Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-05
a Plan for Railroad Unification

| WHATEVER may be the ultimate result
w OF the present railroad controversy,
whether the properties be returned 10 their
private owners. taken over permanently
by the government or operated under pri-
Vate ownership with Federal control. it
| already has borne good fruit in ccntering the
| countrE's best minds on the intricaces OF
the question in its relation to tho public
welfare The whole transportation scheme in
its economic aspects is being studied as 1T
has never been studied before, and from
this countrywide concentration OF the public
attention a sound policy is almost certain 10
eventuate.
The people are by no means divided into
only two camps, those who oppose and those
who lndorsc Federal ownership. The crys-
Utilization OF sentiment has not gone that
far. There are those who seek Il middle
course one that will be absolutely fair TO
the private interests and still conserve the
nations inherent rights and opportunities
under rapidly changing industrial and general
economic conditions Among the latter is
Judge S. =. Mcconnell. by profession Il jurist
and by long, practical experience 4 railroad
owner and operator, 1T present head OF tho
randolph and Cumberland Railroad Judge
Mcconnell, thoughtful student, has probcd
deeply into the railroad question from its
manifold angles, and has evolved tentative
plan which he believes would prove fair,
workable and satisfactory. He has presented
it TO congressional leaders, the railroad adj
ministration and representatives Of the rail
roads themselves, and he has assurance that
1t is being considered in the effort to bring
forth definite governmental policy.
The judges plan is for the ratification OF
all the railroads under combination OF Fed
eral and private control, this to be Sc
cured through the instrumentality Of one
great corporation which would purchase,
own and operate" them. They would be
nnI l,,-.
the President Of the United States would
name one-third, subject to approval by The
Senate the other two-thirds to rc elected By
The stockholders. The corporation would DO
empowered 10 take over any railroad at
figures TO be fixed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission, and would have the right
to condemn it if the valuation were not ac-
ceptable to the owners. the latter to receive
payment in bonds equal to the valuation at
: per cent per annun and an equal amount
or stock entitled to per cent dividends
when earned. All excess earnings would re-
vert to tho United States Treasury The
plan also provides for the issuance OF bonds
guaranteed by the government. for better
mchts and extensions in the wisdom of the
board, the fixing Of rates by Federal COM
mission or whatever means Congress might
devise. and the safeguarding OF State rev
enuo through taxation OF railroad properties
under present levies.
IN this tentative plan the author secs Il long
step toward meeting the exigencies OF new
conditions, the insuring OF adequate returns
on private Investments the profit sharing
by the people through the government Tho
dlrect voice OF Washington. which is the pco-
pic, Ill operation and control. and the vast
economies and increased ctciencics under uni
hcation that were impossible under tho o,a
system of little units each conducted under
individual management.
Many faults may be found with Judge Nc
eohhcils suggestions. 1t is frankly 4 com
promise between tho two extremes of privato
ana public ownership. but it seems TO ofo,
| d sound and sensible basis from which an
dsreemcnl may be reached It is evident
mat some halfway measure between the ,wo
CAMPS must be the result for = return IA
inc former competitive system manircstlv is
'hProoablc' and unless there is sudden roy
otu'ion III pubic sentiment, the time is stin
"lar or when the people will demand mr.
| submit TO outright Federal ownership