Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-03
WANTS RAILROADS
IN PRIVATE HANDS
Louis ]. Spence Says Federal Con
troll Has Destroyed
Competition.

LOUIS j spence, q native of Wilmington
now director of traffic Tor the southern
Pacific railroad. has issued a statement
in which he says that he considers that
the longer the railroads are continued
under unified control the moro their
individualiiics will he ohlitcratcd, and
he believes that II government con
troll Is not to continue the President.
under the authority vested III him by the
Federal Control Act, should reiinuuish
the properties and nj the Same time
recommend that Congress enact logis-
laiion which would create tribunal fnr
the consideration at wages and the con
tomporaneo,is adjustment of rates. Mr.
Spence SAWS IN part
III my Interpretation of public scnu-
mcnt is correct, whatever benefits have
been obtained during Federal control
are believed To have been outwCighcd hy
the disadvantages attributable 10 the
elimination of competition, md the par
amount desire of the public rs that there
shall hC n prompt restoration oi the ben
chts of reasonable competition m rates
and service. that the shipper right to
route his freight shall hc respected that
the courtesy and accommodation which
arc born of individual ,nltiativc and
and that there shall hc an impartial con
sidcration II rates hv the Interstate
Commerce COMMISSION which ehall I've
far alike 10 ehippcrs and carriers These
advantages are not ohtaInahle under
unified control nnd operation, and pcr
aonallv | do not h~hcvc that there IS
anv satisfactory middle ground between
Government ownership and monopoly ON
tho nc hand. and individual ownership.
with tair competition. on tho other hand
IT must hc apparent to every on
who IS familiar with the subject, that
some comprehensive lcgls alton will have
to ho enacted Ia correct the ntolorahfc
burdens of tho past and lnaurr III" e'lc-
ccsssfn development ot the railroads rs
useful lnstr1lmcntalties ~ commerce
Fnr example, labor difficulties, winch
arc ALWAYS with us. have been greatly
increased hv the cNErnCIcs of war and
the Federal control of railroads Ihcr
have hecn Wage and Adjustment Cnm-
missions a. dcnl with wages, hours. AMI
working conditions, which have resulted
IN generous treatment ot CmploN'-
n believe Il will ho 81 the interest IT
The public. the employees and the rail
roads 10 have such . tribunal oF adlu7t
mont under private control. but he
llrfF fittlAF ~ iHAUit ittt' ttN 'fti'ift'F~
~ such commission should he TIhlc I
to tho review and approval Of tho Same
governmental agency which Is charged
with the regulation If rates and that
such governmental agency should also
he charged with the duty Of readJuatine
rates contpmporancously with any rc-
adjustment ~ wages which II mas ap-
prove and authorize
The organization and the policies IT
the Railroad tdmiu tratIon, thc prora
ganda ln favor uf continuing govern
mental control Of the railroad after
the dl4appcarancce of the avowed neco@
sitv FOR taking them over, and finally
Tho SEIZURE at tho ocean cables after the
conclusion nf an armIstIcc. have too
much significance &c hc ignored the
public Tie evident 4 sire 10 continue
IN peace tho governmental admlnistra-
ton of the great systems Ot tr9nsp0r-
tatlon and communication IS rcvcahnt.
a tendency toward state socialism,
which threatens to undermine our tree
institutions and our most conservative
statesmen. Irrespective ct party are ht-
glmng to view tins tendency with the
greatest concern
! Tho Director General of Railroads
has tcudcrrd his resignation with tho
suggestion that Il become effective on
Jan | Is there any reason Whv ; successor
should he appointed Is there any good
4 reason why the President should not
4 inform Congress when II reconvcnes to-
morrow of his intention n rchnqulsh the
I properties At midnight December 81 and
recommend enactment Of the specific
legislation which should become effective
on january /. with An understandln
that additional legislation shall be under
taken after . comprehensive study OF
/ the entire subject