El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-12-02


business interests can afford TO be
responsible for creating or prolonging
J Clearly determined conditions. clearly
( and simply charted. are Indispensable
to the economic revival and rapid in
dustrial development. which may con.
! fidently be expected II we act now and
/ sweep all Interrogation points away
Urges Naval Enlargement.
Z take il for granted that congress
viii carry out the naval program
which was undertaken before we en-
/ tered the war. The secretary Of the
} tees for authorization that part Of the
program which covers the building
I plans OF the next three years. These
plans have been prepared along the
Z lines and in accordance with the policy
: which the congress outlined. not un-
der the exceptional conditions of the
war. but with the intention OF adher-
/ ing TO a definite method Of develop
/ ment for the navy. l earnestly recon-
I mend the uninterrupted pursuit OF
/ that policy. 1t would clearly be IN
I wise for US to attempt to adjust our
programs to 4 future world policy as
yet undetermined.
Discusses Railroads.
The question which causes me the
greatest concern is the question Of
/ the policy to be adopted towards the
railroads / frankly ask you for coun-
sci upon IL. ! have no confident iudg
ment of my own. ] do not see how
any thoughtful man can have who
knows anything of the completely Of
the problems. II is n problem which
must be studied. studied Immediately,
and studied without bias or preiu-
dice. Nothing can he gained by be-
coming partisans OF any particular
plan OF settlement.
L. s. Control Necessary.
1T was necessary that the admins
tration OF the railways should be tax
en- over by the government so long
as the war lasted. 1t would have been
impossible otherwise TO establish and
carry through, under a single direc-
ton. the necessary priorities Of ship
ments. II would have been impos-
sible otherwise TO combine the maxi
mum production at the factories and
mines and farms with the maximum
possible ear supply TO take the prod
ucts TO the ports and markets. i'm
possible 10 route troop shipments and
freight shipments. without regards TO
the advantage or disadvantage OF the
roads employed: impossible to subor-
dinate. when necessary. all questions
OF convenience TO the public neces-
sity; impossible 10 give the neces-
sary 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?
Roads Not Equal to Task.
Exceptional circumstances and ex-
ceptional methods OF administration
we're not needed to convince us that
the railroads were not equal 10 the
imposed upon them by the rapid and
continuous developments Of the in
dustries Of the country.
I'VE knew that already And We
know that they were unequal to II
partly because full cooperation was
rendered impossible by law and their
competition. made obligatory. 50 that
IL has been impossible to assign to
them severally the traffic which best
could be carried by their respective
lines in the interest OF expedition and
national economy
Expects Peace By Spring.
we may hope. I believe, for the
formal conclusion of the war treaty
by the time spring has come. The q
months. to which the present control
Of the railways is limited after formal
proclamation OF peace shall have been
made, will run. at the farthest. I
take it for granted. only to the Janu-
airy OF 1921. The full equipment Of
the railways, which the federal ad-
ministration had planned, could not
be completed 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.
except by formal consent. while some
viii not, and. therefore, does not af-
ford sufficient authority TO undertake
improvements upon the scale upon
which it would be necessary 10 under
take them.
The Unanswered Question.
Every approach 10 TINS difficult
subject matter OF decision brings US
face to face. therefore. with this IN
answered question:
What is right that we should do
with the railroads in the interest OF
the public and in fairness TO their
ownersT
Let me say at once that have no .
answer ready The only thing that is
perfectly clear to me Is that il is not
fair either to the public or to the
owners OF the railroads to leave the
question unanswered and that IL viii .
presently become my duty TO relin-
Iuish control Of the railroads. even
before the expiration Of the statutory
period. unless there should appear
some clear prospect. in the meantime.
II a legislative solution Their re-
ease would at least produce one ele-
nent OF a solution. namely, certainty
md quick stimulation Of private in
-estment. / believe that il Will be
'erviceable for me to set forth. as ex-
'licitly as possible. the alternative
courses that lie open 10 our choice
Here Are Alternatives.
we can simply release the roads
md 90 back to the old conditions OF
private management. unrestricted
and multifOrm regulation
~ both state and federal authorities.
y we can go to the opposite extreme.
md establish complete government
control, accompanied, II necessary, by
lctual government ownership: or we
an adopt an intermediate course OF
modified private control. under a more
unified and affirmative public regula-
ion and under such alterations OF the
aw as will permit wasteful competi-
ion to be avoided and a considerable
legree of unification OF administra-
ion TO be effected. as. for example.
" regional corporations. under which
'e in effect combined in single sys-
ems.
Old Conditions Impossible.
The one conclusion that I am
eady to state with confidence IS that
: would be a disservice alike 10 the
and to the owners OF the rail-
Dads TO return to the old conditions
lnmOdified. Those are conditions Of {
estraint without development There
S nothing affirmative or helpful
bout them What the country chiefly
leeds is that all its means OF trans
'ortation should be developed. its
its waterways. its highwaN
nd its country side roads Some new
lement OF policy. therefore, is abso-
utely cessary-necessary for the
ervice Of the public. necessary for
he release OF credit 10 those who are
administering the railways, neces-
airy for the protection OF their Sc
urity holders. The old policy may
e changed much or little. but surely
. cannot wisely be left as II was. !