Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-22

party It would be necessary dscredt everything President
Wilson does particularly connection with negotiations
This is entirely mistaken notion.
The Wilson ADMINISTRATION has so thoroughly discredted
who the administration at its worst that republicans
magnanimousy and periodically the President credit
sion Of and with S him to that w
Republicans find Of the greatest assets they have at
with the democratic administration putting across VIC
tory Germany So should all
depend other issues for the winning Of the next national
campaign.
AS have already indicated, there issues enough
and dissatisfaction enough with President Wilson and his
party, particularly in the South to ensure victory This
ever that the Republican party in turn does not seek to play
being patriotic first of all things The best business the
best and we are finding this out for ourselves right
One heaviest political liabilities adninsra-
ton and its party at this time is their bungng of this whole
railway problem MS the very artery Of in
business principle in connection with railway transportation
multiplied business contributing to the upbudng Of industry
and promoting the prosperity of all concerned.
The Wilson administration has reversed all this At
the very began by arbitrarily increasing the of
the best paid railway who controlled the votes and left
sirk for themselves Angling for votes in this way made it
to increase rates for both freight and
that should have been applied to the operation of the railways
of the nation The Wilson administration has gone multi
it question whether the private afford
cept their property unless remedial legislation had in
form.
At this time the shadow of another enormous increase
in railroad rates hangs the public already
fronted with the necessity of making contribution in
form another to meet the huge deficit which the admins
United States.
D. Hines relative the financial condition of the roads
dsoses that in 1918 the net deficit through operation
er For the first three months Of the the railroads
behind to the extent of 100000 If this rate of net loss
to the government to be kept the the
little than threequarters of billion While It is
not expected it will be that large will nevertheless reach
heavy total.
Thus Mr. Hines has announced that higher rates
will be demanded There is escape however from the
fact that deficit being and that the pub
lic in another must meet it, It will either have
to be increasing railroad rates by the treasury
ing the amount of shortage and then collecting out of the
public either through bonds or taxes or BOTH Whatever
method chosen the citizen will have to the adj
mnistration fiddler.
The best informed member of the Senate and House In
erstate Commerce committees have been predicting for
months that rates would higher although ncreas
in freight and rates were made months
ago.
The effects of this prospective increase in railroad rates
easily dscernabe In the first place. testimony has been
reaching Washington from part of the United States
for months telling of deepseated on the
part the public with the in which the railroads
administered The complaint extends both to service and to
high rates.
orally believed they must be- hardly to point out
the situation which will be produced Little question exists
months will become intense result in storm of
protest Not only will shippers complain that they are un
OVerDur0eneQ
business will in the protest The general public which
will find the prices of necessaries still further enhanced will
not accept the increases in any kindly spirit.
Leaders Congress have for some time been planning to
eneavor railroad legislation at the extra
Congress if this found impossible to get
fully under that could be put the statute
books From all directions there arise evidences
that the public wants the railroad question settled.
any attempt to solve this whole railway problem the
republican majority in Congress will face another danger
One of the weak points the republican the fact
that the party has regarded quarters the bull
wark special privileges for railways and other vested inter-
ests while the Democratic party stood for the workers and
the shipping public. -
One of the great needs of triumphant Republican party
is to overcome this particular prejudice The party must
the facilitating of return to former conditions
CARDS the juggling Of railway finances and manipulation It
way patrons not afford to let itself to extreme
in connection with return of the railways to private
ership.
This is one of the most difficult problems confronting the
majority in Congress- Now is the time however to settle this
whole railway question right and to settle for all time
thoroughly equitable basis of the chief elements of
eral prosperity.
follows
1t Marie