Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-02
FUTURE Development OF NEW
MEXICO'S RESOURCES DE
PENDS UPON ADDITIONAL
RAILROAD con-
STRUCTION.

STRUCTION.
(JOsCph Pulitzer once wrote AN cdi-
torial that filled sixteen columns of The
New York World. The following etli-
torial is not quite so long as that OF
the World, but the journal believes
il is quite as important to New
ncN 90 rs Mr.. Pulitzer believed his
editorial was to the nation.)
1t is apparent from daily develop
ments in Washington that government
operation of railroads is to cease and
that the railroads of the country will
be returned to private control within
the period of twenty-one months after
the declaration of peace, as provided
by existing law. Such return within
4 very few months is probable.
1t is agreed on all sides that before
the railroads are returned to the con
troll of their owners there must be fur
Their legislation by congress in order
that the railroads may be permitted
to make such increases in freight and
to meet the increased cost of labor
and material which has been brought
about by the action of the director
general.
Notwithstanding the increase which
was ordered by the director general
last year, there is an admitted deficit
LOO -,
million dollars growing out Of thej
operation by the government up to-
December 81. And so far as figures
are available they indicate that a.
deficit even greater in amount will
result this year.
Three Propositions Submitted.
There have been submitted to thel
senate committee on interstate COM
mercc. which is investigating thel
whole question in order to determined
what legislation is necessary, threel
concrete PROPOSITIONS; one by the di- !
rector general for a five-years contin-
uation Of me existing government con- |
troll; one by the Interstate Commerce
commission for an enlargement of the
rate making powers of that body and
an extension of its powers over rail-
roads generally, and one by the rail-
way executives committee, which asks
that the owners of the railroads mayi
be permitted to do all of the thingsI
which have been done by the dircctorl
general under the supervision of al
new cabinet minister to be created
and known as the secretary Of treas
portation.
In the background is the diminish
ing specter Of government ownership
and operation.
Without attempting TO analyze these
various propositions, it seems pretty
safe to say that the only one of them
which has even fair chance of adop-
ton by congress is that submitted BY
the railway executives committee.
The fact of overwhelming signifi-
canoe to the future of New Mexico is
that the director general of railroads,
the Interstate Commerce commission
and the railway executives are in ac-
ositions:
]. That no railroad hereafter con-
structed shall be permitted to partici-
pate in transportation of property I'M
interstate commerce without a certifi-I
~cate from some federal officer or
body that such road was constructed
to meet public necessity.
2. That competition in freight rates
shall hereafter he forbidden by law.
8. That the right of the shipper tot
route his freight must be denied byI
law
Would Handicap New Mevco.
~ The incorporation into the pro-
posed legislation of any one of these
three propositions would seriously en-
barrass the securing of capital for new
railroad construction in New Mexico.
The adoption of all three would rem
der ii certain that there would be no.
substantial increase of railroad mile
age in New Mexico for generation,
and that existing railroad facilities
would be very materially curtailed
as soon as the law went into effect.
The great concern of the people of
New Mexico is with the preservation
of the rights and opportunities of pio-
neer railroad building, without which
we cannot hope TO develop our re-