The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1917-05-25
Washington Letter.

A question of vital importance to
the American people is the matter of
railroad transportation. To my mind
there never was and there never can
be, economic, philosophical and demo-
cratic reconciliation between the pri-
vate ownership of public utilities and
the substantial welfare of the public
good. In grave times like these
when we are confronted with trans
portation of food stuffs, soldiers, war
munitions and other important COM
modities, the railroads present us
with an almost irremedial congestion
of car service.
The matter is of such serious con-
Germ that Senator Smith of Georgia
has offered an amendment authoriz-
ing an appropriation of one hundred
million dollars, which in reality would
be loan to the railroads for the
purpose of buying freight cars in
sufficient numbers to meet the ur-
gent demand of transportation. Sem
ator Smith thinks this would pune
ture the railroads effort for fifteen
percent increase of freight rates.
The truth of the business is, the
railroads haven't built any cars to
amount to anything since 1914.
They are endeavoring to move the
freight of the country with their car
service of 1914.
Senator Hoke Smith is flooded with
letters from all parts of the United
States from men engaged in differ
ent lines of business complaining and
lamenting the fact that cars cannot
be obtained for the transportation Of
commodities which they are justified
and entitled to have shipped to con-
sumers The situation is an extreme
one, and it is one that private own
ership does net keenly appreciate as
the government does.
Senator Smith says that if the
railroads application for fifteen per-
cent increase. of freight rate were
granted there is no guarantee that
1t would bring about the desired re-
suit. The Senator contends that a
study of the history of the past three
years, we are bound to reach the con-
clusion that the increase of the net
receipts OF. the railroads as a whole
would not meet the trouble which
confronts the shippers of the country
at the present time. Senator Smiths
reason for making this observation
IS the fact that the year ending June
Both 1916 the railroads did their
most lucrative business in their whole
history. And after paying of all
their liabilities of operation, and all
liabilities upon Indebtedness and in
tereSt charges their net remaining
profit in hand for distribution to
stockholders or for other use. as the
officers of the companies might di-
rect, were six hundred and one mil
lion dollars. And this too on a CAPT
talization of six billion nine hundred
and siXty-three million-over eight
and half percent as an average on
adj the stock of the railroads of the
United States.
1t looks to me like the railroads
are getting too moss-bacS. Too un.
appreciative of the general interest
and intelligence of the country al
large. The principle underlying Sen.
ator Smiths amendment is one of
very vital and far reaching impor.
lance. 1t in brief, is move or
the part of the general government
to patch up, or amend, a glazing and
gross irregularity, or rather, deli
berate disregard upon the part OF
the railroads for the imperative need,
OF the public at large The emer.
gency is acute. Something must be
done. And while the amendment Of
Tered by Senator Smith may not be
the wisest thing to do, confess | dc
not see any other remedy that is it.
equal, much less a better one. Per
haps the fatherly indulgence of the
government is one cause of the rail