Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-12-25

between the Government and the rail-
roads affected will, in many instances,
be impossible, and if the Government
should proceed with such improve
ments, using the peoples money for
the purpose, without securing the car
riers' consent, litigation would un-
doubtedly arise upon the termination
Of Federal control with the danger that
a large part of the Governments in
vestment in the properties might be
lost
Efficiency Necessary.
Untonzthe efficiency of the transpor.
tation .machine in America depends in
great measure the future prosperity
of the Nation. Involved in this pros
perity is the extension of our foreign
trade. We produce so much more
than we consume that markets must
be found for that surplus. Those mar
kets are the competitive markets of
the world. We must be able to enter
them upon equal terms with any other
nation. Our transportation system
both on land and water, must there
fore function at the highest point of
efficiency and at the lowest possible
cost, if we are to get our reasonable
and fair share of the worlds trade and
in turn be able to keep a prosperous,
contented, and happy population at
home.
Delay Will Invite Failure.
To attempt to continue Federal con-
troll under the inadequate provisions
of the present Federal control act and
for the very brief period it authorizes,
hn tn Sr11y
and invite failure. On the other hand,
I am convinced from the experience
Of the past year, that the return Of the
railroads to the old competitive condi-
lions will be hurtful alike to the pub
lie interest and to the railroads them
selves. This course, however, will
bring fewer evils in it's train than the
unsatisfactory, if not impotent, Fed
eral control provided for by the pres
ent act. The railroads were taken
over as war measure. They have
been operated during the past year for
the paramount purpose of winning the
war; l think it will be generally ad-
mitted that the war service has been
successfully rendered, and I am sure
that experience of great value and
benefit has been gained not only for the
public but for the railroads themselves
during this brief test
Why Extend Control.
There is one, and to my mind only
one, practicable and wise alternative,
and that is to extend the period of
Federal control from the one year
and nine months provided by the pres
ent law to five years, or until the first
dow IF 1904 This
would take the railroad question out of
politics for reasonable period. 1t
would give composure to railroad Off
GERS and employees. 1t would admit
of the preparation and carrying out of
comprehensive program of improve
ments Of the railroads and their ter
minal facilities which would immense
ly increase the efficiency of the trans
portatlOn machine. It would put back
of the railroads the credit of the
United States during the five-year
period so that the financing OF these
improvements could be successfully
carried out. 1t would offer the neces-
sary opportunity under proper condi-
tons to test the value of unified con-
troll, and the experience thus gained
would of itself indicate the permanent
solution of the railroad problem.
The American people have a right
to this test. They should not be den
led it. It is to their interest that it
should be done. In my opinion, it is
the only practicable and reasonable
method of determining the right solu.
ton OF this grave economic problem.
Test Should Be Completed.
am not now and have not been for
the past year interested in proving or
disproving the theory of Government
ownership or any other kind of theory.
The railroads have been operated for
the past year with the purpose Of serv-
ing efficiently the paramount needs
OF the war and at the same time pur-
nishing the best possible service to the
public, whether such operation tend
ed to prove or to disproye any theory
of railroad control, no matter what it
might be. I have formed no opinion
myself a. to what is the best DISPOSE
ton of the railroad problem because
the test has net been sufficient to
prove conclustvely the rieht solution
Of the problem. believe that q
.nve-year test viii give The American