Bisbee daily review., 1919-03-09
Less TuaMc At More Cost
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 sources, and to present the transpor- ' tation needs of the nation directly to | the president and his advisers. He will not manage and operate the rail roads any more than the secretary of agriculture manages and operates the farms of the country.
 Do Not Ask Guarantee
 Some have suggested that the gov erTfment guarantee a fixed return upon railroad property. The railway executives believe that a guarantee would tend to reduce initiative and re- tard efficient management, and they do not ask for it They believe that with adequate rates, reasonable lib erty to act, and good management. roads that have beer wisely planned. honestly financed and well managed can sustain themselves. Poorly To- cated or unwisely promoted or badly financed roads may have to reOrganize or merge with other roads.
 Some of the great labor organiza- tiOns have suggested that the govern ment purchase all the stocks of the companies and own the roads sub ject to the bonds-all the roads to be then managed as a national system by a board to consist of an equal number of directors, appointed by the president. by the officers of the roads and by the employees. This, would eliminate competition and put vast power in this proposed board
 While l am an optimist in the fu- ture of the United States, neverthe- Ice I n T,r ness of the situation confronting the railroads and the country owing to conditions produced by the war Dur ing the reconstruction period it is very essential that the present rate structure should stand, and until the new laws therein suggested are ef- feetive that the just compensation provided by the present control law be continued.
 Hines Statement Measuring
 otherwise there is grave danger of financial collapse of some roads and an inability of others to pay divi- dends which will affect the bonds now held by savings banks. The recent statement by NIT. Hines in which he said the president had no intention of returning the roads to the owners has tily and before a reasonable oppor- tunity had been given for the congress to legislate is erassuring; although it is what many believe the president in the exercise of good Judgment would do when he assessed the whole situation
 "One administrative step that might be taken in the not distant future and would pave the way to return to private ownership and operation is this suggestion, and believe it would help the situation:
 Let the president continue the con- trol organization in Washington under a director general, who with his staff will supervise the whole situation, direct policies, and make those ad- justments with the railroads that will be required ofter governmental con troI ceases This central organization should direct the operation of the rail- roads through the companies them selves. rather than through a system of regional directors. In other words, say to the boards of directors and exc cutive officers of each company that from and after given date they are the take charge of their properties and manage, maintain, and operate them for the account of the United States and as may be ordered by the president through the central organi- zatiOn in Washington At once there will be a better feeling among off cers and men, and unless uncertainty about the future; the intricate and delicately adjusted organization of the great system of railroads will begin to function better and work more smoothly and effectively; there will be less lost motion and less crossing of wires than under the very highly centralized system now in existence with regional directors