The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-22
Other Mems Views
An Editorial That May or May Not
Square With The Forums
Opinions,

The New York Times: Bills are
pending at Washington for the eN-
tension of government ownership to
coal mines, oil fields, and other pub
lie utilities" On the other hand,
there are proposals for the return Of
the railways to their owners at q fiN-
ed time, under conditions which can
not be foreseen. There are dangers
to be avoided in both directions.
There is urgent need for formal dec
laration that the railways are taken
over as a war measure, and for the
affirmation of the principle that gov
eminent control shall and will end as
soon as practicable after the ending
OF the emergency which iustifles it.
Otherwise we might slip into gov
eminent ownership by negligence or
misadventure.
How great that danger is appears
from the other bills which have no
basis in analogy to the railway
precedent. The. capacity Of the rail-
ways is greatly enlarged by Operat-
ing them as a unit, freed from the
restriction OF certain laws. But coal
mines and oil fields cannot be ANAL
gamated, nor would there be advant-
age in uniting them. A railway is a
growing thing; a natural product is
ed. The greatest output from un-
related units is 70 be had only by
working each individually to its
maximum capacity. whereas the eff
feet of uniting them under one man
agement would be to deaden all
rivalries in production. In the war
crisis this Ia endurable regarding the
railways, but after the war there il
to be expected the deadenlng effect
Of bureaucratic management as ex-
emplifed everywhere, always. Even
at the present moment the users Of
the railways are suffering at the
hands Of the government what they
never would have endured from pri-
vate management, nor will endure
from the government a moment long
er than is necessary.
Now there is not even a whisper
against the increase OF demuTrage
rates to $40 a day, and there Is to be
a special clear-up week within which
freight is to be taken away from ter
minals. This is only a foretaste Of
what lies before the shippers. What
will be their standing TO oppose the
motion made yesterday for another
10 per cent increase Of rates to help
the government bear the burden OF
the deficit which 1t has assumed as
a war measure, and without chance
Of benefit to the railways? Neither
will passengers escape the rod in
pickle for them under government
operation. The New Haven cancelled
eighty-two trains. the Pennsylvania
100, and other roads cancelled enough
passenger accommodations to release
500 locomotives and 5000 men for
freight duty.
The public benefits by the break
ing Of the coal and freight blockades,
and the passengers wall in vain while
the war lasts. But what will the
passengers and the shippers say
when the war argument comes to its
end? Will they endure indefinitely
their deprivation by government OF
what private management gave
them? The shippers who have en-
joyed the worlds lowest rates will
pine for them again as their burdens
approach to the rates exacted by
government roads everywhere, and
will see that they cannot have them
back again unless they appreciate
and support the private management
which they opposed too long. Labor
also will not be more comfortable
under government operation than the
postal employees aranow. The unions
see that they deal with private man
agement on better terms than with
government officials. and find that
government wages are as frozen and
inhexible as government rates
On the whole, the strongest argu-
ment against government ownership
outside congress is the same as that
against government regulation OF
railway economics as apart from rail-
way morals. The experiment will at
ford experience which will be as fatal
against ownership as against un-
wise regulation, and III may be hoped
that the decision win take less time.