The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-01
Great Britain Never
to Glue Up Railroads

Private control Of railroads in England is a thing
of the past. Government control was adopted as a
| war measure in August, 1914 1t has worked so
we'll that the principle will be retained when peace
| returns. So much is certain. When the war
| broke out the government had to get immediate
control of the carriers fully to command facilities
| for transporting troops and supplies. There
was not time for celebrating plan, so the roads
were just taken over in the simplest way. The net
earnings of the previous year (s13) were guaran-
teed, with certain minor deductions, for the whole
period of government control, and the 10 general
| managers of the larger systems were constituted
an executive committee having entire managerial
charge
The whole scheme falls under the department of
commerce and transportation, known here as the
board Of trade, but that body names a member of
the committee of 1o-sir Herbert walker-as it's
representative holding for itself only the reserve
powers of control,
When the new order shook down to something
like supremacy. the managers surprised find
what good arrangement it was. Now after well
over two years of trying out, there is a practical
! unanimity in the opinion that the old conditions
will never be entirely restored.
Those railroad heads in America who are ever
scanning far horizons for signs of the times have
| been watching the experience in England for such
light as 1t may throw upon the serious problems
which confront the carriers that side of the At
| ianuc 1t happens that there is man in the
railroad service in this country who speak with
authority comparatively of railroads in America and
England He is the general manager of the Great
Eastern Henry w. Thornton, product of the
pennsylvania Railroad school, and, before coming
mere TWO ana half years ago, for some time gen.
efa' superintendent of the Long Island railroad.
AS general manager of the Great Eastern his posi-
ton corresponds to that of a railway president in
America
| "The arrangement between the government and
the railroad companies" said Mr. Thornton has
proved good bargain for everybody. Under it
stockholders receive the same return with some
minor deductions, that they had in 1913, upon which
year the bargain was based. The government. in
turn, fares WE'LL because the hauling for it, if
it had been paid for at the regular rates. would have
amounted to a great deal more"
will the old conditions ever be restored?"
Never" replied Mr.. Thornton, with emphasis
The position will be different after the war. Ex-
actly what it will be, nobody can tell. 1t will
probably be something like semi naturalization or
government partnership. 1t will be better than
the Old relation. because We have had opportu-
nifty to develop the subject under conditions which
ought to work out something that has all the ad-
vantages and none of the disadvantages of govern.
ment ownership"
When asked to comment the situation in
America. Mr.. Thornton said the interstate COM
merce commission seemed to him to labor undc,
the disadvantage that it was too far away from its
subject.
THE problem is to bring shippers. employers
shareholders and managers and no 10
gether'" said Mr.. Thornton $50 that they will ap
peciae the different points of view instead Of a,
ways standing each for its own. My study of tn,
American problem has carried me almost to tn,
conviction that instead OF the interstate commerce
commission there should be body composed Of me,
representing the four interests to which I hay
referred
1T might be well to carry the scheme even neare
TO government control Assuming some form of ii
nancial participation on the part of the government
e there is at once stabzing of railway securities
Ihey are taken out of the field of speculation tn
raising OF capital becomes easy and it's hire chear
o | me government IN turn has then a stake in tn
e proposition. Moreover each of the interests in
vowed IN the proposition watches the other an
sees that no interest gets more than its share
seems to me that you have got to devise som
J. scheme of automatic justice in railway management,
d or you will have a breakdown somewhere that vii
be very serious in its effects the whole countr,
"A body composed Of the best available men, an
pointed for life and adequately paid would be in
position to get the best results. For example,
labor leader (and there many good ones
: AmericD might go into this body prejudced, bu
y his association with the others would broaden an
u mellow him. Precisely the same thing could
& said Of the representative of capital
e 1T has worked that way in England. Neve
st anywhere has there existed such severe competito
e as there was here among the railroads. and vet tn
10 general managers. when brought together to on