Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-16
Extraordinary Editorials Of the Day

gent public demand that this congress
shall determine what is to be done
with the railroads. An impression to
the contrary prevails. If the rail-
road problem is really pressing. if the
Administration Is in an anxious
frame of mind about it, there can be
no good reason, none but political
reasons, why it should not summon
the next Congress in extraordinary
session TO consider the subject.
THAT it would be a public wrong,
..:.,. Il, public danger. to return the
iAii:uuds to private ownership with
cut due statutory provision for their
welfare. which is also the public well
fare, nobody questions. Under uni
fed control, conditions have been Gre
ated which could not be suddenly
ended without intolerable confusion
That need must be met. The old
conflict between State and Federal
jurisdiction must be removed unless
we are resolved deliberately to con-
tinue ancient evils. The country is
prepared to believe that there is viz
tue in nearer approach to unified
control: conceivab bly,, it might begin
by permitting regional unfication.
with careful and we'll considered
advance toward broader cooperation
in service. Intelligent Government
regulation the country is prepared to
accept, will welcome.
Just there turks the greatest danger
Of all. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission insists thu the railroads
should not be cOur y Il financial
game. That is as Sva The moral
law. But neither should they he
made counters in the game of politics.
That is the chief peril that confronts
them and the public. Wherever poll
itics has entered into the matter, it
! has been the curse Of Federal and
| State regulation. 1t is political con-
troll, control for politics. that has de-
, stroyed the credit of the railroads,
that has brought them to what Mr..
/ McAdo6 is pleased to call a condition
! of incficienCy which makes necessary
! the immediate expenditure of $780,
! 00o,000 a year. Tho Federal Director
! General raised rat-" right and left, to
! a degree private control would never
have dared to propose. Tho Federal
! Commission has resolutely fought the
attempts of the roads TO obtain much
more moderate increases. And the
resulting condition Of the "ineificien-
! cy" is made TO serve IS an argument
( for Government control.
] The people have need to consider
/ noraf,,1IN, CT
pay interest on q war debt of many
, billions. DO they want to add to this
! $500 600 GOO a year for railroad i'm
! provement? Or would they be Just
as weir satisfied that the railroads
under Government regulation allow
! ing fair rates, should provide their
own funds? Mr.. McAdoo says that
! his plan would take the railroad ques-
ton "out of politics." On the con-
trary, it would put the railroads into
politics. and we think permanently
The people ought to make UP their
mi.;f bout it now. Under Federal
COZ .oE have had to pay much
! high ,ates, they have had inferior
accommodations. Under Government
ownership these conditions would be
permanent. There would be deficits
which tho people would have to make
up by the tax bills. Mr. Hughes said
the other day that sit is regretta bic
but it is true, that governmental en-
terprise tends constantly to ineffi-
cheney" Mr.. Hughes is a witness
whose testimony cannot be lightly
disregardtd. If we are to make this
venture it should be made with full
understanding Of what it means. But
first of all we should understand that
Mr.. McAdoo's plan OF five year-con
troll puts the country on the straight
road to Government ownership.