The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-12-23

trend OF the times and the obvious ne
.cessities OF the railroad situation has
worked the undoing Of the shippers. as
well as Of the railroads
II Is obvious thai we should aiopt .
definite. comprehensive and adequate
policy for developing our railroad eT.
tensions pollcs based on definite. de.
termlning factors Il seems very Ger
tain that from the present plan of cor.
ordinated. centralized operation. With
IT'S fnany savings and added efticiencles
maze possible by Government control,
there viii he 40 reverSloD % the ole
system Of competitive private owner
shtD and conflicting regulation
II MOI iilut. then what do w face?
Ou every hand Ne hear the prophecy
Hia'ie thai tlie present control Of the
railroads By the Government - but
Jhe irzf step toward Government own
ership and that once unified nndeY
Government direction the railroads
WIFI never be "unscramhIed-
But n no country In the world
where Government ownership Of rail-.
roads has bean attempted has II been
successful. with the single exception
OF Prussia. where, nnder the arbitrary
mandates of a military sutorracy,
some degree of efficiency and prot,
has been secured. Further. In no I'M
portanf instance has the experience of
our own Government in business oper.
alton or ownership % any form OF pub
lie utilities been such ns to warrant
the conclusion that such activity could
be profisably extended 9
The privately owned railroads OF the
United States have the lowest freight
rates. the lowest capitalization per
nile. the greatest operating efficiency
and paw the highest wages Of any rail-
roads in the world
IF private ownership has failed. both
when unreguiated and when over-reG-
ulated. and Government ownership
gives no promise Of success. what plan
offers for meeting the situafionf
Various suggestions Of central Fed.
eral corporation. regional holding CON-
panies. Government guarantees and
plans calling Cor profit sharing with
the Government above fxeo return
have been frequently made Some
where along this line Of thought lies
rarionsl solution. II Is very certain
that the old days Of enforced comne-
tition, antitrust laws. anti-pooiing
laws, conflicting State regulation.
wasteful competition, duplication OF
service, would not he permitted By a
public alive n SIS own interests
1t seems equally certain that Gov.
eminent ownership would NOT be per-
mitted II the public were eqlmIly alive
TO its real Interests The hour has ar
rived for the suggestion OF some plan
which must be made ready for adcp-
ton as soon as possible, uoNF thar the
crisis Of war has passed. Somewhere
within the meaning OF the Words "cn-
operation" and partnership" lies the
answer. The public interest in trans
1ortation Is paramount and must De
but public interest and pri-
7ate interest need not be in conflict If
nteIligeDtly regarded.
Regional companies representing
10th private and public capital under
private operation with governmental
participation in the management and
.arnings above just guarantee would
seem to assure the necessary extension
# railroad facilities. In unity OF IN
crest and understanding progress eo-
wards the desired goal should be pos
.fhTa