Alma record., 1919-08-14

!
I'm Germany, you have to pay for the
extra ride and are fined on the spot
for the offense. A hundred pounds of
baggage which you cannot carry in
your hand, will increase the cost of
your ticket about one-third Dis
ordinations in freight rates in Ger
many are the rule. In addition TO
the regular freight schedules, they
have special rates which fill 915
volumes. And yet Germany is the
only country to which government
ownership advocates point with
pride" They should point with
shame
Belgium was losing seven million
francs per annum on her government
roads when the war broke out.
/ France owns part of her roads and
part are owned privately. She
purchased the Western Road which
for five years had earned an average
Of 7S,OO00OO francs per annum This
gradually dropped to $4,000, 600
francs. The operating expenses of
her government owned roads, before
the war We're above ninety per cent
Of their operating income, leaving her
nothing TO show as interest on her
! investment and not one-quarter
enough to cover depreciation and re-
placement of worn out material.
France had $4,000, 10000 francs in
outstanding three per cent govern
ment obligations worth par on the
market. Her unfortunate railroad
operation necessitated a loan Of 300,-
10000 francs. For this money she
had to pay four per cent, and i'm
mediately, the people lost in the
market value of government obliga
tions which they held l,500, 900 900
francs. If the United States were
/ to buy the railroads of America, the
banks and tinanciers would never
underwrite the enormous bond issue
/ that would be necessary as they did
underwrite every Liberty Bond issue.
/ Government railroad bonds would
have to bear at least six per cent
and the government would probably
/ have to pay commission for selling
them. The inevitable effect would be
TO reduce the market value of out
standing government obligations at
/ least Is per cent. The people would
| lose over $3,000,000 900 in the de-
probation of their holdings.
Government railroads pay no
taxes and most governments repud-
late any liability for loss or damage
to goods as well as for personal in
/ juries. The railroads pay approx
mately $3.50 100000 in state, county
and city taxes. If the government
owned the railroads this revenue
would have to be made up by in
creased tax rates on private prop
erty
But perhaps the worst feature of
government ownership would be po-
itica control Largely TO avoid
political influence by government
employees, the citizens Of Washington
are disenfranchised as the only way
to escape political manipulation. Mr.
McAdoo, when in charge of railroads,
increased the pay of many employees
One day "A body Of them waited on
him 10 express their appreciation
and when they left Mr.. McAdoo re-
marked, ado you see how grateful
these men are? There are two mil
lions of them and every one is a
voter" | am not surprised that Mr..
McAdoo is understood to have polit-
ica ambition. He should realize,
however, htat in politics, gratitude is
an appreciation of favors hoped for.
He would have TO promise additional
wage increases and further reduction
in hours if he expected to get the
labor vote. And if he did not so
promise his opponent would and
whoever promised last, would 20 his
opponent "one better"
There are three essentials TO sue
cessful business-Capital, Labor and
Management. No farmer ever lifted
mortgage by hard work Mort
cages are lifted by hard work plus
management, and when management
be sufficiently good, less labor is re-
quired. No Republic has ever been
able TO secure the third and all es-
sential element, management. La
Dor can be obtained for a satisfactory
wage, Capital can be had with APP
proved security, bur management is
aot obtainable in the market places.
Our government will never pay the
necessary price, nor exercise the
discrimination. Government engi-
neers receive not to exceed S5,000.00
per annum while private enterprises
, frequently pay Sl00,000.00 per
annum. In government service pro-
motions are made in course and are
based on length Of service, seldom on
efficiency. To promote for efficiency
l.. is to invite the charge of political
/ favoritism.
In private business a man will be
discharged unless he does something;
but in government service men are
/ discharged only for something they
! have done representation is the
first law of life in government serv-
, ice as elsewhere and for this, if for
, no other reason. no government
official will assume a responsibility
the wise exercise of which will bring
no reward, and where a mistake re-
gardless Of intent means criticism,
? sometimes investigation with its ac-
companying disgrace, and not infre-
quently, discharge. if for no other
reason, to save the man higher up.