Evening star., 1918-02-19
URGES Government
TOOWN RAILROADS
Senator Johnson Thinks That
Is Better Policy Than
Control During War.
DISCUSSES OTHER ISSUES

Permanent government ownership OF
railroads, rather than government con-
troll for the period of the war, was
advocated by Senator Johnson of Cal
ifornia today in a speech opposing the
Senate draft of the administration
railroad bill.
Il would now take the inevitable
next step in government control OF
our railroads." Senator Johnson de-
cIared. "and do whatever might be es-
sential to make that government con-
troll permanent government ownership,
or at least leave the way open so that
Immediately upon the determination OF
the war, we might follow to its logical
conclusion what already we have part
ly DONE
The California senator protested Wig
orously at the proposed rate OF COM
pensation to be paid the railroads un-
der the provision of the bill, and also
opposed the Senate's plan 10 turn the
roads back to private management
eighteen months after the conclusion OF
peace.
Commends Presidents Policy.
Senator johnson digressed from his
discussion of the railroad legislation to
express his approval of President VII
sons recent stand against secret
diplomacy and the Presidents pohcs
of addressing Congress from time TO
time in .the open forum OF the world.
..I advert to this subject, the sena-
tor said, because l deprecate the un-
democratic and un-Amerlcan suppress
sion and repression which character
lied the first months OF our entrance
into the war. and Wnich yer opeaihe ~
some circles.
The idea last year seemed prevalent
and to find sanction with various IN
diyiduals and in large part OF the
press, that absolute silence and SUD
mission without complaint 10 any
deficiency or injustice were the oniy
measure of loyalty. If any Individual,
with highest motive, sought to lay pare
a wrong forthwith he was charseo
with lending aid and comfort TO the
enemy. l will not subscribe to any
doctrine that. either in peace or in war,
legitimate honest and CONSCIENTIOUS
suggestion or criticism may not be IN
dulged.
'sThis government yet belongs to all
its people and they are entitled 10
know not only how. diplomatlcaii!. the
government deals with the nations OF
the earth. but to know as weii tnas
which concerns the internal policies
within the boundaries of the United
States; and beyond this. they are enti-
tied to know what intimately concerns
their property and their lives
Cannot Thrive in Light
"nisloyalty and treason cannot thrive
In the light. Neither can Incompetence,
that strong ally of failure Official sup
preston and concealment are as vicious
as the secret diplomacy and private
bargaining which President wilson SO
justly condemns. The pretense that
the people cannot be told the truth Is
the artifce of incompetent men who
are afraid to face the test of public
scrutiny. No map. of course. is enti-
tied unjustIy to criticize nor to in
dulge in unfavorable license of express
sion The real test of criticism Is |
whether il is just or unjust. II con-
who utters it to the contempt of all. II
Just, it vindicates itself. When the
time comes that members OF congress,
the supposedly popular branch OF the
government, must refrain from utter
ances designed to render patriotic serv-
ice, because those utterances are at
variance with the views of either ofi-
cial or majority. the end has come to
longer performs a useful service to the
people"
In this connection Senator johnson re-
ferred to the work Of the Senate COM
member, and it's investigation of the
shipping situation.
Talks of Hog Island Disclosures.
Referring to the Hog Island. Pa. in
quiry, he asserted:
In one of the contracts entered into
by the government-that with the
American International Company
state of affairs beggaring description
has been developed. The evidence dem
cot, Ito 90
gance. a brilliant phantasmaEoria of
patriotic pretense. And the pity and
the shame of it are that those who,
with a cheerful and almost studied dis
regard for every principle of economy
are wasting the money Of the taxpay-
ers, are some of the great captains of
industry of the nation.
Il have read recently the utterances
of some of those responsible for those
conditions, and, singularly enough. they
unctuously express. as great patriots,
their sorrow that such disclosures
should be made public. and. as lngu-
briously they shake their heads, they
exclaim that publicity of the delin-
Quencies is giving aid and comfort to
the enemy
Urges Federal Ownership.
In support of his declaration for gov
ernment ownership Senator Johnson
said that the railroads had broken
down under the stress of the last few
months, that. If the country is to have
efficient national TRANSFORMATION the
roads must be nationalized and operat-
ed by one directing head: that the
American people have paid the price
OF private ownership" and that de
spite barriers or obstacles. the nation
Is marching straight to the goal of
public ownership and the people at
last Will come into their own
u. S. WILL NOT SEIZE