The sun., 1918-12-12

difficult under the present law with
out the consent Of the corporations
TO carry forward comprehensive
plan OF joint improvements which, to
be Of value to the public. must of IT.
self disregard the selfish and irrecon-
cilable competitive interests Of the
various carriers. Many terminal i'm
provements, to be genuinely service
able to the public. must be made
without regard to the interest of any
particular carrier.
Therefore agreements between the
Government and the roads affected
Will in many instances be impossible
ind If the Government should proceed
with such improvements using the
peoples money for the purpose with
out securing the carriers consent,
litigation would undoubtedly arise
upon the termination of Federal con-
troll, with the danger that a large
part OF the Governments investment
in the properties might he lost.
Upon the efficiency OF the trans
portation machine in America de-
ponds In great measure the future
prosperity Of the nation. Involved in
our foreign trade. We produce so
much more than we consume that
markets must DO found for that sur
plus. These markets are the COM
petitive markets of the world We
must be able to enter them upon
equal terms with any other nation.
Our transportation system, both on
land and water. must therefore func-
ton at the highest point of efficiency
and at the lowest possible cost If We
are to get our reasonable and fair
share of the worlds trade and in turn
be able TO keep n prosperous, con-
tented and happy population at home
Would Multiply Difficulties.
ITO attempt to continue Federal
control under the inadequate prov!-
sions Of the present Federal control
act and for the very brief period 1t
authorizes would be to multiply our
difficulties and invite failure. On the
other hand, / am convinced from the
experience OF the past year that the
return of the railroads to the old COM
petitive conditions will be hurtful alike
10 the public interest and to the rail-
roads themselves. This course, how
ever. will bring fewer evils in its train
than the unsatisfactory If not inpo-
tent Federal control provided for by
the present act
The railroads were taken over as a
war measure. They have been ope--
ated during the past year for the para
mount purpose of winning the war.
think IL will be generally admitted that
the war service has been successfully
rendered, and l am sure that expe-
riencc Of great value and benefit has
been gained not only for the public
but for the railroads themselves dur
ing this brief test.
There is one and to my mind only
one practicable and wise alternative,
and that is to extend the period o:
Federal control from the one year and
nine months provided by the present
law TO five years or until the first day
of January, 1924. This extension
would take the railroad question out
OF politics for a reasonable period. II
would give composure to railroad Off
GERS and employees. 1t would admit
of the preparation and carrying out OF
a comprehensive programme OF i'm
provements of tho railroads and their
terminal facilities which would i'm
mensely increase the efficiency OF the
transportation machine.
ut would put back Of the railroads
the credit of the United States during
the five year period so that the fnanc-
ing OF these improvements could be
ucccssfully carried out. II would Of
fer tho necessar" opportunity under
proper conditions TO test the value of
unified control, and the experience
thus gained would OF itself indicate the
permanent solution OF the railroad
problem.
Peoples Right Involved.