New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-03
Unification of Canadian
Railroads Recommended
ROYAL Commission Offers Plan to Have All Lines but Lana
dian Pacific Operated by Board OF rusteeS
as One System

possessing the confidence of railway
employees.
The Commissioners strongly empha-
size their belief that democratic gov
ernments are unsuited to own and OPP
crate railways and that they have rec
commended even indirect public opera
ton for Canada only because of wholly
exceptional circumstances existing
there. On this point they say:
"Our personal belief is strong that,
in normal circumstances. railway en-
terprise is a matter best left in private
hands. subject to proper regulation by
the government. We consider that, IN
the case Of the Canadian Pacific Rail
way, as to which the government IN
structs us TO advise, the fact that 1t
received large help from public sources
in its early days is not any reason why
the existing status OF the company
should now be disturbed. This com
pany has carried out its bargain. 1t
has repaid TO the government large ad-
vances made in earlier years. We be-
lievc that Canada has Rad good value
!
il is i'm the interest of the country that
this company should be rich and pros
porous, for such companies can be eX-
pected, not only to give the best SER
vice. but TO be best able TO provide in
time to meet new developments as
they arise. We have had no hesitation.
therefore. in coming to the conclusion
that the status Of the Canadian Pacific
ID IL 4 h Loo tqtn rh
But in the case of the Canadian
Northern. the Grand Trunk and the
Grand Trunk Pacific. the circumstances
are not normal. These companies have
broken down. We see no way TO or
ganize new companies to take their
place. Their only possible successor
is. in our view, a public authority. We
are confronted with condition and
not theory"
The Commissioners finally lay stress
on the necessity Of immediate action
lest Canada should suffer from railway
congestion even worse than that OF
last winter.
What Mr.. Smith Proposes
Economy first" is the keynote OF
Mr.. Smiths plan, which provides for
regrouping of lines to stop needless
losses. eliminate duplication and Gre
ate harmonious practical service. Tenn
porary public aid is provided, with
seven years for the railroads them
selves to make good.
I'm refusing to indorse the "parlia-
mentary trustees" plan of the major
ity Mr.. Smith brands II as really and
actually government ownership and
operation, with all their proved evils
and dangers, merely lacking the name.
The Smith plan provides for sweep
ing economies by regrouping Of the
various properties, the strong with the
weak, East and West, so that waste
full duplication may be eliminated,
with abandonment Of such operations
as are not justified by the reasonable
needs. and one single sufficient ser
vice may be rendered upon q paying
bayis, instead of two inefficient ser
vites, conducted at loss to both.
1.-THE immediate and obvious thing TO
do" says the minority report. "is to
adopt a constructive and discriminat-
ing programme, first, for correcting
the conditions which necessitate con-
tinuing loss and waste, even where
that would require the abandonment
of useless property, and, second, for
controlling new construction. The
scrapheap is frequently the most eco
nomical disposition available for In
efficient plant and machinery