New-York tribune., 1918-01-21
Government and Railroads
The Real Meaning and Scope of
Federal Operation

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: May I suggest that there is scarcely
more important duty before the careful
thinking, patriotic newspapers Of the coun-
try. of which The Tribune is notable x
ample, than to prevent that popular miscon
ception of the meaning Of Federal control Of
railroads which is being assiduously fostered
by some prejudiced and influential interests? ?
1t is obvious that are laying the basis for
cpochal changes in railway policies and in
the relationships between the carriers and
the government 1t is inevitable, of course,
that the application of Federal control should
induce active discussion Of its possible de-
velopmcnt in time into government owner
ship but now--of all tmes-it should not be
made the occasion for loose utterance OF
political artifce. The country can only
solve it's railroad problem if it considers it
dspassionately.
Typical Of the misconceptions which some
seek to foster is the bald assertion, or the
implication, that Federal control is merely
charitable performance on the part of the
government toward the roads and that the
railroad owners and managers look upon it
as a for getting their properties re-
hablitated financially and physically with
out cost to themselves. One editor announces
that the attitude of the roads is as if they
should say to the country: "Spend a thousand
millions of public taxes fixing up our rail
roads; then give them back, please" am
rot railroad officer security holder; sim
ply an ordinary observer I can see-as all
but the grossly ignorant to whom this editor
appeals can readily see--that this expression
of the attitude of the roads is absurdly at
variance with the facts.
The fact is that the government is obli-
eating itself to the roads only to maintain
the properties in as good repair and as COM
plete equipment as when taken over and to
make such compensation "as is equitable and
just alike to their owners and to the general
public" For such new improvements as
the government may make and for such
credit as it may supply to meet fixed charges
and maturing obligations, the government is
TO be reimbursed by the roads
considering the highly beneficial public nur
pose for which these roads. built up by pri
vate capital were taken over by the Federal
authorities, it is evident that the government
Is striking a good bargain. 1t is not thrust
ing upon the taxpayers the burden of railway
rehabilitation; it merely agrees in behalf of
the taxpayers that reasonable COMPENSATION
based on an average Of past earnings shall
be paid for the of the roads. and that If
Will maintain the properties and couipment
IN as good condition as when taken over.
But the political propagandists would have
the public believe that the roads are bcinr
made the objects of public generosity, and
on this basis they demand government own
ership, saying, for example: "The people
have the railroads. they are going to rebuild
and operate the railroads, and they are going
to keep the railroads." and adding "An1
Congressman that votes first to mend the
railroad system with the peoples money and
then hand it back to gang of incompetent
looters will himself be looking for lob on
the railroad before long" 1t is noteworthy