The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-23
ROADS ON TRIAL
FOR OWNERSHIP
n MANAGERS MEET REQUIRE
MENTS OF PUBLIC PRIVATE
OWNERSHIP MAY BE EXPECTED
TO CONTINUE.

New York, May 22.-Confidence In
the future successful operation of the
railroads of the United States under
private ownership control was ex-
pressed by Daniel willard, president OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad COM
pany, in an address he delivered here
today before the National Association
of Manufacturers. If the new railroad
law is applied as Congress intended
and il the railway managers SO oper-
ate the properties as to fairly meet
the requirements and expectations of
the public. he said, 1--WE may reason
ably expect that private ownership and
operation of the railroads as an eco
nomic policy will continue in this
country. If private ownership should
fail the only alternative l am able to
see is government ownership and OPP
Grafton, with all that the policy i'm
plies. Railway managers must for a
time at least keep constantly in mind
that private ownership is on trial and
they must be determined that it shall
win. They must study the needs of
the public for transportation and make
every reasonable effort to satisfy
them. They must treat all alike and
without discrimination"
Mr.. Willard repeated his recommen-
dation made to the Council of National
Defense in 1917 that "a nation should
have a national transportation system
and such a system should embrace
and make proper use of all available
and suitable agencies" He added that
In his opinion, this recommendation
which he made as war measure is
equally pertinent and important in time
of peace.
1--WE are fortunate in actually hav-
ing in this country the essential ele-
ments of such a national system of
transportation as / have in mind said
Mr.. Willard. There should, in the
public interest, be the fullest coopera-
ton between the several transporta-
ton agencies and in all cases that
agency should be preferred which can
render the required service at the low
est total economic cost. If this policy
is followed l feel confident of the flu
ture success of private ownership and
operation of the railroads"
Having described the difficulties of
the railroads in obtaining funds nee
essary for improvements, extensions
and equipment which he said had been
estimated at from s500,00o,000 to ST.
UUU,UUU,OUO a year. MT. WliIdTu Sdlu
Congress by enacting the Esch- Cum
Minis bills, had corrected the poorly
contrived system of regulation which
brought about a sickly condition of the
railroads" but that 1.-The patient is still
week and unable to stand alone" Per-
sonally, he said, he was in favor of the
government naming the rate of return
upon the value of the properties which
the railroads shall be permitted to
earn. but he declared that "the rail-
roads must be self-supporting before
they can be expected to show signs of
renewed vgor.
First of ALL" declared Mr.. Willard,
the railroad rates and charges must
be so adjusted as to measurably meet
the increased operating costs resulting
from conditions created by the war.
Congress has given definite instruc-
tions that this be promptly done. After
that he, said it would remain for the
railway managers to 80 deal with the
problem as to satisfy the reasonable re-
quirements of the public. People in