The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-24

I Brooklyn once, Room 70f, Eagle Build
ins. sos wsshinGton street
n or trtesss vAs never ~ esiA @ee..
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lss kevs rejected esfteiss rstsrNsd they nsss
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: TELEPHONE. BEnKMAN saoo.
VERY Plain Talk Fpem ths DaFectss
Of Federal Railroads.
Mr.. McApoo's remarks on the gen
eral railroad situation, reported In
The Sun yesterday, breathe that en-
gaging candor with which the Secre-
tary Is accustomed to disclose his
Utmost thoughts and purposes when
addressing the American public. Let
us glance briefly at some Of his ut.
terances on a subject Of supreme
Importance to the future Of this re-
public. There has been no statement
of intentions from the Director Of
Railroads quite SO remarkable.
We note first the absolute frank
ness with which the Director Of Rail-
roads explains his reason for impos-
ing on Pullman car travel cumula-
tive and in some cases prohibitory
taxes. In this way the Administra-
tlon hopes, he says, to discourage to
a certain extent the practice Of rid
ing de luxe. It hopes also ito cur
tail passenger travel" and thus save
fuel and locomotives for the hauling
'of freight. Mr.. MoApoo would like
to induce those people who travel
unnecessarily to stay home and In
vest their money In Liberty bonds
and War Savings Stamps" He does
not hesitate to admit that the taxing
power temporarily vested In him Is
being used not with view to the
production Of revenue for the rail-
roads. but to effect sumptuary re-
forms which the Administration re-
CARDS as desirable; to keep people at
home who would otherwise be buy.
ing railroad and Pullman tickets.
We are not now examining the
merits Of the purpose thus frankly
avowed by the Director Of Railroads
or considering Its necessity as a war
measure. He Is departing far, far
indeed, from that theory Of the only
legitimate use Of the taxing powers
which has been historically car
dinal point In the creed Of tho De
mocracy to which he belongs and of
which his chief, President WILSON,
10 the titular leader. He is illustrnt-
ing the limitless power over social,
moral, political and economical con-
ditions which can be exerted for good
or evil by the man who has the say
a. to rates In n unified railroad sys-
tsm in the United States.
That Director McADoo has sue
eDeded in discouraging travel de luxe
BY overcharging 1t, and In curta ling
ordinary passenger travel BY over
charging that also, no one whose nee
assary business takes him often and
far along the Government rails, and
thus gives him q good opportunity 10
Judge Of existing conditions, IL likely
at this time to deny.
II.
Equally frank is the Director of
Railroads In his declaration Of q
purpose and an ambition beyond the
mere efficient operation Of the sys-
TEN as a part Of the Governments
war machinery. That he intends to
employ the railroads to the best ad-
vantage for the winning Of the war,
and that such IL the main object Of
his intelligent efforts. nobody will
doubt and everybody will believe.
And yet Mr.. McADoo announces that
he has something else In view.
II hope through Government man
sgement," he says, ''to demonstrate
a unified railroad system IL Q good
thing"
This does not mean necessarily
that Mr.. McADoo is trying to demon
strate that a unified railroad system
under Government management would
be a good thing as a permanent ihsti-
tuition. That, 1t Is true, is the natu-
raj construction to be put upon his re-
mark, but we call attention to the
need Of guarding against the rs
sumption.
He may be contemplating some
other form Of UNIFIED railroad man
agement, short Of absolute Govern
ment control. 1t Is quite conceivable
that his brilliant mind has already
shaped the outlines Of some intsrmo-
diate plan Of unified operation; some
scheme which shall do away with
competition and railroad rivsiries
and local separation and the confu.
sion Of conflicting interests and meth
DDS, and at the same time avoid the
recognized evils OF absolute Govern
ment ownership and control. He
may mean that he Is now using the
opportuni. afforded by Governnen,