The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-08
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
AGAINST GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP.

The best experience Of the business
men Of the country IS overwhelmingly
opposed to government ownership or
railroads. Out Of the 1.1co trade organ
nations making up the membership OF
tho Chamber Of Commerce Of the United
States 50 per cent have voted against .
continuance Of government operation In
any form. From thc analysts Of the
polls the following reasons against
government ownership appear to have
the greatest weight:
Under government ownership the de-
yelopment Of railroad facilities would
depend on Congressional appropriations.
which would prevent the anticipation OK
the TRANSPORTATION needs Of the country.
Authorizations would not be made IN
the amount and at tho time needed tH
insure adequate development OF the rail-
roads Political consideration might
also control the amount OF approprla-
lions and tho objects for which they
were made.
To acquire the railroads the govern
ment would have 70 pledge its credit tor
$4,000, 100000 TO $20.000.QO0.Q0O at
time when. other large tinanciering mus.
be done II would be DIFFICULT Tor Tie
government 10 dispose OF the securities
reoskrei to purchase the roads and II
would be necessary for the government
10 secure from $500. 100000 to $1,000
000.000 OF new capital each year. II the
government were TO assume the burden
ilrIu dc nj
interest rate would necessarily be as
high as, il not higher than. the rate al
which corporations could secure capital
Government operation is seldom. II
ever. as efficient as corporate manage
ment Competition. The incentive 10 et-
ficfency and progress in private enter
prises is absent from The government
administration Of affairs. Individual in
itiatiye ia less bureaucratic methods are
more characteristic and the services rem
) dered are less progressively efficient.
The polItica! cf""t Of government
ownership and operation OF railroads in
the United States might be serious.
.,rherc arc now about 100000 civil "m-
pIoycs Of the government. The addition
TO the public services Of 2.OOO.OoO rail-
road employees. the majority or whom
are voters. would constitute force OF
about $500. o0N government employees IN
/. terested III controlling In" policy of the
government as regards wages. hours and
conditions Of service.
The propaganda Of certain railroad
chiefs gwen 10 the public in the last few
DAYS emphasize tho above objections.
Plainly stated. they want government
owner ship because. under government
ownership they have found another sur
render 70 their demands for higher wages
than they have found under private own
ership. They have found that it is easier
TO force the rates OF compensation that
they want from a complaccnt political
organization than from men who are
spending their own money and opcrat-
ing for the purpose Of making profit.
Whatever may be the right or wrong OF
! the plea for higher wages on the part
of railroad employees, the fact remains
that the entire citizenship OF the coun-
try have to pay those wages. The en-
tire citizenship Of the country cannot be
employed by the government. They can
not be guaranteed wages at the govern
ment's expense. and no class OF en-
ployes. Whatever the value Of their ser
vices, should be put in a position to use
tho power OF the government to draw
from the pockets OF their fellow citizens
greater compensation than they might
otherwise get.