The Washington herald., 1920-03-01
The Crucial Test of Private Operation

j
By act of Congress- approved by the President the rail-
restored their private owners one
midnight last night So ends experiment IN COM
naturalization Of the railroads that has extended over twenty
ix months
Beyond question private ownership is
approved by great majority American people The
representatives labor best the
Expression of opinion OF distinctly interested opinion and
while worthy of the respectful attention which the President gave to
stand for the majority view OF the American
people.
That majority opinion may VIEWPOINT
integrity efficiency with which the private now
discharge reommd them by the f the
|naton.
average today regards record of Of
operation of the railroads record OF failure But
hs condemnation though widespread unfair
private operation roads could have the de-
mands of reasonable doubt For or
another the opening of the World war found
condition enormously increased demands their capacity
This because of ongonnud hostile ignorant and hurtful
public regulation the former Of the roads 1t be-
of waseu and incompetent
the defenders Of naturalization.
But whatever
greatly multiplied the demands railroads they were
badly equipped meet those demands and that the
control only ready deliver them
and their responsibilities over to the government
Now whatever may superficial public
government administration of
roads that should not be permitted
without fair and appreciation OF the rendered the
public Many has based his opinion the results OF
o period and moderate and these enforced
OF and enormously enhanced operation kind
The reasonable the
took the roads they faced
before which their private unnaturaly
because ownership the
for during readily obtained that be-
OF unified control operation effected and
economical made of the insufficient
sesd by the roads, that combinations for ec-ncy
phed which had been impossible under Oversize
and that railroads perous
of their existence the Railroad Administration
tw-enty-six months
We think that all this may
proclaimed defending the proposition
ton of railroads per a desirable policy.
Naturalization, temporary measure has however met
the with reasonable During the years
nation whether the present private
ayers a similar of their abilities.
For the crucial period private ownership The op-
porunity presented time from
control of railroads ability to resume and
maintain control accepby They
tive; show that they their en-
ployes prove their efficiency manifest purpose
keep OF national and local politics;
their corporations they their private personal
affairs but rather in the complete
No will that the the
railroads have fully lived this professional Perhaps they
have fallen short attaining
has fallen short of anticipated bv the
advocates of government ownership
Let him that casteth as he that
pueth The Railroad Administration chapter
victories and defeats The struggle
will them
that which public approval acceptable public
brief space of the pendulum
swinging again far away from them.
Bernard Bauchs prediction only act OF the Dtv can
reduction the of living yet for there
the word OF the Bible that and humble
fire in Big Edwards income tax chief