Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-29
lie, the Government, Deal Fairly

THE statement of Charles H. Markham,
1 president of the Illinois Central Rail
road, in opening the case of the Southern
railroads before the Interstate Commerce
commission for higher freight rates, that
with proper equipment the railroads OF the
country can be operated as successfully in
the future under private management as
they were before Federal control will APP
peal to the public as emncntly fair in its
grasp OF the problems to be met and OF
the ability of the railroad authorities to
handle the situation efficiently, If the gov
eminent will lend its cooperation in the
true spirit of helpfulness expressive of the
real attitude of the American people toward
the rehabilitation Of the rundown system.
In returning the roads to private owner
ship, not only did the government signally
fail to live up to its contract to restore
them with all branches of the service in as
good condition as when taken over, but it
handed them back with the burden OF oper-
alton largely augmented by wartime wage
increases and additions to the pay roll with
the working forces Of lowered morale, re-
sultng from sidestepping Of promises OF
further wage increases. or in lieu thereof
reduction in the cost OF living, and a
schedule OF rates too low to meet even an
approximate fair return on the investments,
to make up for the lack of which it has
had to reach its hand into the public treas
ury and supply the deficiency.
Mr.. Markham is one OF the most capable
railroad executives in the country, and in
asking for n reasonable increase in rates
to enable the roads to improve their equip
mcnt and bring them back to pre-war eff
cheney as prerequisite to the higher eff
cheney imperatively demanded to meet the
growing needs Of transportation, he frank
y presents the situation in its true light.
and courageously upholds the capacity of
private operation to respond to the require
mcnts Of improved service under proper
treatment.
The attitude Of antagonism toward the
railroads which the public once maintained,
and the indulgence Of which was very
largely responsible for the failure Of the
roads to meet cmergent war conditions, has
undergone complete change under re-
aization of its injustice, and sentiment is
now wcl-nigh universal in agreeing that
the roads are entitled to square deal in
order TO work out from under the burdens
which now handicap the service; nor does
this sentiment concedc that private owner
ship and operation will have been proved
a demonstrated failure and government
ownership the solution of the problem of
efficient transportation, should the roads
under existing handicaps Of inadequate
rates and inability to obtain loans for inn
provemcntS, not be able to respond with
adequate service to the steadily incrcas-
ing volume Of freight that must be moved.
Hence, it is idle to say that the American
people will conclude that the railroads are
now undergoing a fair test of the value of
private ownership, and that slow response
to the assumed test will result in such keen
disappointment as will greatly increase SEN
timent in favor Of government ownership.
The American people are irrcconcilably
opposed 10 government ownership and
operation Of the railroads, having had con-
rincing experience of the unwisdom Of such
a policy; and in that belief, they are not
only satisfied that these properties should
continue 10 be privately administered. but
they are not averse TO granting such in
creases in rates as will bring them fair
returns OF revenue to insure efficient adj
minstration. The sum Of the whole mat
ter is that the public must have better ser
vice. and it knows that it will have to pay
for what it gets.