The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-12-13

swered question. What Is right that
we should do with the railroads, in
the interest of the public and in fair
ness to their owners7
Must Settle Problem.
Let me say Mt once that have no
answer ready. The only thing that
Is perfectly clear to me IL that ID il
not fair either 10 the public or to the
owners of the railroads to ieave the
question unanswered and that il will
presently become my duty to reIin-
quish control OF the roads even be-
fore the expiration of the statutory
period. unless there should appear
some clear prospect in the meantim.
of legislative solution. Their re-
| lease would at least produce one ele-
ment OF solution. namely. certainty
and n quick stimulation of private
| Initiative.
Various Courses.
l believe that II will be s.rviceabls
| for me To set forth as explicitly az
possible the alternative courses that
lie open TO our choice. We can simply
release the roads and go back to the
old conditions of private manage
ments, unrestricted competition and
multiform regulation by both state
and federal authorities. Or we can
go Ia the opposite extreme and estab.
lish complete government control, ae-
companied II necessary by actual gov
eminent ownership: or we can adopt
| an intermediate course of modified
private control under more unified
and affirmative public regulation and
under such alterations of the law as
Will permit wastefui competition to
be avoided and a considerable degree
OF unifieation OF administration to BIZ
effected, rs, for example. by regional
corporations under which the rail-
ways or definable area would he In
effect combined in single systems.
The one conclusion that am 4
ready To state with care Is that 4
II would be u disservice alike to 4
the country and to the owners \
of the railroads to return to the 4
old conditions unmodified. =
| Nothing helpful.
Those are conditions of restraint
without development. There Ia nothing
affirmative or helpful about them.
/ ',ssf'e sssS sVossay uGtuS II t00t
} all Its means Of transportation should
be developed. it's railways, it's water
ways Its highways and It's country
side roads. This new element az pol-
Icy, therefore, Ia absolutely necessary
Necessary for the service OF the pub
lie. necessary for the release OF credit
to those who are administering the
railways, necessary for the protection
OF their security holders. The old
policy may he changed much or little
hut surely II cannot wisely be left a.
! II was. i hope that the congress Will
I have complete and impartial study
, OF the whole problem instituted II
, once and prosecuted as rapidly ~ Dos
, sible. ] stand ready and anxious 20
relense the roads from the present
. control and ] must do 80 at 4 very
early date IL by waiting until the stat
utory limit OF time IL reached I shalt
be merely prolonging the period Of
= doubt and uncertainty which II hurt
I ful to every interest concerned.
Announces Trip.
welcome this occasion to announce
to the congress my purpose TO Join In
Paris the representatives of the gov.
ernments with which we have been
associated In the war against the cen.
! trail empires for the purpose Of discus
! sing with them the main features OF
/ the treaty Of peace.
! realize the great inconve- 4
4 niences that will attend my 4
/ 4 leaving the country, particular 4
4 ly mt this time, but the conclu- 4
/ 4 sion that II was my paramount 4
+ 4 duty TO 20 has been forced up- 4
; Z on me by considerations which =
. + ! hope will seem as conclusive 4
4 to you as they have seemed to 4
r me -