The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-12

ownership or any other kind Of theory.
Tho railroads have been operated for lh"
past >.rar with The purp"Sc Of serving
tffirivntly tn" paramount, rrrds nI Inc
war and AT the sam" time FURNISHING IN"
best possible service 10 thc pubic
whether such operation tended 10 prove
or Ia djSpruvc amy theory hf raliroan
control. n" matlcr VIVA, il might be,
have formed no npini"n myself hs 7"
what j. the best disposition Of The rail
road prhbl, IN. h>caus" the test has MOI
been sufficient Ia pro-" c"aciuSlv"!E Inc
rich, .sulul ion OF thc problem. | believe
that n five year lost will give tho Am"rl-
car people the right answer. An "unc"
of rXprrirrrr is worth Il Ton Of theory,
"Thcrr are those who may say that
IN extension Of five years for such Il
test will n,3n government ownership.
Personally ! do noi believe it, but
whether swCl test would indicate lhat
tn, ultimate solution shall D" govern
III, nj or = m"d'ird form Of TiiNH'c own
crShin ui,d"r ri .rtIvr federal T"El!hii"n.
should not cause Us to hesitate Or rclu*"
tn act
II congress- docs net extend III" tin'
for government control said MI. .I"'
Aduo. tn" railroads should be- returned
10 private management at thr earliest
possible moment.
Trartirnl difficulties Of continuing
government operation under ">'sllnG
n,;Ihurity. h.. nnn;C,i out ara the grow
ing conflicts ~ authority between stat"
and federal jurisdictions. inaicruacy ~
the half billion dollar revolving fund for
financing improvements. inability 4"
force railroads 10 pay for ears and loco-
motives without litigation. and TO re-
ut,irs terminal improvements.
Whit McAdoo Said.
"l'rnn the efficiency If IN" Transport
taIInn marhinr IN America. said MT.
McAdno 'dcprnts in great n'ras"r" inc
future prosperity al our foreign trade.
We produce so murh moro. than w" CON
sumo that markets. must he found Tor
that. surplus. Those markets arr inc
competitive markets ~ the world. W"
n,us, h., abb. Ia enter them upon "Huai
forms with any other nation. OCT trans
nortatinn system. both on land anu
water. must therefore, function nj the
highest point uf efficiency and Mt ''''
lowest rossihlc cost. II W" are In Er'
our reasonable and fair share OF INC
worlds trad" and in turn nc nhie |"
keep II pros pCrnua. Content"d ana nap
ny population at home.
,'ro n;lrmpt 10 cbniinu" federal CON
troll under the inndcquatr provisions
If the present federal control act IN"
for the very hrirf period il authorizes.
would hc m multiply our difficulties anu
invite failure ON thr other hand. am
convinced from the experience W Inv
ms, YEAR TINT tn, return '"f tn" rail-
rondS tn IN" old cNrnr"titiN" conditions
will nc hurtful alike In tn" rublir III
,,roct and the railroads. themselves.
This COURSE however. will bring fewer
t..iIs I'm it's train lhnn III" unsatisfao-
,ory IL no, Impntrnt. federal contr"!
provided for by TN" present ac'' III"
railroads wore taken over ns WAT
measure They have been operated DUR
INK tho paM year for IN" paramount
nurrnsc Of winning the war. | mink IL
will hc generally admitted that thr war
service hn1 been successfully r'noc'e''
and mn sure that experience OF great
value and benefit has been gained f"t
only for tho public hut for INC ran.
roads themselves during this bri"f test