The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-21

have invested less capital for the ser vice rendered than is the case in any other civilized nation in the world.
 (c) In creating thls great piece of industrial machinery under new, va rying, and oftenumes very difficult, conditions, the investors, builders and the highest wages to employees, and managers in their finacial and man. aging policy, and the Government, in it's regulating policy, have naturally made some mistakes. There have been a few examples of unfortunate and unwise policies of railroad build ing and management that have aroused popular distrust. There has been competition between the nation, the states, individuals (bOth in and out of legislative hals), and executive commissions representing both the national and state governments in suggestions for taxa ton. regulation ad supervision. This competition has be suited in action being taken by the Nation and the States which has grad uaIly weakened the capacity of the railroads to live and expand in har- mOny with the growth of the coun- try.
 (d) The systems of private owner
 
 ever, was successful on the whole, and resulted in the development of the railroads and the country to marvellous extent This growth and development was steady and contin- uous until regulation failed to re- spOnd promptly to changed conditions the more expensive and luxurious methods of the people, the increased wages needed by employees, the higher cost of everything necessary for keep ing the railroads equal to their task, including the higher cost of capital and rapidly increasing taxes.
 What has been accomplished under private ownership and operation in the past is good evidence of what can be accomplished in the future if pri- vate energy and initiative are encour- aged and respressive and conflicting regulation removed.
 War Conditions
 The war produced conditions which showed clearly that the then existing regulatory system was not adjusted properly for that emergency. The de- mands of many classes of employees for heavy increases in pay could not be dealt with successfully by the own CTS and managers of the railroads. It
  States east of Chicago and north of the Ohio River the sudden and rapid increase in the volume of business necessary for carrying on the war was greater than some of the rail- roads could handle. There was little or no trouble confronting the rail- roads in handling the business in oth- CT parts of the coutry.
 Railroads Did Not Break Down Any More Than Steel, Cotton, Ships, Etc.
 It is, however, unjust to discredit one of the great achievements of the American nation by saying that the wonderful American railroad machine broke down. More transportation was demanded from the railroads in a part of the country, namely, parts of New England, New York, New ter sey, Delaware, Pennsylvania. Ohio, Maryland, the Virginias, and in a few other places, than could be furnished with the existing plant and under the conditions imposed by the war, and existing regulatory laws, both state and national. This was not a break down of the American railroad sys- tenn any more than the inability of the | steel compan mics to furnish all the steel wanted, the cotton mills all the cotton wanted, and the shipyards all the ships wanted was a breakdown of these industries.
 In these cases immediate steps were taken to increase capacity, some of which steps are only finished now, when the war is over. Similar steps were undertaken to the extent Of the ability Of the railroads to get money, men and material, but they, too; have been delayed in ompleting their work just as ot industries have