Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-13
OPPOSED TO M'Aooo plAN
OF HOLDING RAILROADS
Says Lines Should Dc Returned to
Owners at Once - Government
Economies Adopted More Than or.
set BY Waste Which Occurs Under
: Government Control.
Zines Republican.

|
commission.
| He declares that the railroads should
be returned to their owners as soon as
possible and says that Notwithstanding
the increases IN freight rates from 20
to eco per cent, the curtailment u
service and numerous restrictions the
| saving thus affected Is far more than
Offset by the waste which. occurs under
so, eminent control. In an interview
| given out here today Commissioned
Lewis said:
1T seems to me that there is an
evident desire on the part of some or
our statesmen to make politics of ad-
justing the railroad problem and IL
my mind it should be largely q ques-
ton of economics. To be sure there
| is bound to be some political ques-
/ tons involved in any solution. think
there is entirely too much loose think
! ing upon the subject which is result
| inS in loose .alking and absurd theof.
| les Of adjustment. In fact some states
men of long experience haYe suggest
ed adjustments Which to my mind
| would be found extremely impractic-
| able upon application.
THE ones who are mos. vitality con .
cerned in the transportation problem
are the shippers and manufacturers,
! whose inductries depend upon the pro-
per adjustment of rates as well as
upon the size of the rate and the con-
sumner whose interest lies practically
altogether upon the size or measure
of the rate. Railroad rates are an in
direct taxation upon all the people for
there is scarcely an article of COM
merce the ultimate price of which does
not include the freight charge.
1T is well known that prior to the
war the United States as whole en-
joyed lower freight rates than any
other nation in the world, includins
those governments owning their own
railroads. 1t is matter of common
knowledge that under government
management and control freight rates
and passenger rates in this country
have been enormously increased, so
that the taxation upon the people is
greater from a transportation stand
point than it has been.
Nearly all who have been interest
ed, shippers and consumers alike,
have said but little in opposition To
these extraordinary advances because
they have been Officially informed that
in some easy sort Of way these ad-
vances in rates were necessary 'toswin
the war 1t is true that some adj
vances have been made necessary by
reason of high wages, greater cost Of
materials and the necessary use by
the government of railway equipment
and supplies in transporting troops and
war materials.
IF it is the desire of the people of
the United States that we have either
government ownership or government
cooperation or both I am one who
believes the wishes Of the people
should be observed. Those with whom
have talked, however, and they have
come from various activities Of life,
do not want either government own
ership> or control. I need not cite
their reasons,
Not Natural Monopoly.
Transportation in itself is not a
natural monopoly. 1t is true where
Fcompetition exists in the business Of
common carriers. the universal result
is better service at less cost. If COM
peIlIlOu Ill tIuuSpOI ldt1Ol 40 q uSoAA
able thing, then the proposition of re-
turning the railroads to private con-.
troll and that within very short time
should not be one to overtax the
craftsmanship Of Congress.
There were some pre-war condi-
tons existing in the railway trans
portation business that should not be
restored Terminals should be opened
to all carriers participating in traffic
at q common point upon conditions as
might be prescribed by the proper
regulating government authority
Commissioner Lewis believes that
equipment should be universally av-
ailable to both shippers and carriers
and under careful scrutiny carriers
should be permitted to pool business
between common points. He declares
that tho outstanding benefit OF federal
operation Of the railroads has been
various pooling arrangements. The
government should also control the is
sue Of stocks and bonds in his juds-
ment.
As to regulation of the railroads the
interstate commerce commission anu
the state commissions are amply able
10 look dIJer SuCH Tc8uldt1OA SoAAhAs
sioner Dekds believes.
ITO my mind it would be folly to
talk about a central regulating body
without other regulating bodies, the
latter SO constituted as to- understand
and appreciate local conditions and
readily accessible to anyone feeling
asgrieved with reference to tranpor-
tation and rates. said the commits
sioner.
The states have always been pion-
GERS in regulatory statutes, especially
in the solution Of transportation prob
lens and until the federal constitu-
ton il amended the states may not be
deprived Of their rights in matters re-
lating to intra-state business.
II do not believe there is any oc-
casion for attempting to make big
problem Of comparatively simple
matter and I believe 1t would be not
only Supwise but fraught with greatest
danger to AL our institutions to at
tempt visionary experiments, some of
which have been already quoted in the
public press"
Aibsrson Attorney fer N. q 81. l.
Des M0ines, Dec. 13.-Another Des
Moines attorney has been called to the
railroad offices in Minneapolis.
Raymond AlbeEson has accepted the
position OF general attorney for the
Minneapolis 4 ST. Louis. which was
Mt vacant by the retirement Of Don