Norwich bulletin., 1920-02-18

New York. Feb. 1.-The return of the railroads 10 private ownership on March l will mean the placing Of private operation in it's final trial m the opinion of Herbert Hoover, ex- pressed tonight in his inaugural ad- dress as president of the American In stiiute Of Mining Engineers. At the same time Mr. Hoover attacked gov ernmen operation Of either railroads or shipping as experiments in socialism nece cessitated by the war to which there were many fundamental objec- lions.
 No scheme O. political appoint uent~ Mir. Hoover said, has ever yet been devised that will replace com petition in its selection of ability and character Both shipping and rail- ways have today the advantage of many skilled personnel, sifted out in a hard school of competition and even then the government operation of these enterprises is not proving sat- iSfactory. Therefore, the ultimate in= efficiency that would arise from the deadenins paralysis of bureaucracy has not yet had full oportunity for deveop.nent. Already we can show that no government under pressure of ever present political Or sectional in iercstS can properly conduct the risks of extension and imprOvement.. or can be free from local pressure to con duet unwarranted services in indus tr.si enterpr r-se.'
 Turning 10 the question of shipping, Nr. Hoover said that while with the railroads government inefficiency could De passed on 10 the consumer. 'on the seas we will sooner or later find l. translated to the national treasury. Iac speaker asserted that as govern- mant officials couid not engage in ''hig- rl.nr in fixing rates." they must take refuge in rigid regulation and in fix ets rates. The effect of our large Geet." he went on. fin the world s market is thus 10 hold up rates, for so long as this great fleet in one hand holds a fixed rate others will only barely undcrhid- If we hold up rates sn increasing number Of our ships VIII be idle as the private fleets grow. We shall yet be faced with the ques- ton of demobilizing a considerable part Of this fleet into private hands or frankly acknowledging that we op- crate for other reasons than interest 1nour investment"
 The problem of the relationship be- tween employer and empoye was next discussed by Mr. Hoover. He assert d that the country had until recent T. tor that Is so large an cement in oul productivity" and that this neglect had accumulated much of the discon- tent and unrest throughout the indus trial population and had reacted 1T a degree of production.
 T am daily impressed he said with the fact that there is but one way out. and that is to again re-es- tabIish organized representation thai personal cooperation between em- ployer and employe in production that was a binding force when our indus tries were smaller.
 Mr. Hoover declared that he was convinced the vast majority of Amer icsn labor fundamentally. wishes to operate in production and that thii basis of good will and can be organiz- ed and ;he vitality Of production re- created"
 In a brief reference to the interna- tional situation he declared that th' safety of European civilization wa hanging by a slender thread ana that America was faced with new orientation to world problems.
 We are today contemplating, h. said. maintenance of an enlarge' army and navy in preparedness fo further upheavals while failing to ever provide for some insurance agains var by aieague to promote peace.