Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-16
IOWA SENATOR MAY LEAD GOV
ERnMENr OUT OF PRESENT
TRAFFIC WILDERNESS.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
WITH PRIVATE OPERATION.
e>nator Working Out Plan For Pres.
sntstion TO congress--Wouid Pro-
vide Service Composition Without
Federal Temptation to Fix Wages
For Political Purposes.

Washington, Dec. lS.--Government
ownership Of ;he railroads with pri-
(. vate operation, suggested by Senator
Cummins of Iowa may be the event
ual solution Of the railroad problem
by congress-
With the Democrats split on me
wisdom of General Director McAdoo's
proposal to extend government control
OF the railroads for tive years, II is be-
coming more and more apparent that
the present congress which will eN-
pire March 4 next is unlikely TO act
and that the question VIII be left 10
the republican congress.
IN the next congress the dominating
figure in the realm of railroad legis-
lation will be Senator Cummins, an
acknowledged authority on transpor-
tatiop problems, who is destined 10 be
chairman of the senate committee on
Interstate commerce.
Now at Work on Bill.
In the ten years he has been in the
senate the miiwestern statesman mas
left the impression of bis views on
nearly every important piece OF legis-
lation, whether passed under republi-
can or democratic control, and on his
specially, interstate commerce., his
voice is the most Influential in con-
gress.
For these reasons all who are inter-
ested in the ultimate disposition Of
the railroads are seeking light on the
- Of for
Earring a bill embody:ns his concep-
tion of an adequate system Of nation
al transportation.
To effect Il permanent settlement
of the railroad question, Senator Cum
Minis holds three essential reforms
must be accomplished. Unearned in
crement as basis of capitalization
must be eliminated Wasteful compe-
tition must be terminated, without per-
hitting such combination Of railroads
as would place the public at their
mercy. Incentive TO development and
efficiency in service must be pre-
served.
Favor Combination Plan.
As the senator views the matter, it
Is not possible to accomplish all thesr
purposes under a system OF govern
ment ownership and operation. any
more than it IS possible under private
ownership and operation.
He therefore suggests a combination
Of the two as the only effective way
that can be adopted TO improve condi-
tons in all directions. Senator Cum
Minis Is opposed TO government control
OF railroads, such as the nation is la
boring under at the present time
He bases this conclusion not upon
the manifestations of inefficiency fur
pished by the present railroad admin
stration. 1t is inefficient chiefly be-
cause there is no incentive TO initia-
tive, because there is no prospect OF
benefit to the individuals. Perform
ance necessarily become perunctory
and routine. Continued government
control of railroads would create pos
sible source Of political corruption
which might easily become a source Of
great danger.
The Political Danger.
1t has already been demonst rated
that the power TO fix the wages Of a
great number Of railroad employees can
be made the basis of an effort to con-
troll the political activities of those
employees. 1t is conceivable that this
question of wages for railroad men
might become the dominating issue in
primary contests and congressional
elections, the votes of the railroad men
going to that candidate who promised
most in the way Of advanced compensa-
ton.
The inauguration Of such a system
would have effects reaching far be-
yond the organization Of railroad work
ers. 1t would tend to divert attention
from other questions Of right public
policy and would create an immediate
demand for the same treatment by the
government of all Industrial occupa-
lions as that accorded employment by
the railroads. Nothing could be devised
more certain to plunge the nation into
state socialism, in the opinion of Sen
ator Cummins. He, therefore, would
avoid the evils Of government opera
ton, which would become political
operation, by turning over the opera
ton of the roads to private corpora =
tons
Senator Cummins' Scheme.
The latter would be required to fur
nish all operating capital.
They would however, be given OPP
portunity for profit thus preserving
the incentive to efficiency.
Profits up to 6 per cent of the oper-
ating capital would go to the COM
panies intact. Profits above 6 per cent
would be subject to a graded tax, in
screasing as the profits increase, but
never becoming so heavy as to afford
B reason for reduced or limited effort
" 4 - -; off i0in
Z service.
1s Senator Cummins believes that fol
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