The Washington times., 1919-01-11

am IN favor OF continuing
Government control and manage
ment, and better still, Govern
ment ownership of railroads, for
one simple reason. II the Gov
ernment hands back the railroads
to the private owners, and leaves
those private owners to their own
devices, three-quarters of all the
railroads win be in the hands of
receivers inside of six months,
and the Government will have to
manage them anyhow through the
receivers"
One Of the most prosperous rail
roads Is the Pennsylvania. Those
authorized to speak for it say that
1t could not be run successfully
now, even with the tremendously
increased rates for freight and
passenger traffic put in force by
the Government. The passenger
rate alone has been increased from
two cents to three cents a mile,
an increase of so per cent.
Freight rates have been greatly
Increased-but even that isn't
enough, the railroad owners saw.
Rates must 90 still higher at once,
II the private owners are to man
age successfully. In addition, the
Government must wipe out all for
mer restrictions, permit the rail-
roads to combine on terminals.
agree on rates, and conduct the
railroad business Of the country as
q great trust under one central
management, If necessary.
The question is not one of
theory as to the right of private
owners TO continue holding the ma
tons highways-even IL the Job
is toe big for them-or as to the
right or ability Of the Government
to manage the railroads. r..
The question is: How can the
roads be kept running successfully,
IL at all? Another large. owner
~ railroad securities said yester-
day: What i am interested in
chiefly Is the continuance of my
income from stocks and bonds,
chiefly bonds. for am getting out
of stocks. But / am appalled, at
the thought that under. Govern
ment ownership there would be
two millions of railroad employees
On the Government payroll, con-
trolling the Government"
In the first place, il has never
been shown in this country that
men on Government payrolls con-
troll the Government, seek to con-
troll 1t, or are controlled by men
in Office.
There is no more independent
body Of voters in the country
than the postoffice clerks and let
ter carriers.
They do not vote to order: no
body tries to make them vote to
order, although they are very
numerous.
The American worker, especi-
ally when safe in his job, know
ing that he can hold it during
good behavior, is as Independent
as any man in the world.
Government railroad employees
would be no exception.
The great body of railroad
workers, thanks to the strength
Of their unions, have been indie
pendent politically even under pri-
vate ownership. But many eff
forts have been made to coerce
them and other workers with the
threat of hard times if they did
not vote with the employers.
Those that fear "the great body
Of workers on the Government
payroll might think about this.
What the country needs now is
STABILITY, a great number of
( men and women interested in
strong government.
With two millions Of men work
ing for the railroads on the Gov
eminent payroll, protected by
civil service rules. well paid, never
idle, year in and year out, you
would have a gigantic industrial
army. interested IN THE GOV
ERNMENT and determined to de-
fend it against, attack within or
without.
France is a radical country.
largely Socialistic. But France in
cludes in her population a gigantic
army of government EMPLOYEES.
working at railroads, highways
bridges. tasks innumerable. They
are employees for life, contented.
interested in the government per
manently. and they give France
GABILITY.
Government ownership of rail
roads here would do the same
thing. And il would be wise to
have the Government take posses
sion today. paying a fair price,
establishing q great industrial
army Of satisfied, well-paid men,
interested in the Government.
Wk.N v~,ssxkk LA--~- L.