Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-19
Circulation Every 12210
Evening Yesterday l AOOAO
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1918
The Return of the Railroads.

According to the New York Sun, a
rAper that Is very nagging In its criticism
OF the Wilson administration, Secretary
OF the Treasury McAdoo, st q secret meet
ing OF the Senate interstate commerce
committee, said: Unless there is an I'D
mediate and better response by Senators
and Representatives 10 my proposal for
Q five-vear control of the railroads by
Federal administration, l shall advise
President Wilson by wireless that the
railroads should be turned to private
owners on January ,.
It Is difficult to believe that a man
who has proved himself so competent and
so capable Of doing really big things as
Mr.. McAdoo has would lend himself TO
such a petty threat. Nor IS there any
reason 10 believe President Wilson would
have yielded to his advice.
We believe sound public opinion is
opposed to continuance OF government
control and operation OF our railroads
day longer than IS necessary. As we have
said, while this control and operation have
proved very effective in serving the needs
OF tie government during the war, by
afTording. ample transportation facilities
for war purposes. it has been far from
satisfactory 10 the public. Also. it has
been more costly than corporate control
and operation, both as TO freight and
passenger charges Despite large increase
In these rates, government control and
operation OF railroads has resulted In a
dcfcit estimated thus far TO amount 70
$500. 0o0, 900 for this year.
But 10 return tkelailIoads sun narily
barL to former conditions would work q
great hardship, both TO the public and the
railroads.. Ii is not possible to success
fully undo IN q day, or week, or month,
y Il has been done In respect OF the rail-
Dads in order TO meet the demands OF the
war Legislation is necessary 10 make
the required adjustments, the arrange
nents for compensation for losses sustained
And to this legislation the Congress
should direct It's earnest attention during
the present session.
Possibly our able and efficient corporate
railroad Arrangements could take charge
OF the task Of conforming the roads to d
speedy change to former conditions and
complete Il effectively But they would
encounter much trouble without iegisla-
ton by Congress TO meet the exigencies
cf the change. In the flst place, there
should be Legislation 10 provide for con-
tinuance OF the coordination and CO.
operation Of the great trunk lines OF rail-
roads, which has proved of such value
to the government during its experiment
of cont oEing and operating the railroads
Of the country. 1t is doubtful If the rail-
roads, after return 10 corporate cooper
ation and control, could continue this
coordination and cooperation, SO neceo-
sary TO successful railroad service, without
running counter 10 the Sherman Anti
Trust law and other legislation directed
against so-called combinations In re-
straint Of trade"
The railroad corporations will have
much 20 do when they again take up the
work of controlling and operating their
respective properties. During the period
OF government control and operation
the railroads have suffered in their physi-
cal conditions. Today they stand in
need Of replacements and repairs, Of In
creased dterminalfacilities, and of thereform
of Tarious other lrnpairrnents that have
resulted from the great pressure OF traffic,
without arrangements for it's performance
with the grcsCest facility and due regard
ior saicty Nor should the interference
oi the Interstate Commerce Commission
"Ish corporate control and operation Of
raitroada be allowed to continue under
the oce' regime, 10 matter boT long the
restoration may be delayed.
II has been estimated that it viii require
81 east year 20 arrange for return OF
the railroads to former control without
& serious disturbance of general conditions.
Meanwhile, Congress could. and should.
enac' the iegis s'atl3n esscntia ial 10 ap ORDERLY
cAznse. Que that y IIl not seriously disturb
operations If such plan is not adopted.
the conclusion viii be inevitable that the
purpose OF MIR. McAdoo is to open the
way 10 permanent control and operation
vi our railroads by tie Federal govern
ment. And we do not believe the people
want this