The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-21
PUBLIC UTILITIES IN THE
GOVERNMENTS HANDS.
Wretched Service That Was I'm
known Under Private Management.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Mr..
Ballard Dunn. assistant actuary, United
States Railroad Administration, replies
in THE SUN OF January Il to my COM
plant Of present day rail, express and
wire conditions. His reply In as long as
my complaint. l will endeavor In this
rejoinder to initiate the ghost of a
former Danish king.
Recently I had an interview with an
agreeable and no doubt efficient express
company manager, who talked very
much as Mr.. Dunn writes. The pur-
port of what these gentlemen have to
say is that the railroad business and
the express business are intricate, and
that their successful conduct depends
on the morale and tho team work of
an enormous number OF men. There is
nothing new about this Most of us who
have lived several years in the land I'M
derstand perfectly well that the trans
portation business Is intricate and diff
cult. Reasons for failure properly 10
carry on this business are mere excuses.
and excuses are the common resort of
efI1c!ency-inefficient men. inefficient
retail business and inefficient big bust
ness. Reasons are as plenty as black
berries, and the public docs not partic-
ularly care for them. IT knows that
the Government does not give the ser
vice that the public pays for and Is en-
, titled to.
So long as the lighting was going on
we grinned at this uncomfortable condi-
ton and bore IL, but how much longer
must the grinning and the bearing en-
dure? Not too long. | hope. Congress
ought now to take hold OF these matters.
and six months ought to develop some
plan for the operation Of the transporta-
ton and communication companies
which will result In relief.
Mr. Dunn. when he said "Non-essen-
tial freight has been embarsoed in order
that war freight might he given the
right of way" must have overlooked or
forgotten the Adventure OF Anchors. to
, which THE Sun referred recently. This
to freshen weak memorles-was n
case where by official order freight
trains laden with food and coal were
sidetracked in order that a train load
of essential war material could be
rushed to the coast. This essential war
material proved to be anchors for ships
upon which work had hardly begun.
wish to be quite fair and so refrain
from pointing to the number OF railroad
wrecks that have taken place recently as
evidence OF lowered morale among rail-
away employees. yet these wrecks are
perhaps suggestive,
/ pointed out in my earlier letter the
entirely wretched service given by the
railroads the express companies and
the telegraph and cable lines. II one
may trust the complaints OF those with
whom he ia brought in contact these
things grow worse rather than better.
A man said TO me tho other day, ut
has got 80 now that man can send n
t telegram to Washington and the next
day start down there by train and get
+ thero before his wire does
A week or more ago ! had occasion 10
send cable TO italy and was told by
the telegraph people that might ex-
pect an answer IN week or ten days.
The answer is sim expected.
I The condition or the mail service Is
sufficiently well known. Yet the Post
, master General is ambitious to add to
his labors.
/ In my previous complaint ! said what
I I believe 10 be wholly true, that except
under special circumstances the Govern
ment cannot and will not receive from
/ its employees the same quality Of ser
vice that they give TO the private en-
nloyer Does not the condition OF rail
and express transportation and or wire
communication demonstrate this? Mr..
! Dunn. as a United States railroad Off
! ,ial, cannot see this l suppose, hut l
/ believe that the average man who Is
served by these agencies knows it 10 be
| true. j. HoLbElS SMITH
| NEW YORK, January 90,