Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-21
A Biu Undertaking.

- Dig
no scheme Of political appoint
mcnt has ever yet been devised that
will replace competition in its selec-
ton Of ability and character.
Mr.. Hoover in making this state
ment spoke from out an unusual and
varied experience with conditions in
this and other countries. His con-
clusion is in accord with the best
. Judgment and also with our expert
ence during the war period.
AS applied to railroads he regards
government ownership no more de-
sirable than in other affairs, but he
appears apprehensive that unless
private management Is able to take
back and Immediately unscramble
the railroads and run them success
fully there will come a reaction in
favor Of government ownership as
the only alternative.
\ serious task is presented to
. private management Of the railroads.
They are run down, under equipped.
unable to do the work required Of
them, and the owners compelled on
high market to restore facilities. to
secure loans of capital fo- that pur-
pose.
There is to be government super
vision but it is hoped it may be Of
assistance rather than hindrance as
were the old methods of supervision
which cramped the roads and favored
the shipper. There SHOULD be. after
our recent experiences, widespread
comprehension Of the fact that the
railroads are most essential public
servants entitled to the recognition
Of adequate reward and earnest CO.
operation; moreover they should not
be subjected to extortion on the part
of jugglers Of finance or of their or
panized employees. While the Gov
eminent has been an easy mari"
there has been in the powers OF Gov
eminent under war control a posi-
bility which the labor examinations
hesitated to encounter They will
not have that restraint under private
ownership and their desire for gov
crnment ownership of the roads Is
well known, so trouble may we'll be
Unprecedented from that source, indeed
it is already begun. The railroad
unions memorabilia congress de-
manding that the measure be killed.
Their first objection is that the
earnings Of capital have been fixed
while wages have not. evidently for
getful or wilfully blind to the fact
that first there must be capital for
investment before there can be wages,
before the roads may be constructed
and equipped. They make no men
ton Of the rate of interest that
. has been fixed. are careful to make
no comparison between that rate and
the rate obtaining before the high
cost of living. o. no. That would
expose the fact that the wages Of
capital have not been raised along
with other things.
Another objection is made to the
method Of arbitration. This objec-
ton is not quite clear. 1t appears
they do hot want the pubic repre-
scented. OF course when labor is able
TO collide with capital they become
the blades Of the shears and the pub
iic between Is neatly cut.
If this railroad bill protects the
public against such rapacity much
has been said in its favor. We know
that capital is not altogether salts
tied with the measure, there being
much criticism that it does not prop
.rly safeguard the life blood Of the
enterprise. The conclusion Of the
outsider who has been robted by both
capital and labor must be that the
hill has considerable merit. More
over we must not overlook what is
low evident that labor will be hostile
and disposed to make private man
cement of the roads -ailure; also
that if labor may be successful To
any considerable degree capital will
mite with IL in an endeavor to I'M
load an Improbable venture onto
Uncle Sam.
surely private management will,
have big undertaking and it will be
well for the public to keep this in
mind. for we do not wish the arteries
Of trade to revert to the deadening
and political management