The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-07

capital stock Also miserable passenger seFV-
ice and delays in freight shipments. Never In
the time of private control OF the transportation
systems were complaints SO many and frequent
In it's management Of the roads the government
has done for itself what it had refused to allow
the railroads to do for themselves. Had the
government been more liberal In It's treatment
of this great industry there would not nave
been thought or necessity Of the taking over OF
it for the war period or any other period; that
is, no thought of such procedure except IN
those ingrained with government ownership
line of reasoning.
Now that the war is over the alternative Is
to continue government control for some time
longer or hand the roads back to their owners.
Director General McAdoo would have govern
ment control continued for at least five years.
Judging past performance as true index OF
what may be expected in the future five years
provided Mr. McAdoo had his way, the great
mass of the public and the practical railroad
operators say, emphatically,
1sNo'
Opposition to prolongation of the period
of government control was strongly argued
at the session of the Association OF hall
way Executives held recently at Philadelphia
Ninety two per cent. Of the mileage Of the coun-
try was represented at the meeting and prac-
tically every railroad had its president there.
The following statement of the attitude OF the
railroads was given out by L. Dewitt Cuyler
Of the Pennsylvania railroad, chairman of the
Association of Railway Executives
The Association OF Railway Executives, repre-
senting ninetytwo per cent. of the railroad mile
age of the country adopted set of principles
that it believes ought to form the foundation OF
the national legislation necessary for the read
| tDPf Tho do To near
These principles the result not only OF al
continuous conferences among the execu-
tives since the conclusion OF the war, but OF their
earnest efforts period of several years to
work out permanent solution of the railroad
problem that would guarantee for the future the
adequate development OF our national transporta-
ton system
Throughout our conference have kept up
per1nost in mind the fact universally 'recog-
nized that transportation is essentially public
service, and that the public interest must be para
mount in any proposed plan worthy OF serious con-
uderation. The railroads will that legislation
be enacted compatible with the public
interest, they will urge against such prolongaton
of the period Of uncertainty as has been proposed
by the director general Of railroads; and in their
definite suggestions to the form of legislation,
they will favor the legislation under future pr
/ vate operation of large part OF the measures
! taken by the government railroad administration
4. during coordinate and unity railroad
4 facilities
! response the invitation OF the senate
committee interstate commerce, which is now
considering railroad legislation, representatives OF
association will appear before the committee
during the coming week, publicly to present the
views of the railroads. 1t s our earnest hope and
belief of the present discussion, in which
! representatives of all Interests will be heard by
congress, there will come conservative le5is-
I ation the public interest that will mark the
| dawn of era in American transportation.