The Washington herald., 1918-03-16

II three years ago an investi-
eating committee could have taken
hold of the American railroad sit
uation. with the same wisdom and
the same aim as the Senate Military
Committee took hold of the War
Department investigation. we would
have been much better of as a ma
| tion.
For an investigation into details
and into larger activities would
have disclosed the glaring weak
nesses OF our American railroads
There would have been shown to
our more or less startled gaze some
of the things We have been wading
through blood to learn during the
past four or five months.
We know now that the Gibraltars
of industry, many of them. were
| nothing. but forts of pasteboard-
they looked strong from without,
but within were weak and totter-
ing.
Out of all this the nation must
now reconstruct the transportation
system. And most of the bad spots
we must remedy as we run the
lines-a task no one would want
on the spur of the moment. even
in peace times.
Our only hope is that the work
will be bolstered up by a loyal and
energetic lot OF employees. Any
road or all of them are only as
| strong as the employees who serve
them are strong. in the aggregate.
This law is irreconcilable to any
other condition. Roads fall if the
vAla x.-l, nln
falters and gives way. And roads
thrive only as the employees are
loyal and energetic and thought
| full of the public which they are
serving.
National ownership. viewed in this
light. might not prove the pana-
cea some of the members of Con-
gress think it would. In fact, there
are a number of substantial argu-
ments why private operation. regu-
| lated discretely and firmly. would be
vastly more pleasing to the public
than it's ownership and operation
| of the roads.
Lester B. Barlow, of Philadelphia.
makes startling statements with re-
gard to the aircraft program. In
| a word he says:
Our aircraft program has fallen
| down-the Ordnance Department
and the Signal Corps are fighting
| each other. and many of the men
at the head of the latter are dis
| gusted and discouraged-and out Of
| It,"
Here again we say turn on the
light of publicity. and turn it on
| quickly. Are we to be taken of
| our feet now with this kind of a
recital when we had suspected. un-
der the surface, that all was well
and that the air program would be
| capable of achievement within a
short time? Let America know what
| the trouble is. Let us have the
| truth and all of the truth. And let
us punish the men who have mis-
| led us and made US believe that
! everything was going along nicely.
Mr.. Baker has always been so
cocksure about things, but a recent
| happening put him on the defensive
before he could say aye, yes or no.
Sometime ago, in response to
| questioning from a military COM
mitteeman of the Senate. he told
just how trench cooking device
had been turned down and why it
was not fitted for service in France.
But when a man accosted him on
a Pullman car going South a few
weeks later. and finally wormed his
way into Bakers confidence and
showed Min the actual device and
explained it to him. the War Secre-
tary said:
Extraordinary. extraordinary. Why
didn't you come to me before with
| thiS?'
'I have been at your office three
times, and each time was sent else
where. And I've been since last Oc-
tober trying to get the government
Of Uncle Sam to see the merits of
this Device" was the reply.
| That's queer" the Secretary de-
cIared with apparent astonishment.
When ! get back to the office please
see that one of these Is on my
1 desk"
This was done-and the man