El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-07

IN and ont Of congress- sentiment IS growing Tor return
Of the railroads to private ownership Under government
control and operation the railroads manifesy not CIV
ing the service the public demands; they pay
ing expenses notwithstanding enormously increased tariffs
Shortly before M MeAdoo went out Of office director
general Ct railroads he estimated would be deficit
for 1919 amounting TO stssOOOoOo This has since
been subject TO revision upward and Is estimated
zuoffiriaIy at about s25ooOoOoo.
Railroad business is heavy, savings from uniform
szement and the elimination Of competition consider
able rates Is percent higher than before the but
the railroads losing proposition to the government
and the people The gains IN income from various sources
than offset by the s9oooo0ooo increase in rail
road wages
To meet the threatened deficit the new director gen
eTal Walker D. Hines, has considered various methods
fellows: To make freight still higher; to get ap
preparation from congress- TO inaugurate further
mics IN oPsraoH to increase the volume Of traffic and
reduce wages. Any Of these would increase the
decrease the deficit but the only way It seems
sufficient to meet the demands is to make
another big raise in freight rates to lump ap
preparation from congress.
Either Of these plans Is meet determined Oppo
sti0n Shippers uncopainngy accepted the Is percent
rcrease shortly after the government took the rail
reads realizing It vas war measure Moreover the ship
pers promptly passed the burden to the people who
bought the goods shipped and the latter made the best Of
bad situation In peace times every state corporation
commission, every chamber Of traffic chief and
every other representative Of shipping interests would
have fought i've percent increase IN rates tooth and nail
In wartime they remained passive when rates were hoisted
Eve times that high.
But is and peace has been restored. There
fore make another raise rates would TO court
conflict the shippers and the rest Of the public for
all would realize that increase would result push
ing sl higher the Ultimate Of nearly every article Of
commerce at time when the cost Of living is already bur
densome
And ask congress for lump appropriation to cover
The dsfit confronting the railroad administration would
be to stir fight determined, for many members OF
beth houses opposed TO government operation Of rail-
roads Ihey are constantly lighting and any request
Tor money TO the deficit would merely furnish them
Nth added weapon.
WhIe the immediate financial needs Of the railroads
are thus being considered congress taking up the qus
0n Of their Ultimate disposition. The whole country IS
lzliug about IT, matter Of fact The sentiment Of
me people generally to be against government
alton and also against the return Of the railroads to pr
-1red pubic there IS well defined belief the
country vii be served best the railroads are under e-
elusive federal supervision with no control whatever by
state railroad commissions
The railroads have plan Of their own for return Of
the railroad property to private control It advanced
By committee Of railroad executives at meeting of the
-n-nuouSy adopted AZ meeting Of members Of the As
ISOLATION Of Railway Executives, said represent % per
cent Of the railroad mileage Of the country
The msir points Of this plan may be summarized as
follovs:
Private ownership and operation to be maintained
kegulatiTe power invested solely in the national gov
sInusnt-
Interstate commerce commission relieved Of admins
tiFe duties TO act as quasi judicial body, passing on
rates and hearing complaints
secretary Of transportation in the cabinet to take
ever the commissions executive functions oversee the
orys transportation facilities. look
OF service and financial credit distribute traffic in eer
Ganss, and allow building Of lines and terminals
Rates 10 be inflated by carriers in accordance with
Tatealng rule embodied in statute and subject to ap-
lofa o. secretary OF transportation and appeal 10 inter
state commerce commission.
Commission 10 establish regional commissions
AnlllIust laws to Be modified to allow pooling rate