Rock Island Argus., 1920-02-12

III W. - I01SO seAAsSD +,
. m cent Your government car
not operate the ruads at ono nxed
rate when al the .expenses o. cp-
ssation are going mp.
'Reesrdless Of these conditions.
he government has been operating
Lhe roads Il net profit since the /
close Of the war. after paying al
expenses, intending the guarantee
70 the owners.
Tho Cummins bill now In con
gress provides for the return OF
the railroads to their owners. Re-l
gardless Of the pretentions Of this
bill tho roads viii not 80 back to
their owners. They will not 90.
back to the many Thousands OF
stockholders, some Of whom are
holding watered stock. The roads
will 90 back to big bankers that
know nothing about railroads and
never did. They will 90 back to
bankers who have many other big
deals on their hands now and with
little time to- give to work out any
plan that might lead TO better op-
GRAFTON Of the roads.
MANY people say that the gov
did not save anything by
operation Of the roads. 1t is fact
that the government did save "a
huge number Of lives. There were
only one-tsalf as many accidents
during governmental control as
contrasted with an equal period Of
time previous to such control. This
came about by the governments
desire to save the lives of its citi-
zens and the desire carried out by
intelligent education and the many
suggestions given the government
by railroad workmen. once they
found that suggestions would be
received. 49,
During all this time the owners
were making every possible move
to discourage the. public with gov
ernment control. have seen
stacks Of evidence to this effect.
Can Save Millions.
Under the Plumb plan two mil
lion dollars a day can be saved in
things that are now wasted. If
suggestions of workmen are close
ly checked this saving might even
be increased.
"The Cummins bill asks the gov
eminent to validate some nineteen
billion dollars OF railroad stock by
guaranteeing a set return on this
alleged investment. Between sew
en- and eight billion dollars of this
alleged investment is nothing more
than watered stock. Under the
Plum plan the public would be
saved from paying a return on this
huge amount and would, within IS
years, own the roads outright. Dur
ing that time We all would be more
satisfied in having two million sat-
isfed railroad men working for us
under a profit sharing system than
see the same number of disinter-
ested wage earners under private
control Of the roads.
"One-half of the earnings of the
road each year would 60 to the
workers and the other half would
60 to the government to pay for
upkeep and to pay on the bonds.
Other Countries Succeed.
Don't let anyone tell you that
the plan would not be a succsss
for in so doing they are telling you
that you are less intelligent thar
citizens of other countries who are
working under the plan.
Belgium, Switzerland and Den
mark have the system. In those
countries during periods of vari
Gus lengths each year the govern
ments sell tickets for small
amount that entitle the holders tt
ride 10 or 1907 miles during the
period the ticket is good. The hold.
ers can live aboard the trains dur
ing that time, if they SO desire.
Reduce Living Cost
"In Australia the railroads arr
owned by, the government. II {
farmer brings a brace of rabbits OF
a herd of cattle to a station agen
the agent has the instruction tt
tender check in payment. Th'
agent then ships the farmers pro
duce out to the market centers
The state keeps its own slaughte,
houses. Meat is shipped out to tn
world and the state collects. Mea
can be shipped from Australia Il
London for less cost above tn,
farmers price than We can bu.
meat that has been shipped onl.
80 miles from our homes.
Industrial democracy and cut
ting out the gamblers is the Pluml
plan"