Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-05-30
WILLARD CONFIDENT RAILROADS FUTURE
 WILL BE SUCCESS
Private Ownership Now on Trial, Says B. and o.
 Head

New York, May 29.-Confidence il the future successful operation O the railroads of the United States un uer prlvate ownership control was ex pressed by Daniel Willard, presiden o1 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company, in an address he delivered here today before the National As soclatlon of Manufacturers If tho pew railroad law is applied as con gross intended and if the railwa, managers so operate the properties as to fairly meet the requirement. and expectations of the public, ht said, i've may reasonably expect thar pllvate ownership and operation o1 the railroads as an economic policy VIII continue in this country. | private ownership should fail tho only alternative I am able to sec IS government ownership and opera Sucn, with all that the policy implies Railway managers must for a time al least keep constantly in mind tba- private ownership is on trial anC they must be determined that ii shall win. They must study the needs of the public for transporta. ton and make every reasonable eff. fort to satisfy them They must treat all alike and without discrim. ination"
 MT. Willard repeated his recon. mendation, made to the council ol national defense in 1917 that "a ma. ton should have national transpor. tation system and such system should embrace and make proper use of all available and suitable agen. cies.' He added that in his opin. ion, this recommendation which he made as war measure is equally pertinent and important in time o1 peace.
 "We are fortunate in actually hay. ing in this country the essential ele. ments of such national system ot transportation as 1 have in mind said MT. Willard. "There should in the public interest be the fullest cooperation between the severa, transportation agencies and in al cases that agency should be prefer. red which can render the required service at the lowest total economic cost. If this policy is followed feel confident of the future success of private ownership and operation of the railroads"
 Having described the difficulties of the railroads in obtaining funds necessary for improvements, exten. slons and improvement which he saic nad been estimated at from $500. OO0,00 to $1,00O,O0O,O00 a year, MT Willard said congress by enacting the Esch- -Cummins bill, had corrected the poorly contrived system of regula. ton which brought about a sickly condition of the railroads" but that the patient is still weak and un able to stand alone" Personally, he said, he was in favor of the govern ment naming the rate of return upor the value of the properties which the railroads shall be permitted to earn put he declared that "the railroads must be self-supporting before the, can be expected to show signs of re newed vigor.
 First of all,' declared MT. Willard
 the railroad rates and charges mus pc so adjusted as to measurably mee, the increased operating costs result. slng from conditions created by the war Congress has given definite instructions that this be promptl, done. After that he said it woulc remain for the railway managers te so deal with the problem as to satis " the reasonable requirements ot the public. People in this country, he went on, Gin the past have hat the cheapest transportation in tho world. 1 think they are entitled tt Tn the future; at any rate believe that under private ownership the, will have it. They are also entitled to ade-transportation and there i. an imperative obligation upon the carriers to furnish it. Inadeouatt Transportation facilities would checl production and tend to increase the cost of living"
 MT. Willard predicted that strikes upon the railroads would become less and less frequent as time went or since, in his opinion, congress hac provided definite and workable ar. rangement that should secure justice to the railway workmen.
 The public," said President Vii. lard, lis entitled to expect an unin. corrupted operation of railway prop critics. l believe the railway mana. gers and the employees will be able ! satisfactorily to solve this 0aborl problem. Perhaps, not immediately but within reasonably. near fut,tfe 1T not, then to my mind. it will he the clear duty of congress to pass