The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-09
Sees Some Merit in Present
Arrangement, but Scents
Dangers.
PUBLIC WOULD SUFFER
Tavors Contract by Nation
Similar TO One y. Y. City
Has With Subways.

railroads. mas TtSuIteu III Soine DenellJS,
such as the pooling of equipment and
terminals. elimination Of unnecessary
r,ininS and economic routing Of
freight. the inevitable tendency toward
.x,ravagance and inefficiency under
United States operation makes private
ownership more economical. in the
opinion Of Theodore z. Shonts. presi-
dent Of the Interborough.
In a discussion of "To-day's Rail-
road Problem" made public yesterday,
Nj Shonts says;
III the deficit from operations can
always be made up out Of taxation,
u there is to be no reward for economy
and forethought, it is impossible to ex-
pect careful watchfulness over expen-
ditures."
A great need in this country is the
extension Of the railway net, Mr..
Shonts points out, and he asks
whether this new construction work
shal be accomplished by the log
rolling and pork barrel methods under
which we have developed our post
offices. our rivers and our harbors,"
o. by offering reasonable reward TO
those who by prudent forethought and
initiative exert their imaginations and
spend their money in developing the
country"
Mr. ShOnts's Point of View.
Mr.. Shonts's statement follows:
The purpose of the following OBJ
aeryations is simply to express point
o. view on to-days railroad problem
in the light Of certain general prin-
Cples.
President Wilson has stated frankly
that he has no definite solution Of the
Iroblem. and has left IL to Congress.
We may assume, think, that he also
hopes for full expression OF views from
the people
81 do not approach this problem as
q banker or as a trustee for rail-
road investments. II l did, my chief
concern would necessarily be to safe
guard the trusts committed to my
care.
AS citizen. however, with many
years of experience in railroading and
with special experience in "A plan
Of working With municipal govern
ment in transportation problems along
Ines which may offer n suggestion.
shall try to summarize the railroad
situation as l see II.
Agrees With President Rea.
Il agree heartily with President Rea
OF the Pennsylvania that We must
take Government control as now in
eject as a fact-and let that be our
point OF departure. And we must
agree that the present system OF OPP
Grafton has in it certain merits which
must never he sacrificed.
Most of them are merits that may
exist under either private or Govern
nent ownership and operation. Most
Of them. indeed. embody reforms for
which railroad officers have clamored
these many years.
First. and foremost. the Sherman
law is out Of business. He was tossed
out Of the window by Mr. Fairfax Har-
r!son and the Railroad War Board as
soon as war was declared but Presi-
dent Wilson and Mr.. McAdoo chloro-
formed and embalmed him on the 2Sth
OF last December.
blessings of L. y. Ownership.
Let US briefly suggest the other
obvious blessings OF the present re-
Eime
i The pooling of equipment and
terminals:
2 The elimination of unnecessary
trains and duplicated service;
3, The more economical loading
and routing Of freight
I. The unification of passenger
ticket Offices:
.. The elimination of the frills OF
me business, such as observation
cars for which no adequate fare was
paid &c;
= The frank recognition OF the
necessity on the part OF government,
which adds to the expenses of OPP
Grafton 10 find the increased rates
and fares with which to pay those
expenses; and
T. The assertion of the right of
me Federal Government to control
ne railroad situation as a whole in
me national interest, in spite of con-
nicung State laws and obstructive
e'ate commissions.
these are great gains. and it is the
u4'y Of every railroad man to see to
mat they are brought clearly to
Pubic attention. We must face the
Iact very frankly that the decision OF
."is momentnus issue is absolutely in
ue hands OF the public. The public
must take one OF two broad policies.
Horns of Dilemma summarized.
IL may prove profitable to sum up
we factors constituting the two horns
re dilemma, one OF which our
.'.IoN must choose as its ultimate
policy
rs one with practical railroad ex-
PHenoe ami as an observer OF Gov
''hnent operation throughout the
"ofld | am convinced that the most
economical operation can be attained
'hder private ownership. And the
sans we have obtained from Govern
ment operation car all be retained
1hder private ownership.
The great fact about Government
operation Is the inevitable tendency
,pWard extravaganza and inefficiency.
u me deficit from operations can al
Ways be made up out OF taxation, II
mere Is to be no reward for economy
shu forethOught. II is impossible to
Apct careful watchfulness over eX-.