Milford chronicle., 1920-12-17
WANT u. S. CONTROL OF RAIL-
ROADS; EMPLOYEES WORKING
TO THIS PURPOSE

Nearly every move of high officials
of the organizations of railroad EN-
ployees seems to be directed to ulti-
mate Federal ownership of roads and
their control by the employees under
the Plumb Plan," declares the Repub-
lican Publicity Association, through
its President. Hon Jonathan Bourne,
Jr. "This attitude is probably not
prompted by any conscious personal
ambition. Naturally the officials of the
railroad labor organizations feel that
( they are better qualified to run the
roads than are the men who have
worked their way up to their present
positions through the operation SER
vice or through the business offices.
Naturally. too. they think the manage
ment would be better if controlled by
the employees rather than by the men
and women who have invested their
savings in railroad stocks. 1t is not
uncommon for the higher employees
of a concern to think they could run
the business better than the owner
does, regardless of the fact that the
owner is impelled by self interest to
promote economy and efficiency wher-
ever possible. In one sense. this at
titude is not to the discredit of the
employees. for self confidence stimu-
lates effort.
But the fact remains, and is readily
apparent to the thinking citizens hav-
ing no direct interest in the manage
ment of the railroads. that the pres
ent system of ownership and opera
ton is best. In the past few years we
have had thousands of demonstrations
that government ownership or opera
tion leads to extravaganza and waste.
If the labor unions leaders should sue
ceed in their effort to secure the adop
tion of the Plum Plan. and the gov
ernment should issue some S20,000,-
100000 of bonds to buy the roads, the
first expenditure for purchase of the
properties would be followed by de-
mands from every section of the coun-
try for appropriations or bond issues
for the improvement of the property
and the building of new lines. The ex-
tent and location of the improvements
would become largely matter of pork
barrel legislation or of administra-
ton.
But the waste in expenditures by
the government as owner of the rail-
roads would be even less than the
waste in operation As everybody
knows, government operation of the
railroads during the war resulted in
enormous increases in the number of
ployees-increases out of proper
tion to the traffic handled. With the
in practically full control
of the management the tendency
would be constantly to reduce the |
hours of employment, increase the |
of employees, advance wages, |
and require less efficiency through di-
minished discipline. Managers select /
ed by the employees would view every /
problem from the standpoint of the 4
employee, thus making the railroad 1
worker subject of special favor and
further unbalancing the labor situa-
ion.
ut may be readily admitted that
here are evils in private ownership
md operation of the railroads. There
ire evils in every business or activity
subject to the limitations of human
)ower. But after observing the man
Igement of affairs in various branches
If the government service during the
present socialistic administration,
he evils of government ownership
nd operation far transcend those of
private management.
I'VE hear little lately of the Plumb
'lan. The advocates of that commun-
site scheme have observed the over
vhelming popular disapproval of the
Ian, so they have dropped the use of
he name. But they are none the
ess active, and by indirection are 7
triving to create a situation which
hey hope will lead to the accomplish
lent of their desire-government pur-
hase of the roads with subsequent
peration by commission over which
he employees will have control. Dis
ontinuance of the use of the names
oes not indicate discontinuance of
be movement"