Oxford eagle., 1919-01-02
.NMENT OWNERSHIP
IL RAILROADS.


railroads" 1t is indeed grave and most i'm
portant matter. 1t concerns every Amrican in
dividual
The coiuoration interests are in favor OF turn
ing the roads back to former owners The Re-
publican party is trembling with fear that the
Government should retain control of the railroads.
Their efforts to force the Government to return
the roads to the former owners are being rein
forced by few Democrats.
The facts of the whole matter are so apparent
that some of the strongest advocates of private
ownership of railroads freely admit that If the
Government retains control of the roads for a
Deriod of five years that they will never be re-
turned TO private ownership" The Eagle is IN
elined to the same opinion. Whenever the Gov
eminent has operated the railroads for period of
five wears under normal conditions, the people will
realize inst as they have realized the benefits OF
the postofiices. the distribution of mall municipal
ownership Of electric lighting plants and water
plants that the railroads should be owned and con-
troed by the Government.
The railroads are an absolute necessity to
the upbuilding and welfare of the entire country
They should be operated on the cooperative plan,
and at the very lowest cost of transportation and
distribution. The Government alone is able to do
this
It is a well known fact that the competitive
rate" does not apply to all shipping points. La
favette county, as well as many other counties In
the State of Mississippi is forced to pay higher
freight rate than some other counties having
more than one railroad. The Railroad Commits
sion and the Interstate Commission have proven
themselves worthless so far as removing discrimi-
nations in this direction. The people are begin
ming to realize this and that accounts, in large
measure. for the strong sentiment favoring
Government ownership of the railroads.
Some of the newspapers are claiming Govern
ment ownership of railroads as failure, because,
they say. the rates have advanced since the Gov
enment took charge" That is characteristic
argument favoring private ownership. We
could mention many things, under private owner
ship which under War Conditions, have advanced
but it would be useless to do so. The people know
that if the Government retains the ownership OF
the roads that freight and passenger rates will be
reduced more than one-half; they know that if the
roads are returned to private ownership that the
matter of effecting reduction of any kind of
rates would have to be forced through the aid of
the courts of the land.
Some of the wise ones say that IF the
Government owns the railroads you cannot SUE
them. That is fine argument. If the people
viii stop and think for a moment, what Damage
Suits costs the contry-whch is paid by the
people n freight and passenger rates. because the
suits" and costs" are reckoned with the operat-
ing eXpenses-they would hoot at such an idea
A just damage or claim should be amicably ad-
justed without any Suit, OF extra cost to the
general public
But there is another side to Government
ownership of railroads
The administrators should not be interested
parties but the affairs of the railroads should be
controlled, entirely. by STATE and Interstate
Commissions. elected by the people, and should not
In any manner, be under the Civil Service rule
Employees should be subject to strict orders, and
dismissal when they become too big" Travel
ling conditions should be regulated by each State
Commission. which should have full operating
control of al roads in their respective States.
II would never do for the Government to own
the roads and let private corporations operate
them The people should have voice in the way
they should be operated. They have no voice in
the operation of the Postoffice, but they should
have, and some day believe the people will have
a voice in electing all Postmasters.
Congress should see to it that the best IN
terest of the people shall be conserved in the dis
position of the railroad question.
EQUAIlZING COSTS.