El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-03
LOVETT'S VIEWS ON RAILROADS
ARE WORTH THE PUBLICS THOUGHT

DoBERT 8 LoVETT, former chairman Of the executive
n committee OF the Southern Pacific lines, and recently
director Ct tie division OF capital expenditures Of the rail-
rosd ad5tratio1s has expressed himself somewhat Inly
o. the SUBJECT Of government ownership Of railroads. He
this BY indirecon, by pointing out alleged ad-
Vauagss Of private ownership ana ne mas outlined eono-
tens Whch be believes should surround private ownership
Judge Lovst argues along the line OF greatest service to
the public L is markedly n contrast with the once no
t0-f5us public damned" policy Of transportation lead
he believes n government regulation OF railroads but
not IN government Ownership or control. He says:
Il 5esTe in thorough regulation BY the national gov
sruent Of al competition IN service and facilities with
pover 10 cheek where it amounts to evil should
permit cOus0das5s subject to government approval
hers the public benefit would plainly be promoted par
ticuarly IN the absorption Of financially weak lines Of
iz1r importance where, by doing the communities de-
pendent there0z c0aid be better served.
HBut would steadily preserve the competition between
The large systems and pursue policy OF widening the
psve between such large systems wherever prac
czbleH
Judge Lovets idea IS that the competition arising
Tate ownership VII give the public better service than
The n0u-cratIve system Of government ownership; that
any resulting from the abolition of competition
than offset by the wastefulness Of government
operation and furthermore that the government faces de-
prsracu n executive ability under the government stand
ard Of compensation IN competition with the higher salaries
offered By private He considers that under gov
emmett ownership the vast railroad system Of the
~ would become huge political football and that the
rzhroad pork bs1sl would make any other pork barrels
seen Insignificant. He says:
Every politician would be almost compelled to exert
any political influence possessed by him to provide places
ustents desired by them Zach congressman would be
pressed b. al the ambitious towns his district for
nate passenger stations other improvements as
esea for ptolce court houses and other public build
gs5 for additional and unnecessary trains TO please par
ulzr comunities and for the construction Of new rail
r5zdS extensions and branches he also cites Hthe poti-
cal PoEer Of the employees organize control the rail-
rosdsp
Judge L0Fet believes there should be competition
n The natter Of rates declaring that this inevitably leads
- sset rebates and other evils and he makes old plea
iez abolition Of Interference By state commissions
He finds serious objection also government ownership
tie ground Of the large financial undertaking involved
csyinE-
0a December 81, 1915, the total outstanding eapali
Eioz Ct al the railroads IN the United States AMOUNTED
% S2os7sS5o5 OF course, It would be necessary
or the government 10 provide the entire amount Of this
Se Investment al once If the government would be will
ag 20 acquire the property, subject to existing mortgages
nut tins would undoubtedly add enormously to the value
o the bonc5 outstanding since buying subject to the mort
sAEe Eould N effect be guaranteed BY the government
These opinions Of Mr. LOvetts ced, not as being
71fEe n any wy, but being the Official railroad