The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1919-01-23

der federal control. in spite. OF the
tremendous demands that the war
needs have imposed. Here again 1t iS
forgotten apparently that the railroads
were placed under government control
for the purpose Of winning the war
against the German autocracy. The
FIRST duty was to move troops and war
supplies. / have yet to hear sound
criticism Of the manner In which that
pressing war need was met. Millions
of soldiers were moved safely and e1-
peditiously to the seabOard, and from
camp to. camp. FoodstuffS. nunltione
and other supplies were rushed 70
ships at expreSs-train speed. The
American railroads during the past
year have functioned for the war pur-
pose. -
But even In the conduct of ordinary
business, the record made by the rail-
roads shines by comparison with the
record OF private control in previous
years when considered from the stand
point of important traffic. During the
fall of 1918, there was practically no
congestion anywhere and we were still
at war Remember the congestion on
the railroads in the crop-moving sea-
sons of 1915 and 1917. Toward the
end of 1916 conditions became so bad
that the interstate commerce commits
sion made an investigation. AS re-
suit, Commissioner McChord filed a re-
port In which he said that mills have
shut down, prices have advanced. per-
ishable articles of great value have
been destroyed, and hundreds of car
loads of food products have been de-
layed in reaching their natural mar
kets." Also that "lOng delays in tran
sit have been the rule rather than
the exception. and the operations of
established industrial activities have
been uncertain and difficult"
Became Simple Matter.
The accommodation of passengers
in peace times, and the proper at
tention to the transportation of ordi-
nary freight, become a comparatively
simple matter once the larger Ques-
lions have been disposed OF. No prac-
teal. just and experienced man cHn
honestly argue that government OPP
Grafton per Sc has caused bad service.
stored: crowded conditions are being
remedied; rules made necessary by
the war are being done away with.
I touch on such questions briefly In
order that there may be no beclouding
of the issue by the injection OF false
premises. No INSTRUMENTATION will
result to the travelling or shipping pub
lie by the extension of the period OF
federal control. The question merely
is whether wise and well considered
remedial legislation for the return OF !
the roads to- private control can be
obtained under existing conditions
within twenty-one months, and wheth- !
er. even if that were possible, the !
roads could be operated successfully.
and satisfactorily pend |
ing the discussion by the congress
and the country. and especially with
:he 1920 presidential campaign ap-
proac ching.
Neither contingency being possible
In my judgment, I see no escape from !!
the conclusion that the period Of fed
eral control must be extended for. five
ears. so that an adequate test of uni
fed operation may be secured under
peace. not war, conditions, and neces-
sary improvements to terminals and
other facilities be made, free from
partisan political influences, or the
railroads must be restored to private
control in the near future to take
heir chances under the old laws and
which governed them prior
o the assumption of control by the
government.