Evening journal., 1920-03-02
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1920.
RACK IN PRIVATE HANDS.

Hr0w that the Federal Government has relnqushed
~ rs hold upon the American railroads and they have
back into the control Of the private companies it is
important that The rldns and shipping public shall ex-
ercse patience during the period Of reconstruction and
readiusmen Railroad officials not miracle workers
The government has turned back many Of the properties
in terrible shape with respect to finance equipment and
morale. The changes must come slowly. Stanley Frost
strikes The keynote when he says:
There win be no Immediate change that the public
An The present agencies will continue the con-
sodaed ticket Offices win work usual, the same train
schedules win be kept fares freighis, all wifi be un-
changed for a tlme and viii be altered II at all, only
gradually and after the most careful consideration by the
Joint councils OF railroad managers The actual transfer
on March is simply that the unified control which has
centered In Washington has ceased and that the regional
directors have stepped out leaving the railroads them
selves 10 function at present. and under the same
executives, at least for a time.
Nor can there be any change in train service for
long period The pumans viii continue to be crowded
there VIII be standing in the alsles Of the day
coaches; there will be much the troubles with
locomotives and much the annoyances as these
which have caused such great evaporation In the last
two years
"Phe reason is slmple-the railroads did not have on
March any locomotives better road
beds or more efficient workers that they had February
20. And the roads viii not have money to buy more
equipment 0refcdlt 10 DOfOW or puiid upon LOT many
months Further they had It would take three years
for all the and engine shops in the United States to
supply the present deficiencies
'There Is only one slow change in The public's favor
which may begin to show Itself shortly. That viii be,
il It comes the attitude and efficiency OF the railroad
personnel-in the kind Of treatment and service the
traveller gets better condition OF cars engines and
roadbeds But it is uncertain to how much this will
amount
There seems little doubt that there has been a de-
cline morale since Federal operation began. The pub
lie has spoken OF u loudly and often and the Railroad
Administration while It has made some explanations
and few denals Of specific charges has In general ad
mued the situation There has been impudence from
agents and tralnmen there has been much inefficient
work. Railroad say that discipline has gone to
pieces.
"But all these things have happened as WELL to
poratlons which under private operation. New
York ciiys telephone service illustrates this The Rail-
road Administration does not believe that considering
the general and the growing feeling OF power
among the workers. the private owners do better
AS for the freight service Of the roads, there is a
shortage Of more than $4,000 today and the railroads
viii be unable TO buy more The trains and rails
overloaded with unusually heavy traffic Here too moth
ing be hoped for except with the passenger SER
vice through improvement In discipline and efficiency.
zone thing that the return OF the roads does restore
competition traffic. and the solicitors will be hunt
Ing freight with perhaps a little more than their old
keennes There have been many changes in trac under
the government; freight has been diverted from some
roads and given 10 others certain lines have been filled
up with low-payng freight Ike and coal; short
routes have been insisted upon-al in the interests Of
the public service but to the detrment Of certain roads
These roads want their rac back must have II II they
10 avoid disaster The roads that got IT, also it,
For these reasons both In freight and passenger
traffic. Il IS certain that the railroads will do all that Is
humanity possible TO give service OF the kind that VIII
win and hold business"
That is transportation sermon that is well worth
the reading Of all Delawareans especially those who
are constitutional knockers.