The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-05-24
no GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
Il Would Mean Political Control and
Loss Of Efficisncy-Deciarss That
Crisis Confronts Country on Account
Of Transportation Situation-Lowsss
Freight Rates TO 90 Found Ia United
States.

OH interstate commerce at a special
session held here to enable the com
7mittee to hear his views before his de |
partnre for London this week. Two
steps are necessary. according to Mr.
Acworth. to avert this crisis and to
solve the threatening railroad problem
confronting the country.
The first Is to allow. the railroads to
charge freight rates sufficient to meet
the great advance In operating ex-
penses which ID taking place and to
enable them to command the credit
necessary to provide the extensions
and improvements needed to meet the
growing demands OF business. The sec.
Ond is to do away with the multiple
and conflicting systems OF regulation
that now hamper railway operation
and to provide one centralized regula-
tory agency with such local subdivi
sions as may be necessary.
Higher Rates = Public Necessity.
Mr.. Acworth's views on the transp0r.
tation situation in the United States
were expressed In answer to questions
BY members Of the committee, who
asked him to apply his knowledge
Of railway conditions throughout the
world and OF the experience OF other
countries with government ownership
to the present problem before the Unit.
ed States
THE fundamental factor In the sit
ualloh V very slmpie. san nr. Ac
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Weakness Of Governments Ownership.
On the subject OF government owner
shin Of railways Mr.. AcwOrth said:
1T Is impossible to obtain satisfac
tory results on government railways
ID q democratic state unless the man
agement. is cut loose from direct polit-
ical control. Neither Australia nor
any other country with democrat
ic constitutions perhaps an exception
ought to be made Of Switzerland has
succeeded in maintaining q permanent
severance. In France. In Belgium, IN
Italy. parliamentary interference never
has been abandoned for a moment.
The facts show that government in
reference has meant running the rail.
ways not for the benefit OF the people
LAT large. but to satisfy local and sec.
tionaT and even personal interests.
| Prussia. Mr. Acworth said, was the
best example Of an efficient govern
ment railway system, and he pointed
out that military considerations were
1 treated as OF paramount importance II
the Prussian railway system. While
American freight rates had been re
duced nearly 40 per cent IN thirty
years. rates in Prussia were nearly q
high as at the beginning Of the period
While the charge for moving ton O
freight one mile IN the United States
was tri1e over three-quarters Of