Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-21
Member of Associated Press
FRIDAY, MAY 81, 1920.
Gjr:1lati92 GTs6ina Yeltsfdsy ESeis 1882
Good Prospects for Railroads.

Mr.. Daniel Willard, president Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. and a
railroad executive of experience and
ability. believes the law under which
the transportation lines Of the country
were restored to their former control,
following the period of government opera
tion during the war emergency. Is good
measure. and that under it the railroads
will prosper if given a fair chance. In an
address to the National Association Of
Manufacturers in New York City, this
week. Mr.. Willard said: IF the new
railway law is applied as Congress IN
tended. and if the railway managers SO
operate the properties as to meet larry
the requirements and expectations of
the public, we may reasonably expect
that private ownership and operation OF
the railroads as an economic policy will
continue in this country. Railway man. |
ayers must for a time at least keep con- !
stantly in mind that private ownership |
is on trial and that they must he deter |
mined that il must win. They must |
study the needs Of the public for trans |
portation and dmakeevery unreasonable effort |
to satisfy them.
Having described the difficulties Of the |
railroads in obtaining funds necessary |
for improvements, extensions and equip !
ment which. he said. had been estimat-
ed at from $500, 600. 900 to 81, 900, 100000
wear. Mr.. Willard said Congress, by
enacting the Esch- -Cummins bill. had
corrected the "poorly contrlved system
Of regulation which brought about
sickly condition Of the railroads, but
that the patient is still weak and unable
to stand alone Personally, he said, nc
was in favor Of the government naming
the rate Of return upon the value Ct the /
properties which the railroads shall be I
permitted to earn, but he declared that /
'the railroads must be self-supporting /
before they can be expected TO show signs /
of renewed vigor.'
This is the element in which the people /
generally have the largest interest, two
fold interest. in fact They have con- I
eern, first, in the effective management
of all the transportation lines. What It
means TO have a serious congestion in /
freight traffic they well know at this time.
having had painful experience for
a long time Secondly, they have q
concern in the matter OF freight rates,
which naturally they desire to have reduc-
ed to the lowest possible level consistent
with good service. They will not, how
ever, expect to get good service without
paying for it, and they realize as fully
as railroad managers do that good service
cannot be rendered except at rates OF
remuneration sufficient TO meet all ex-
penses. and pay reasonable dividends on
all railroad securities.
Mr.. Willard emphasized this feature
of the situation in his address, dwelling
On the absolute necessity of adjusting
railroad rates and conditions so as to fully
meet the existing situation and give assur-
ance for the future. 'After that"
he said. ''it will remain for the railroad
managers so to deal with the problem asto
satisfy the reasonable requirements OF
the public" He also expressed the belief
that under the law recently enacted there
will be less probability Of strikes.
This presentation is most encouraging.
Itsshows that the interests of the public
will have the serious and intelligent at
tention Of the rail:oad mana
gers. The people, we believe,
will do their part. They will
not expect cheap service, but they will
insist upon an effective service, which
they are entitled to- And for such
a service no doubt they will bewillingto
pay. With good feeling on both sides
there should be a fair trial Of the resumed
Of private management and
and no disposition on the part
Of the people, at least, to return to a
administration Of lines Of