Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-22

two years more and preferably 1--WE
years more, and that view was
urged strongly upon tho committee
of congress by the director general
and his associates. In support OF
this position. there came before US
several organizations which 1t may
be well to remember as the subject
Is developed. First, the Plumb plan
league, = composite body made up OF
some OF the railroad brotherhoods
and labor unions whose ultimate
plan was the purchase OF the rail
roads by the government and their
operation by board two-thirds OF
which was to be composed Of rail-
road employees. The position was
also maintained by an alleged
farmers organization whose activi-
ties are largely confined to Wash
ington and which II engaged In
propagatins the most advanced
theories of socialism. In this situse
ton, tho first question which con-
gress had to decide was whether the
government should continue In pos
session and operation of the rail-
roads under the war act Of 1918 or
whether they should be Immediately
returned to their owners for private
might seem to be best adapted to
meet the demands Of the people for
transportation.
Government Mismanassmsnt.
A very brief review of the conse-
quences of government operation
seems to be appropriative at this
point. The government took over
the railroads at about the first Of
January, 1918. II operatead them for
twenty-six months; that il. until
March /. 1890. When all tho accounts
between the government and the
railroads are settled and all that the
government owes the railroads and
all that the railroads owe the gov
eminent Is paid. the result will be
that the government operated these
transportation facilities with a loss
OF more than $1,000, 900 900. The
government admits loss Of moro
than $3.50 N00, 900 and when the dis
puted claims are given fair con-
sideration loss Vi q Gee ane Gee e
an underestimate rather than an
overestimate of the final outcome.
This vast deficit must be paid from
the treasury OF the United States
and the taxpayers of the country
must. of course, furnish the money.
The loss is somewhat moro than
100000 per day, and this notwith-
standing the fact that toward the
middle OF the year 1918 the director
general increased the rates OF trans
portation SO that the aggregate an
nual increase Appropriated $780,
1000. ! do not intend to fall into
a criticism Of the manner In which
the railroads were operated during
this period. I think the director
general did the best he could and
that the appalling facts which have
stated were the inevitable conse-
quences Of government operation at
any tige and under any circumstan-
ces. l have given you. however. only
a part OF the story. When the gov
ernment took possession Of the rail-
roads. it necessarily assumed the
duty OF maintaining and enlarging
them as required by the commerce
OF the country. In the original act,
congress appropriated $500. 900, 900.
About a year thereafter, 1t became
necessary to appropriate $50, ooO,-
900 more and If the government had
remained in possession during the
whole of the year 1920 an additional
appropriation Of $1,000 100000 would
have been required and every year
thereafter we would have found II
essential to appropriate 81 900. 0o0. 900
or more. All this for current erpen-