Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-22
GIVE RAIL ROADS
BACK To OWNERS
SAYS WILLIAMS
State Corporation Commission,
Through Its Chairman, Goes
On Record as Opposed to b..
S, Ownership, /

ts.tc,NL coPNusroNsInos 10 SosH'Ne JousSALl
Santa Fe, Jan. 2I-The state cor
poration commission in letter to
Charles Z, Elmquist, president of the
National Association of Railway and
Utility Commissioners. has voiced
lis sentiments on government owner
ship of railroads. The letter, signed
by Hugh II. Williams, chairman fol
lows;
experimenting our telegram to you
of the nth instant, in reference to
your circular addressed to all state
commissions. under date of January
e:
We are opposed to government
ownership OF railroads on general
principles, and take this opportunity
of voicng our protest against any
such action Neither do we approve
of the McAdoo fiye-year test plan of
government operation We believe
that the railroads now under federal
control should be restored to their
owners at the earliest practicable
date, as was intended by congress
when the federal control act was
passed.
The foregoing briefly states the
position of this commission on the
railroad problem which is before the
country for solution. We see no good
reason why the government should
20 into the railroad business as
permanent thing or even temporar-
lily as an experiment now that the
war is happily ended and no ques-
tion of national security or defense
is involved and respectfully request
the national association to take
stand against any such proposition,
There might be some justification
of government ownership if it could
be proven that the railroads can he
more efficiently and ecCbomically
operated ny federal officials. subject
to change with each incoming ad-
ninistration, than under private
management. 1t does not look like
it, however, with deficit of almost
$500 100000 as result Of one years
trial, with a free hand. under gov
few loss and damage claims have
been paid in the meantime, or the adj
verse showing from financial
standpoint. it is assumed. would be
much worse.
Where Is Money To Come From?
If the railroads should be pur-
chased by the government where is
the money to pay for them coming
from? out of the pockets of the
people, either directly or indirectly,
in the form of taxes. We submit
that the people will have their
hands full for some time to come in
paying off the enormous war debts
without adding to this burden Ivy
mourning unnecessary expenses such
as the purchase of railroads, tele-
graphs and telephones. which in our
opinion can he operated more salts
factroily under private management,
The government had direct super
Wis on of the railroads and other
common carriers prior to the war
and if II chooses congress can pro-
vide for even more stringent regula-
iipn. 50 far as interstate commerce
is concerned. What. then is the |
need Of government ownership? We /
are willing to concede that federal |
control during the period of the war
was good thing in some respects, !
and served its purpose: but with a
return 20 ueace conditions we do not |
think it should eh continued any
longer than is absolutely necessary. !
However, we do not favor the rail
roads going back under the status !
quo ante, and recommend that AIDE /