Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-09
HOW TO LET GO

In August, 1916, some seven or eight months before
we formally recognized the fact that we were at war
with Germany, and when we seemed quite likely to have
q Mexican war of some proportions on our hands. con-
sress enacted a law providing that the president could
take possession of such railroads and other transporta-
ton facilities as might be deemed necessary for mill
tary purposes. The menace of war with Mexico was ne
thing Immediately at the front. The threat of a great
railway strike was an important factor. And. in the
back Of a good many minds was the consciousness that
the German situation was growing more and more dif-
hcult, and that it might need speedy and drastic treat
ment.
It is under that law that the president Is now,
through his appointed agents, directing the operation, OF
all the transportation systems of the country. Congress
provided that the president could take hold Of the rail-
roads. 1t did not provide how he should let go. In or
der to remedy that congress is now discussing a bill
covering. the point. The bill provides that the railroads
shall be restored to their original private ownership
when congress shall so order it.
On the face of the subject it might appear that the
authority vested in an official to assume control of the
railroads in a given emergency and for a particular pur-
pose would carry with it the authority to relinquish
that control when the purpose had been fulfilled and
the emergency no longer existed. Acting under the au-
thority conferred on him the president took over the
railroads to meet the exigencies created by the war.
Why should not he bq expected to restore the property
10 Its owners when the war is over and the troops have
been returned homer
Evidently congress does not believe that the mat
ter is as simple as all that. The view seems rather to
be accepted that unless there is some legislation to the
contrary the railroads., having been once taken over by
the government, will remain permanently in its pos
session Two opposing views are being urged. One is
that Of the Trainer of the pending bill, that the rail-
roads should remain in possession of the government
uAtil congress directs otherwise. The other is that gov
eminent control shall cease with the war. But the as
sumption appears to be in each case that some iesisla-
ton is necessary to dispose OF the question.
Obviously a great economic question like that in
volving the control of the entire transportation OF the
country ought not to be determined by the accident
which called for a temporary control of the properties
by the government under peculiar conditions and for
. specific purpose. But it is equally true that out of
the experience of the next few months or years, while
the government is perforce operating those systems, we
reaching a sound conclusion as to what should be the
hnal disposition Of this great subject. In the meantime.
legislation of one sort and another will undoubtedly
be required. Nobody knows today for how long it will
be necessary for the government to operate national
transportation. Therefore, it may be as we'll to leave
the whole matter for action by congress when it is pos
sfble to act intelligently on it, which is the purpose of
the pending bill.