edi-
torial in the Washington Times.
Government ownership of railroads
Is not coming, for the same reason
that Socialism is not coming. A thing
that is impracticable on its face Will
never be accepted by the American
people.
Other nations have tried govern
ment ownership of railways and in
every instance Of attempted railway
naturalization the most dismal fall
ure has resulted. Every country that
made the experiment found 1t i'm
possible to keep politics out of rail-
way affairs, and 1t would be impos-
sible in our country. where even our
Congress plays petty politics while
the nations honor is at stake. Our
failure would be greater In the pro-
portion that our mileage, is greater
than that of the nations that made
the experiments. This is the primal
reason why the people Of the United
States do not want government own
ership; they have no wish to try out
an idea that has proved a practical
failure in so many instances. They
have in mind Great Rritain's COM
paratively recent experience, summed
up by Lord Claud Hamilton, NJ. p,
in an address delivered February IL.
1876:
Does II not strike you how mark
ed is the contrast of the smooth and
successful working OF the gigantic
task imposed upon the committee OF
general managers with the reckless
and haphazard manner in which
much of the work also under-or part
ly under-government control has
been administered? The reason Of
the difference is obvious. In the one
case the work has been performed by
practical. trained business men: in
the other case the preponderance of
politicians, lawyers, and government
officials-in many instances without
any real business experience-has
been the cause of inefficiency. of un-
pardonable delay. and of a terrible
waste Of public money. These mis-
takes are being gradually rectified;
but the war has been in progress for
one year and seven months, and II
| seems a grave reflection upon our
system of government that such mall
administration should have been pos
sible. and in the best interests of the
country 1t Is TO be greatly deplored.
Remember that Americas biggest
railway system is OF itself but toy,
a miniature, compared with the vast
railway mileage of the United States
that the advocates of naturalization
want the government to take over
and operate as one system. Where
would the government go for a man
or set Of men to assume the manage
ment of 10000 miles of line? True
We have a number OF great railway
executives who could handle such an
undertaking. but they are not OF the
type that would submit to the red
tape and petty annoyances that al
ways hamper government employees.
Moreover. men OF such great genius
would never consent to work for the
paltry pay that Uncle Sam seems to
think a fair remuneration for the
services of his servants. Even now,
in q great crisis, the government is
calling for rate experts and is offer
ing less pay than such men receive
from very small railway companies.
Recall the case of the Panama
Canal. At different times two rail-
road men, with established records
for highest ability and efficiency. were
in charge. but they quit. They were
too big. too capable, too independent
to adopt the red tape methods i'm
posed by the government; they would
not play politics-they could not stand
bureaucracy.
Under government control there
would be but two classes OF men from
which to recruit the railway heads.
There would be but two motives to
attract men to shoulder the respon-
sibilities of the high managerial Of
fees that would have to be filed. In
the first class would come what might
be called patriots; strong, capable
men, willing to serve their govern
ment on a scale Of remuneration much
below what they might otherwise
command, for patriotic reasons alone.
In the other class would be found
men without express knowledge or
experience. but willing to seize any
responsibility and run the chance
professional Office seekers.
AS patriots are few and profess
sional office seekers legion, the rail
ways under the government would be
managed-or rather mismanaged-just
like the Postoffice Department, the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing.
and the other shining marks of ma
tional inefficiency. The transporta-
ton mess that would result would
cause a nationwide uprising OF the
public.
Comparative railway statistics on
file in the Bureau of Railway Eco
nomics, and recently published in The
Herald. show conclusively that our
American privately-owned roads lead
the world in efficiency and economy.
There will never be a national de-
mand for government ownership of
cur railways-not in a thousand years.
The American people will always be
sane.
FRANCIS DE SALES RYAN.