The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-04-10

trend Of the times and fhs obvfous nss
eersities Of the railroad situation has
worked the undolng Of the shipperl AZ
well a. Of the rafiroe1s
II Is obvious that We should adopt q
dennlte, comprehensive and adequate
policy for developing our railroad ex-
tensions q policy based on dsrnitA de-
termlning factors Il se>ns very GER
tain that from the prcscut pisn Of cor
~ordlnated. centralized operation, with
H. many savings and added e~faciencies
made possible By Government control.
there viii be no rsvsrsion 10 the oid
system Of competitive private owner
ship and conflicting regulation.
n not that. then what DO ve fhce1
On every hand We hear the prophecy
made that the present control Of tho
railroads by the Government IL but
tho first step toward Government own
ershlp. aud that once unified under
Government direction the railroads
will never be -unacumbled"
But IN no country IN the world
where Government ownership Of rail-
roads has been attempted has n been
successfui. with the siagie exception
q Prussia. whore. Under the arbitrary
mandates Of a military autocracy.
some degree of efficiency and pront
has been secured. Further. In no Inn
portant instance has the experience of
our NJ Government In business oper-
alton or ownership OF any form Of pub
lie utilities been such a. 10 warrant
tho conclusion that such activity could
be probably extended.
The privately owned railroads Of The
United States have the lowest freight
rites. the lowest capitalization per
mile. the greatest operating efficiency
and pay the highest ways Of any rail-
roads IN the world.
II private ownership has failed. both
when u~nreruiated and when over-res,
ulated. and Government ownership
gives no promise Of success. what pias
offers for meeting the situationf
Various suggestions Of . central Ted
ernl corporation. regional holding coui.
panlc- Government guarantees and
plans calling for rroat sharing with
tho Government above a fixed rcturn
have been frequently mndo. some-
where along this line Of thought lies a
rational solution. II Il very ecrtala
that the old days Of enforced compc-
tltlon, antitrust hTs a%nti-poolin<
law. conflicting State regulation.
w~asteful competition. d~uplication q
service. would not be permitted By a
public alive TO its own intsrestA
Il seems equally certain that Gov
eminent Ownership would not be per-
mitted n the public were equally aiivs
TO It's real interests. The hour has ar-
rived for the suggestion Of some plan
which must be made read, for ado9-
ton as soon as possible. now that the
crisis Of war has passed. Somewhere
within the meaning Of the words go
operation" and '~partnershlp" lies ths
answer. The public interest In trans
portatIon IL paramount and must be
protected. but public interest and pr
vate interest need not be In conflict 70
luteiligenuy regarded
Regional companies representins
both private and public capital under
p.ivate operation with governmental
participation In the management ard
earnings above q Just guarantees rsui1
seem 10 assure the necessary extension
OF railroad facilities In unity Of la.
terest and understanding progress to-
wards the desired goal should be pos
gibl6.