Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-12-03
TULSA DAILY WORLD TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1918
President Hopes for Peace by Spring

lem which must be studied. studied
Immediately and studied without
bias or prejudice. Nothing can no
gained by becoming partisans of any
particular plan OF settlement,
IL was necessary that the admin
istratlon OF the railways should he
taken over by the government so
long as the war lasted. II would
have been impossible otherwise to
establish and carry through under
a single direction the necessary prior
tiles OF shipments II would have
been impossible otherwise to COM
bine maximum production OF the
factories, mines and farms with the
maximum possible car supply TO
take the products to the ports and
markets; impossible to route troop
shipments and freight shipments
without regard to the advantage or
disadvantage OF the roads em-
ployed; impossible to subordinate
when necessary all questions OF con-
venience to the public necessity;
impossible to give the necessary
financial support to the roads from
the public treasury. hut all these
necessities have now been served,
and the question is, what is best for
the railroads and for the public in
the future.
Not Equal to TRsks.'
Exceptional circumstances and
exceptional methods OF administra-
tion were not needed to convince us
that the railroads were not equal to
the immense tasks Of transporta.
ton imposed upon them by the rapid
and continuous development of the
Industries of the country. We knew
that already. And we know that
they were unequal TO the part because
their fun cooperation was rendered
impossible by law and their Compe-
tition made obligatory, so that II has
been impossible to assign to them
be carried by their respective lines
severally the traffic which best could
in the interest OF expedition and ma
tional ecoNOmy.
We may hope, | believe, for the
formal conclusion OF the war by
treaty by the time spring has come
The 2I months to which the present
control OF the railways Is limited
after formal proclamation Of peace
shall have been made Will run at the
farthest, take It for granted, only
TO January of 1921. The fun equip
ment OF the railways which the FED
eral administration had planned
could not he completed within any
such period. The present law does
not permit the usc Of the revenues
OF the several roads for the execution
OF such plans except by formal con
tract with their directors, some OF
whom will consent, while some Will
not. and therefore does not afford
sufficient authority TO undertake i'm
provements upon the scale upon
which It would be necessary TO un-
dertake them. Every approach to
this difficult subject matter OF dis
cussion brings us face TO face, there
fore, with this unanswered question:
What is right that we should do with
the railroads, in the interest OF the
public and in fairness to their
owners?
Let me say at once that have no
answer ready. The only thing that ls
perfectly clear TO me is that 1t Is not
fair either to the public or to the
owners Of the railroads TO leave the
question unanswered and that 1t will
presently become my duty to relin-
ouish control Of the roads. even be-
fore the expiration of the statutory
period, unless there should appear
some clear prospect In the meantime
Of a legislative solution. Their re-
lease would at least produce one ele-
ment OF n solution, namely certainty
and n quick stimulation OF private
initiative.
Alternative Choices Open.
I believe II will be serviceable
for me to set forth as explicitly as
possible the alternative courses that
lie open 20 our choice. We can
simply release the roads and go back
TO the old conditions OF private man
agement. unrestricted competition
and multiform regulation by both
state and federal authorities; or we
can go to the opposite extreme and
establish complete government con
troll accompanied, II necessary, by
actual government ownership; or We
can adopt an intermediate course or
modified private' control, under a
more unified and affirmative public
regulation and undersuch alterations
OF the law as will permit wasteful
competition to be avoided and con-
siderable degree of unification or ad-
ministration to be effected, as. for
example, by regional corporations
under which the railways OF detin-
able areas would he in effect com
bined in single systems.
The one conclusion that I am
ready to state with confidence is
that it would be disservice alike TO
the country and to the owners OF
the railroads to return to the old
conditions unmodified. Those are
conditions OF restraint without de-
velopment. There is nothing affirm
atiye or helpful about them. what
the country chiefly needs Is that az
its means OF transportation should
be developed. its railways. its water
ways, it's highways and itS country
side roads. Some new element OF
policy, therefore. In absolutely nee
esSary necessary for the service OF
the public, necessary for the re
lease of credit to those who are ad-
ministering the railways. necessary
for the protection of their security
holders The old policy may be
changed much or little, but surely
Il cannot wisely be left as II was.
hone that the congress VIII have
complete and impartial study OF the
whole problem Instituted at once
and prosecuted as rapidly as posi-
BILE. stand ready apd anxious 10
release the roads from the present
control and | must do so at very
early date II by waiting until the
statutory limit of time Is reached
shall be merely prolonging the period
OF doubt and uncertainty which is
hurtful to every interest concerned
Goes TO Paris.
this pTpnSan TO an