The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-01-03
All Railroads Under
Government Control.

President Wilson has set a go0(
example in red-tape cutting
Through the War Department HI
has taken over the railroads o.
the country.
He did not wait upon debate!
in Congress. Red tape methods
would have required that he ad
dress Congress, stating his in
tentions and asking legislation tc
carry into effect his plans tc
guarantee the railroads a net in.
come equal to the average net
for three years preceding June
80 last. Red tape would have
kept him dancing upon the whims
of Congress-upon arguments
for and against; upon speeches
detailing the schemes of individ-
ual Senators and Representatives.
The situation demanded action
in every direction and the Pres
ident took action. He gave no
tice that the railroads would pass
under government control. This
much he accomplished with the
stroke of a pen. He will expect
Congress to support him in what.
ever way may be necessary.
The President, we believe, has
chosen to take the sane, safe and
proper step. Government own
ership is not involved. 1t is gov
ernment management that is
created. 1t is the plan virtually
adopted by England, where the
government took possession of
the roads and has managed them
guaranteeing dividends. In Eng
land the proposition was simple.
Here it is more intricate for our
roads cover a vast territory.
The principle is the same, how
ever.
| What is it that is the matter
with the railroads? This: They
have not been able to develop
as they should have done be-
cause the Observation-Disclosures of
the Interstate Commerce Com
mission would not allow them ad-
equate transportation rates. Ma
turally there is great congestion.
The railroads have been exceed
ingly patriotic. They have been
willing to do everything that lay
in their power, but laws against
pooling and combinations have
stood in their way. The spirit
of coordination was present, but
it could not be putin practice ex-
cept in minimum degree. There
were serious questions of COM
pensations rearrangements of
charges and of a "dislocation of
earnings, as the President put
it. But all these problems evap-
crate under government manage
ment. The roads can and will
be run as a single system with
out regard to their individual
profit or losses. The rights of
stockholders will be preserved.
The equipment will be kept up,
The net income will be guaran-
teed-if Congress indorses the
Presidents plans, and of course
it will do 90, and do so promptly.
Technically the railroads pass
into physical possession of the
War Department. They thus
become an engine of war meth
ods. War measures for running
them can be enforced. The draft
can be applied if necessary.
Strikes can be handled under
uar conditions. But the War
Dsp -tment will have control
only technically for Mr.. McAdoo
becomes Director General, while
maintaining his present Office of
Secretary of the Tre"sury The
Treasury is thus pu' N close con-
nection with railroad manage
ment, insurlng perfect cocpera-
ton.
Director General is a rather
high-sounding title. Indeed it
carries exclusive dictation in its
meaning but Director General
McAdoo's mission will lie in his
power to coordinate all railroad
interests rather than in the ac-
tual running of the roads. There
are capable railroad men in this
country and these capable men
will not be disturbed. They