The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-08-12
RETURN THE ROADS


chance for the Sims bill for government
ownership of the railroads to pass con-
gress. The Republicans of both senate
and house are practically united against
the scheme and many of the Democrats,
warned by the experience gained during
the past year or two, do not think gov
eminent ownership of control would be
a good thing for the country. The rail-
road bortherhoods are for federal owner
ship, because they know that they are
able to WELD mighty political influence
and that the administration can be fore
ed to submit to still higher wage scales in
the future which would mean an advance
in freight and passenger rates or in
creased taxation, probably both. The
government has relinquished control Of
the telegraph and telephone wires and
the change has been welcomed by great
majority of the people of the country.
They will also welcome the return of tie
railroads to their owners.
Former Secretary McAdoo declared
against government ownership and con-
troll after trying experience as director
general. After making series of costly
errors he gave up the job in despair. MI.
Hines has not had any better success and
the traffic situation has been steadily
growing worse. The president has grown
weary Of the rail tangle and some time
ago announced his intention of returning
the properties. If he has changed his
mind since making that announcement,
the fact has not been made public. So it
is unreasonable to suppose that tie
administration looks with favor upon
the Sims measure, notwithstanding the
fact that it has the backing of tie four
big brotherhoOds. AS result Of the lat
est controversy over wages, the senate
and house committees have renewed
their efforts to solve the railroad problem
and Senator Cummins is authority for
the statement that good progress is being
made. 1t goes without saying that no
time should be lost in framing legislation
under which the railroads can be handed
back without injury to the owners, the
interests of the shippers and the pablo
at large being amply protected. Many
plans have been submitted to congress by
railorad executives, security holders, fin
anciers, political economists and labor nl-
ions. The senators and representatives
are supposed to represent the people who
have not been heard.
Settlement of the railroad question at
an early date is a matter of such vital
Importance that playing politics with it
would be crime. While very many peo-
pile justify the war measure under which
the properties were taken over, there are
many others who believe it was unwise
legislation. But it is useless to argue
this matter pro and con at this time. The
thing to do is to frame law with due re-
gard for the interests of the whole people
and return the roads. The longer they
remain under government control the
worse it will be for all concerned and the
harder it will be for the government to
let go AS starter the Sims bill should
be shelved as an evidence of good faith
Salt Lake Tribune.
" N N
TIME FOR THE FARMER TO THINK
Does the average farmer really want
government operation of packing houses
stock yards, refrigerator cars and mar
keting Of his farm products, as proposed
by the Federal Trade commission and leg
islation now before Congress?
Has any class of property increased in
value as much as farms in the past ten
years, and has any occupation been more
profitable than farming in the past five
years?
An item from Chilcothe, Missouri.