Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-02

gram which was undertaken before
we entered the war The secretary
[ of the navy has submitted to your
I committees for authorization that
part of the program which covers
the building plans of the next three
I years. These plans have been pre-
/ pared along the lines, and in ac-
COTdanCe with, the policy which the
congress established, not under
the exceptional conditions of the
war, but with the intention of ad-
herring to a definite method of de-
velOpment for the navy. l earnest
ly recommend the uninterrupted
pursuit Of that policy. 1t would
clearly be unwiSe for US to at
tempt to adjust our programs to a
future world policy as yet unde-
termined.
No Solution of Railroad Problem.
THE question which causes me
the greatest concern is the question
of the policy to be adopted towards
the railroads. l frankly turn to
you for counsel upon it. l have no
confident judgment of my own. I
do not see how any thoughtful man
can have who knows anything of
the Complexity of the problem. 1t
is a problem which must be stud
led, studied Immediately and stud
led without bias or prejudice Moth
ing can be gained by becoming par
tisans of any particular plan of
settlement.
Exceptional plans and excep-
tional methods of administration
were not needed to convince US that
the railroads were not equal to the
immense tasks of transportation
imposed upon them by the rapid
and continuous development of the
industries Of the country We knew
that alreadE And we knew that
they were unequal to it partly be-
cause their full cooperation was
rendered impossible by law and
their competition made obligatory,
so that it has been impossible TO
assign to them severally the traffic
which could best be carried by their
respective lines in the interest of
expedition and national economies.
Roads Control Necessary.
ut was necessary that the ad-
ministration of the railways should
be taken over by the government
so long as the war lasted. 1t would
have been impossible otherwise to
establish and carry through under
single direction the necessary
priorities of shipments. 1t would
have been impossible otherwise TO
combine maximum production at
the factories and mines and farms
VI
supply to take the products to the
ports and markets; impossible TO
route troops shipments and freight |
shipments without regard to the
advantage or disadvantage of the
roads employed; impossible TO sub
ordinate, when necessary all ques-
tons of convenience to the public
necessity; impossible to give the
necessary financial support to the
roads from the public treasury. !
But all these necessities have now
been served, and the question is. /
what is best for the railroads and |
for the public in the future.
Expect Peace by Spring.
We may hope, I believe, for the !
formal conclusion Of the war by
treaty by the time spring has come. !
The q months to which the pres
cnt control of the railways is lin !
tied after formal proclamation of /
peace shall have been made will /
run at the farthest, | take IL for
granted, only 10 the January of /
1921 /
What Should be Done?
The full equipment OF the rail- |
ways which the federal administra- /
ton had planned could not be com |
pleted within any such period. The |
present law does not permit the use
OF the revenues OF the several roads
for the execution OF such plans ex-
cept by formal contract with their
some OF whom will con-
sent, while some will not, and there
lore does not afford sufficient au-
hOrity to undertake them. Every
approach 20 the difficult matter of
iecision brings US face 10 face.
therefore,, with this unanswered
question: What is right that we
should do with the railroads, in /
he interest Of the public and In
'airness To their owners?
Let me say at once that / have
10 answer ready, The only thing
la: is perfectly clear 10 me is that
I is not fair either 10 the public
IT TO the owneFs of the railroads tn
cave the question unanswered and
hat IL win presently become my
Iuty 20 relinqnish control of the
Dads, even before The expiration
OF the statutory pGriod, unless