The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-01-03
Government Control
of Roads for S Years
Would Be Real Test

1890 - wv
months control because they can dc
lay things in tho present congress
and then como before the republican
body and ask for remedial" lerisia.
ton, which will make fast their grip
on the roads. and. thru the roads. on
business. IL the next congrvss fails
them. they will take the matter into
the presidential and congressional
campaign of 1890.
Want TO Teach Lesson"
All OF this doubt and uncertainty
as TO what liz 20 be done with the
railroads will be felt by the en-
ployes and win. OF course. not serve
10 make the present government
control any better. Tho worse
things appear under government
control. the better the old controlling
forces will like Il. They think IL will
teach the country lesson"
The president doesn't want rail.
reading paralyxed hy period OF
doubt and he Is Also firmly con.
WINGED that such an important mat.
Ter as proper railroad legislation
cannot be fairly or adequately nccur.
cd when it Is made the football OF
a heated presidential campaign. In
which bis interests would inject a
tremendous slush fund Therefore.
u the present congress doesn't do
something. the president will.
Old Competition Impossible
think | can speak by the card
when | say the present adminlstra.
ton has no prcconeeptions ON tho
puzzle OF what Is to be finally done
with the railroads. II has had and
sull has an open mind on the sub.
jet. Director General McAdoo. in
the eleven months he has been in
control. has realized that old-timc
competitive conditions in railroading
cannot be allowed TO stand hut
neither he nor any one else In high
place in the administration has gone
further than to say tina; congress
ought TO extend government control
10 a five-year period so that a prop
cr test can be made.
MeAdoo was in position 20 do 10
without having any bricks thrown
e
step down In the very near future.
and 80 IL not asking for a fivo-year
Job for himself. but he realizes the
limitations that viii be placed upon
his successor unless the law Is
changed. Government control has
not yet had fair test. and every re-
dictionary interest In the country
political. financial and journalistic
Is trying hard 10 prevent any such
test.
There are vast programs OF i'm.
provernents and bcttsrmcnis. making
for efficiency and ultimate economy.
which McAdoo had in mind and
which he couldn't undertake. Under
the present railroad coutrol law. he
couldn't do what he wished unless
he could get consent Of the carriers.
or. falling this. take a chance on
/ long drawn litigation.
For instance. there are tremen.
dous improvements In terminal IA.
cilities In the great cities. which can
only be well done under government
control. To have such terminal IA
cilitics would not only expedite han
ding OF freight and make II cheap.
er. but Increase effectiveness OF pres
ent rolling stock. At present. thou
sands OF cars are virtually used az
storage warehouses. despite dcinur.
rage charges. Car shortage. so often
complained OF. l. largely due to this.
Other things McAdoo had in mind
were revision OF grades. readJust.
meufs OF tracks on better curya.
lures. large extensions OF sldlngs.
strengthening Of bridges 40 that
they could stand longer and heavier
trains.
Would Test Policies
But aside from the improvements
the five-ycar period would make pos
slble. IL Is the feeling OF the admins
tration that the test would demon.
strate to the country which OF the
three following plans would be best
for our future:
1. Outright government ownership.
2 Monopolization OF all railroads
within n given region. perhaps cor.
responding roughly TO the seven re-
gions into which AcAdoo divided the
country. Owners OF the roads would
surrender their stock In the individ.
ual companies and receive stock In
the regional monopoly railroad.
which would be strictly regulated as
TO service. freight and passenger
rates. etc. perhaps by some board
corresponding TO our federal reserve
board. this board. in turn, to be TN.
der a new cabinet minister. the sec.
rotary OF transportation.
o. Regulation within regions. not
resorting 10 monopoly. bs making
provision 80 the strong. prosperous
roads could absorb weak ones and