The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-03-12
WITH THE EDITORS
EARLY EXTRA SESSION VITALITY NEEDED
TO PASS RAILROAD LEGISLATION

EARLY EXTRA SESSION VITALITY NEEDED
TO PASS RAILROAD LEGISLATION
"The failure of congress to pass the bill to
create new revolving fund of S75O,OOO,oOO Tor
the railroad administration is adapted to cause
disastrous consequences says the Railway age.
ut leaves the railroad administration almost With
out money and without any source from Wncn 10
get it, 1t cannot get it from railway earnings
because the railways are not earning enough net
operating income to pay the guaranteed standard
return to the companies. The railroad admlnlstra-
ton may be forced to make the most drastic
economies in the maintenance of the railways, re-
gardless of future consequences. This would at
once, directly and indirectly, throw hundreds OF
thousands of men out of employment at time
when government bodies and officials are urging
private industries to give all the employment they
can In spite of any retrenchments it may effect,
the railroad administration will continue to be un-
able to provide the railways with funds with which
to pay their bills to the,raway supply companies.
1t may become unable to pay the railway COM
panies enough of their standard returns to meet
their interest and normal dividends.
There is but one remedy for the condition the
non-action Of congress has created. This is for
President Wilson to call the new congress in extra
session Immediately 1t has been reported that
congress will not be reconyened until June. Condi-
tons affecting the transportation and related in
dustres are such that to postpone providing new
revolving fund until June or later might be dsas-
trous, not only to these industries, but to the in
dustries and workers Of the country as whole.
Congress is responsible for the failure to create
a new revolving fund at the recent session. Pres-
dent Wilson will be responsible if an extra session
is not promptly convened at which the needed
legislation can be enacted.
"An extra session is needed at once, not only to
provide the railroad administration with funds it
is essential it should have for the welfare Of the
country, but also to enable congress to- proceed
Immediately with the framing of legislation under
which the railways can be returned to private
operation. .#@&
"The Railway Age is not political newspaper.
1t is no part Of its function to attempt to say
whether the Republicans or the Democrats in con-
gress should be blamed for the failure of the rail-
road appropriation bill to pass and for the conse-
quences to which this may lead. But it is our
function as a journal devoted to transportation to
call attention 70 the fact that this incident affords
one OF the most powerful of the many arguments
the government has forged within the last fifteen
'''oioi'S
ton.
1T always has been argued against govern
ment ownership and operation that under it the
management Of the railroads would become a foot
ball OF politics, to the great detriment of industry
and the people and with the effect of corrupting
politics itself. The failure Of congress to pass
this railroad appropriation bill, whose enactment
was recognized on all hands as necessary for the
welfare of the country, is the best evidence yet
afforded of the soundness of the political argu-
ment against government ownership 1t is a
peculiarly fine sample of the kind of thing which
would occur over and over again under permanent
government ownership and operation. The well
fare OF the nation, and especially Of its laboring
people, has been utterly dsregafded, while the
members of congress have engaged in a struggle
which has been carried on largely from political
motives.
III the record made by the government in
handling the railways during the last fifteen
months including the failure to pass this vitality
needed piece of legislation is not sufficient to con-
vince the American people that permanent owner
ship and operation is wholly undesirable, we can
not conceive what kind of evidence could be r.
enlEed r. eonyipce them Hallway Ass M