Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-31
A WAR MEASURE


increases in railroad freight rates and
passenger fares which Director Gen.
eral McAdoo says are necessary, 1t is
quite worthy Of notice and considera-
ton just now that the revisions are
arbitrary and, in some instances,
! drastic In their effects. II G. O. Daw.
son, the Ottumwa Commercial clubs
rate expert, has arrived at correct
analysis of the incomplete informa.
ton thus far available, there Is rea-
son to believe that the multiplying of
certain intrastate rates by the new
order will work decided hardship on
some sections Of the country and re-
suit in increases far in excess of the
rs per cent which the railway admin
istration announced would be the aver.
age increase.
These are not the only increases in
freight rates to be made under federal
railroad control. Others have been
granted since the opening Of the pres
ent year, when Mr.. McAdoo took over
the management Of the country's
transportation systems. They were re-
! Quested. or most Of them were, by the
railroads while they we're under prl-
vate management.
Now these additional increases also
in a position to know, probably better
than anyone else in the country, and
we have no disposition to question his
opinion. But four questions obtrude
| for answer when the announcement Of
the changes is read. They are these:
1. Since the director general an
nounces that the extra expense which
the new rates are to meet does not in
clude nearly $1,00o,Oo0,o00 which will
be disbursed for improvements, new
equipment and expansion this year. Is
It not fair to assume that the outlay
| which he does balance against the
anticipated increase in revenues would
be necessary II the lines were not I'm.
der federal control?
2. Accepting Mr.. McAdoo's state.
ment that these expenses are neces-
sary, would 1t have been possible for
state commerce commission and the
public Of that fact if the lines still
were under private ownership?
8. In view OF the economies which
the railroad administration is practic.
| ing. instanced by the discharge OF
| high salaried officials, disseminating OF
trains, curtailing Of heavy equipment,
combining of city ticket offices ard
| various other moves which cause the
public some inconvenience but are &C.
=, cepted cheerfully as part of the
| hardships Of war, could the railroads
| privately owned, have existed withou:
| making similar economies, and how
| great an increase in rates would they
! have been forced to demand?
4. As an economic measure and not
as a war measure, is the experiment
| In quasi-public ownership of railroads
proving the wonderful success which
was prophesied for 1t by jubilant
socialists and by great many other
men who had spent years railing at the
railroads before the government gath
cred them in?
| These are questions which have nc
relation to the war, to be sure Per
| haps they would not occur just now
if 1t were not for the fact that certain
newspapers and certain law makers
and certain other public officials are
to be found, from time to time, voicine
some such assertion as this: 1.-THE
men who had been running the rail
roads couldn't serve the public in the
war emergency; they had to admit
their inefficiency and turn the jot
over to Secretary McAdoo."
The Courier would not dim the
luster of a single jewel in Mr. Nc
Adoo's numerous decorations. Gladly
| it yields him praise for being able tt
i az II
else on earth. Cheerfully it agrees
with those who say he is doing bis
things in quite big way, But Ger
tainly there would be credit enough
for any man in a record OF having Sc
directed the transportation systems o
the country as to increase their eff
ficiency and bring them UP to the
exacting standards demanded by thu
war emergency.
If Mr.. McAdoo does this he will hav,
done much. He Is not doing 1t aftel
the fashion which public opinion woult
demand that he or anyone else should
follow in any but time Of war. Thu
success he shall attain will be meas
ured, not by the balance sheet OF ex
penses and receipts, but by the service
which the railroads perform In the in
terests Of the nation and in the prose
cution of the war.
d There is no reason to believe tina
II the committee Of railroad executive
which was superseded by Mr.. McAdo
had possessed the power and prestig
!, he possesses. they could have faile
!, to make the railroads into an efficien
war-making arm OF the government,
There Is no reason to believe that an
one of hundreds Of able American
, could fail. given Mr.. McAdoo's powe
and prestige.
), The experiment promises to SUI
+. coed as a war measure. AS an ect
: nomic operation there is much about
u that is open to criticism. This featur
!, should be considered when an opinio
| is about to be formed on the practic:
, bility of federal ownership Of railroad
LIN Qseoe4inA ,----.-a..