The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-12-20
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH
THE RAILROADS?


the one propounded above: What
is to be done with the railroads."
Some favor returning them to the
owners as speedily as possible; some
favor extending the time of govern
ment supervision and control; while
yet others favor government owner,
hsip.
One Of the most calm, business
like speeches that we have seen or
the subject is that Of Senator Frank
2. Kellogg Of Minnesota.
We feel that the following brief
extract from his speech delivered il
the senate Of the United States on
December 18th Will be read by our
readers with interest:
ITO attempt to continue federal
control under the Inadequate proyi-
sions OF the present federal control
act for the very brief period ii au-
thorizes would be to multiply our DIFF.
dCultieS 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 CON
petitiye conditions WIFI be hurtfuI
alike to the public interest and 30
the railroads themselves. This course.
however will bring fewer evils in its
train than the unsatisfactory if not
impote2t. federal control provided for
by the present act. The railroads
were taken over as a war measure
They have been operated during the
past year for the paramount purpose
Of winning the war. think It will
be generally admitted that the wat
service has been successfully render
ed. and I am sure that experience Of
great value and benefit has been gain.
ed not only for the public but for
the railroads themselves during this
brief test.
There is one, and to my mind only
one, practicable and wise alternative.
and that is to extend the period Of
federal control from the one year ard
nine months provided by the present
law to five years or until the 1st day
of January. 1924 This extension
would take the railroad question cur
OF politics for a reasonable period. L,
would give composure TO railroad Off
GERS and employees. It would admit
Of the preparation AID carrying out
OF a comprehensive program Of in
provemerts OF the railroads and their
terminal facilities which would m
mensely increase the efficiency Of
the transportation machine It would
put back Of the railroads Tie credit
OF the United States during taa ETa
year period SO that TIE e-zncing Of
these improvements could ne SUCCESS
fully carried out L would offer The
ecessary opportunity under proper
conditions 70 test the value ot uniaAd
control, and the experience thus
gained would % itself Indicate the
permanent solution or the railroad
problem.
The American people have q right
to this test They should not be de-
MED it. II is 70 their interest that
it should be do7e. In ny opinion It
Is the only practicable and reasonable
method Of determining the right So
luton OF this grave economic prob
lem I am not now aud have not been
for the past year interesed in prov
ing or disproving the theory Of govern
ment ownership or any other kind Of
theory. The railroads have been or
Grated for the past year with the
purpose of serving efficiently the para
mount needs OF the war and at the
same time furnishing the best pos
sible service to the public, whether
such operation tended TO prove or dis
prove any theory OF railroad control.
no matter what it might be I have
formed no opinion myself as to what
is the best disposition OF the railroad
problem. because the test has NOT
been sufficient to prove conclusively
the right solution Of the problem. I
believe that a five year test will give
the American people the right an.
swer. An ounce of experience is
worth ton of theory and with the
start already made under war condi-
tions it would be comparatively sim
pie matter TO complete the test so
well begun and thereby gain the in
valuable experience which will de-
termine the solution Of problem
which has vexed our state and nation
al politics and our economic develop
ment for the past generation"
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