The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-01-10
norton FOR Gov
ERNNENT OWNERSHIP.
North Dakota Congressman Says the
Railroads are Not Satisfied Unless
They are Permitted to Gouge
the Public.
(By Congressman p. D. Norton, }


Washington, d. c., Jan. 4.-Ths
way General Pershing and Admiral
Sims have relegated to the rear some
of the lethargic and sleepy oldest and
highest ranking officers Of the Army
and Navy the last few weeks is en-
couraglng and gives promise that the
Army and Navy are going to be kept
up to the highest possible fighting ef-
ficiency during the war. Real merit
and ability only should entitle a man
m these war time to high command in
the Army and Navy. To meet the en-
emy with the least loss and the great
est measure Of success, the Army and
Navy must and should call into places
Of highest responsibility and COM
mand the very aDlest, most active and
most efficient men in the service,
wherever they may be found.
The taking over of the control of
the railroads by the government was
primarily for the two-fold purpose of
protecting the stocks and bonds of the
railroads from greater depreciation
ana to secure better cooperation be-
tween the various railroad lines of
the country. 1t clearly appears that
the time has been reached when the
great private business interests, own
ing and controlling railroads in our
country, will not operate them for
fair and reasonable profits. The vi
rus OF selfishness and The virus of
the money-mad spirit have so inocu-
I..ted the minds and the very lives of
great and small business entrepre-
neurs Of the country that those who
Cf ha
portation lines of the country are
restless, dlscontented, unsatisfied and
unsuitable and will not supply salts
factory railroad service to the public,
unless they are permitted to raid and
gouge the public out of enormous pro-
hts, both through gambling in rail-
road stocks and bonds and through
excessive freight and passenger rates.
Government supervision OF the rail-
roads through the Interstate Com
merce Comission has not accomplish
ed the results and has not proven the
success that has been hoped for it,
Unless it can be reasonably expected
that after the war the selfshness and
cred that have long dominated private
railroad ownership will change to a
lasting spirit of unselfshness and al
truism, the only protection and safe
guard the public has is in govern
ment ownership of railroads.
The great hydro-electric power in
terests of the country have again
mobilized their forces and influences
in Washington and under the guise
that it is much needed war meas
ure, they are going to make a su-
preme effort to have passed by this
Congress law which will give them
practically unrestricted perpetual own
ership and control Of the water power
sites and privileges Of the country
which they have not already acquired.
Hydro-electric power in any section
OF the country is in and Of itself
natural monopoly. The time is now
when the government should retain
and develop in the interest of the pub
lie the water power of the country
which has not already been taken over
by private interests. The present ad-
ministration, however, will not sup
port such program as this. In this
Congress it is going to take one of
the hardest fights that has been made
in Congress for many years to save
the small remaining water power sites
and privileges of the federal govern
ment from the greed and avarice of
private interests,